Do you have one identity or more? Currently, I have a social identity on different social networks. How about you? Here are some arguments for and against having more than one online identity from my point of view.
Advantages for having more than one online identity
Anonymity
Photo credit: Natalle Fong via Flickr (Reference 1)
Having multiple identities support anonymity. I agree that people can share sensitive topics anonymously like medical data, physical abuse etc and benefit others who are seeking help without revealing themselves. (Jeff Jarvis, March 8, 2011- Reference 2) Therefore, their everyday lives will not be judged or disrupted.
‘Professional’ vs ‘Privacy’
(Taken from Reference 3)
(Taken from Reference 4)
Personally, I feel that multiple online identities enable one to well differentiate their private and professional lives. In my Skills-Audit’s post, I googled myself and results are pictures and information about my previous participation in schools’ activities.
Reppler conducted a research in 2011 and found that 91% of recruiters search the web about applicants’ online activities. (Reference 3 and 4) Hence besides my social identity now, I believe building up a professional identity might give future employers a better impression of me and will be beneficial in my future career path.
Disadvantages for having more than one online identity
Authenticity
I believe strongly in authenticity hence I only have a social identity on various platforms as shown above. Personally, I have nothing to hide about hence I am comfortable with using my own name.
(Taken from Reference 6)
Furthermore, identity-centric social communities like Facebook, Google + and LinkedIn (Reference 5) are taking steps to improve authenticity. I agree with Google that people behave better when they use their real names (Reference 6). As shown above, Google+’s identity policy makes living anonymously more difficult on the web as users are now required to use their “real names”.
Accountability
(Taken from Reference 7)
From the image above, I agree that “online anonymity has to go away”. (Reference 7) I feel that for those who have multiple identities, none takes up accountability and responsibility. Anonymity leads to cyber-bullying and racism etc (Reference 5) which are impossible to trace online and hold those people’s bullying actions accountable.
I have seen online bloggers being thrown hurtful comments by fake account holders because they posted photos/posts about their personal lifestyles. This sets me thinking how unfair it is to be judged based on my own life.
Conclusion
Hence I would argue that in reality, having multiple identities do boil down to individuals’ motives. When I go online to share photos, comments or views, my online identity is non-stop evolving. Therefore, taking into considerations for pursuing of my future career, having just two online identities will greatly benefit me in terms of separating my social and working lives.
References
Reference 1:
Anonymity. | Flickr – Photo Sharing!. 2014. Anonymity. | Flickr – Photo Sharing!. [ONLINE] Available at:https://www.flickr.com/photos/nataliefongphotography/14446884761/in/photolist-o1C4w2-pvd79H-ptLCkr-ha3G5-iW7Sme-nGCnKS-MtArp-eb8Cw6-eaXwbu-8cDMH1-dQEC55-5p6swv-8pMTm6-6D1Gff-e3MWGc-2NMAYu-jcAwyo-8TPaYU-9qqqqS-jkeKNd-5xFjRj-jkXuQk-4AJBpS-6FxoDc-ogKxFq-GbGd8-GbGdH-GbGcT-c2C9P-GbGcZ-9M5Roi-GbGdz-4fc8v8-jigKUU-6PBp5G-dN9pkS-jbNbiA-4zrJ1z-jcDyCf-odSJre-6F6L3u-jiDMKS-aXmDNz-ebxcV7-6mWPGq-GbJuF-GbJuK-dq7pxn-4qRLLX-71WtZD. [Accessed 01 December 2014].
Reference 2:
One identity or more? — BuzzMachine. 2014. One identity or more? — BuzzMachine. [ONLINE] Available at:http://buzzmachine.com/2011/03/08/one-identity-or-more/. [Accessed 01 December 2014].
Reference 3:
Infographic: Social Media is Changing Recruitment – YouTube. 2014.Infographic: Social Media is Changing Recruitment – YouTube. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6rGe-XBi9w. [Accessed 01 December 2014].
Reference 4:
Managing Your Online Image Across Social Networks | The Reppler Effect. 2014. Managing Your Online Image Across Social Networks | The Reppler Effect. [ONLINE] Available at: http://blog.reppler.com/2011/09/27/managing-your-online-image-across-social-networks/. [Accessed 01 December 2014].
Reference 5:
Identity on the Internet: The pros and cons of anonymity | | Independent Editor’s choice Blogs. 2014. Identity on the Internet: The pros and cons of anonymity | | Independent Editor’s choice Blogs. [ONLINE] Available at:http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/09/19/identity-on-the-internet-the-pros-and-cons-of-anonymity/. [Accessed 01 December 2014].
Reference 6:
Google Plus forces us to discuss identity | Technology | The Guardian. 2014. Google Plus forces us to discuss identity | Technology | The Guardian. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2011/aug/30/google-plus-discuss-identity. [Accessed 01 December 2014].
Reference 7:
Mark Zuckerberg’s views on anonymity seem to be evolving, and that’s a good thing — Tech News and Analysis . 2014. Mark Zuckerberg’s views on anonymity seem to be evolving, and that’s a good thing — Tech News and Analysis . [ONLINE] Available at: https://gigaom.com/2014/04/04/mark-zuckerbergs-views-on-anonymity-seem-to-be-evolving-and-thats-a-good-thing/. [Accessed 01 December 2014].
