Upon reading two items from module 5, it is clear that the growth of social media has led many to not only use it privately, but also professionally. However, what happens when the two become intermingled? What is okay to present privately, but not okay professionally? What is not okay at all, and could present issues for you? 

Creating an online identity that represents either yourself or your organisation in the correct way is crucial. For an organisation, first impressions are most important in presenting this identity. As mentioned in Huang-Horowitz and Freberg, an organisation’s intended audience are able to capture actual evidence (in the form of conversations, messages etc) to support their impressions, which influences how the organisations reputation is perceived, thus resulting in the type of presence the organisation will have (2016, p.196). The same can be said for ones personal presence online, as issues can arise regarding how young people’s use of social media in their younger years provides identity construction and self-presentation later on, during the identity transition from youth to professional (Brandtzaeg & Chaparro-Domínguez, 2019, p. 158).

So, what can we share in the online world and what should we keep private? Apart from the more obvious things like bank account numbers, passwords and the exact date of your next holiday, there are other items to think about and be cautious of when managing your online identity. For an organisation to be successful, it is important that while they may have a single transfixed identity, it is more beneficial for an organisation to present an identity that is both fluid and dynamic, with multiple claims focused on a theme (Huang-Horowitz and Freberg, 2016, p. 199). This means not sharing information that is overly opinionated or focused on what particular identity. This could be in regard to politics or government, human rights, sexual orientation, gender, race or religious beliefs, to name a few. 

This can apply on a personal level also, as results showed that many of the participants interviewed in Brandtzaeg & Chaparro-Domínguez felt that digital traces from their youth were now somewhat incompatible with their current employment and thus complicated how they choose to now present themselves. One such case of this that comes to mind as it is currently in the news, is the hiring of Teen Vogue editor Alexi McCammond, which quickly drew complaints when racist and homophobic tweets from 2011 when she was seventeen came to light. Despite apologising in 2019 and again last month, she resigned from the position under mounting pressure from other Vogue staff members and the general public (Robertson, 2021). 

Because of this story and many others, it is absolute that the way you present and manage yourself and your organisation online can have lasting consequences, with digital traces from social media affecting important life transitions and situations (Brandtzaeg & Chaparro-Domínguez, 2019, p. 170). As more and more people grow up with social media at the forefront of their lives, the importance of identifying and understanding the intricate balance between social media danger and safety is essential. 

Photo by CAL Poly Pomona

References

Brandtzaeg, P. B., & Chaparro-Domínguez, M. (2019). From youthful experimentation to professional identity: Understanding identity transitions in social media. YOUNG, 28(2), 157-174. https://doi.org/10.1177/1103308819834386

Huang-Horowitz, N. C., & Freberg, K. (2016). Bridging organizational identity and reputation messages online: A conceptual model. Corporate Communications: An International Journal, 21(2), 195-212. https://doi.org/10.1108/ccij-06-2014-0034

Robertson, K. (2021, March 18). Teen Vogue editor resigns after fury over racist tweets. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/18/business/media/teen-vogue-editor-alexi-mccammond.html