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Hi Xiu Zhen,
I like the fact that you have included the YouTube video to support what you are saying. However, I do have questions for you.
You said that you prefer to have two online identities as it will benefit you in terms of separating your social and working life. However, wouldn’t it be good for you to show your true self to your employer? By showing your true self, employer will get to know you better rather than only knowing what you want them to know. This would also bond you and your employer together.
In addition, wouldn’t it be tiring for you to manage multiple online identities? You may also happen to lose yourself someday, forgetting who you truly are. Moreover, if happen that your employer finds out about your true online identity, he or she might question towards which is the real you.
Overall, interesting write-up you have up there! Keep it up!
Ruhuan
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Hello Ruhuan! 🙂 Thank you for leaving your views after reading!
Yes, I do agree to a certain extent that having only one online identity is good for me to show my true self to my future employer. However, I do believe that having two separate online identities, one for my professional working lives and one for my private social lives would benefit me the same way as well.
I would like to show my employer that I am able to strike a balance between both my work and life. Without hiding my true self, employers can feel free to view my working or private identities depending on what they wish to know more about me.
Yes I do agree that managing multiple identities would be tiring. However, in my case when it is two identities, I believe that when I am working, I would be able to post work-related messages without having to worry about boring my social networks’ friends and having the fear of leaking out confidential information about work. When I am off work and with my group of friends, I would post with my social identity instead. I would be glad to show my employer both my professional and social identities as they will be able to know I am capable to achieve a work-life balance and know more about my outside of work life as well. 🙂
Hope my answers do solve your questions. 🙂
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Hey Xiuzhen, great argument you have there! I strongly agree that authenticity is important on social networks and I liked how you managed to capture how employers screen potential candidates using social platforms these days.
However, is there really a need for two identities to prove to your employer that you can achieve a work-life balance? I feel that as long as you know how to manage your identity effectively, one identity should be sufficient to showcase both your professional and personal sides.
Also, I do not agree that “online anonymity has to go away”. Yes, there are others out there who abuse the use of anonymity to carry out dishonourable acts but we also have to consider those who feel more comfortable being anonymous due to certain circumstances they are in.
This brings me back to the point that anonymity does not have to go away. Instead, anonymity should not be abused though it is hard for us to prevent it from happening. All we can do is hope that one day, people would act according to their conscience!
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Hi Corinne. 🙂 Thanks for dropping your views on my post.
Personally, I do feel that there is a need to have two identities in my case but not to just prove to employers about being able to achieve work-life balance. Having two online identities do help myself maintain work-life boundaries.
During work time, I would be able to express freely any work-related doubts that might be confidential information not for my public circle of friends to know. However, when I am off work, I will post using my social account whereby everyone including my employers will be able to see what I do outside of my working lives.
Thinking from your point of view, anonymity does have its advantages as well as disadvantages. Therefore, the usage and motives of having multiple online identities do boil back down to individuals. Yes, I do agree that anonymity should not be abused but however this issue is difficult to address up till today. And that hopefully one day, people will stop using anonymity for unethical actions.
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Hi Xiu Zhen, thanks for sharing some snapshots of the social media platforms that you are on, they certainly reflect well of your bubbly and friendly personality. The info-graphic you shared about how employers are screening applicants also reminded me how important it is to watch our online spaces and be careful about the kind of impression we want to give to our prospective employers.
Perhaps would you like to indulge with me on this point for a while – do you think employers should base their hiring decisions on what they see of us in our online social networking site? Do you think it’s reasonable? How much should a candidate’s social media profile affect his or her employer’s hiring decision?
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Thank you Simon for sharing your thoughts about my post. 🙂 Yes it is certainly important about what individuals post online as what I have shared, employers do look into candidates’ social lives when they do hiring decisions.
In my opinion, I do think it is reasonable for employers to base their hiring decisions on what they see of us in our social networks. This way, they will be able to see way beyond what our individuals’ resume or cover letter state about us. Furthermore they will be able to see our characters and personalities outside of our working life and experiences.
By letting employers know what personality and characters we hold, perhaps they will be able to know if the job opportunity do suit us more. For example like what Aettiqcaz has stated in his post, employers might be looking at fun-loving and creative personality in marketers. However, what we do have to take caution on what image we are trying to portray online in order to send out the right message for your employers.
On a scale to one to ten, I would rate a seven that employer’s hiring decision should be affected based on a candidate’s social media profile. The reason why I did not rate a ten is because I strongly believe that besides looking at one’s social media profile, employers should also look into one’s job experiences relevance to the job they are applying, their interests in that industry as well as their qualifications.
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Hey Xiu Zhen, I really liked your video and info graphic about companies using the social networks for screening job applicants. It got me wondering if it is the same with companies in Singapore as well.
A quick google, showed me that three-in-four employers in Singapore snoop on job candidates online. This was based on a survey conducted from August to September 2012, among 396 hiring managers and HR personnel.
Link to the Info-graphic
Link to the post
http://community.jobscentral.com.sg/node/2356
Hence I feel its really important to separate your personal identity from your professional one.
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