This week focused on the arguments for and against having multiple online identities as opposed to holding a single online identity. Preceding the research for this subject, the only experience I could identify with is owning both a personal and professional twitter account to connect with different type of so much of my research focuses on several online personas on social media websites.
After submitting my original blog I discovered a thought-provoking article (http://www.sitejabber.com/blog/2010/08/20/how-bad-of-a-problem-is-ebay-fraud/) that presents how multiple eBay accounts can create issues for online shoppers; my initial research was supplemented by material that is not related to social media.
It was stimulating to read the various responses that others have written; which has been exceptionally valuable in understanding different points of views on the concept of numerous digital identities. For example, Vlad’s post (http://wordpress.com/read/blog/id/63877387/) was written entirely from his own opinion and experiences with multiple online identities and was principally about people adapting their offline selves to express themselves online. In comparison, Emma (http://wordpress.com/read/blog/id/63478107/ ) discussed that an individual’s online actions combine to formulate a ‘digital footprint’ and how this can be used to collect personal information about users.
Becca Knowles (http://rknowlesuosm.wordpress.com/2014/02/23/uosm2008-topic-2/ ) highlighted the case of Hannah Smith; an outrageous example of how anonymity can become an issue and how online identities can be used immorally.
In my opinion, creating multiple online identities doesn’t necessarily mean we are using various online identities to mislead others; we may use separate accounts, like I myself do to increase employability.
After reading others I am still convinced that one of the main benefits of the freedom of having multiple identities is the choice we have in content displayed to others through our online communications; using numerous accounts to interact with a range of diverse individuals could questionably be one of biggest advantages in owning multiple online identities.
This topic has highlighted that anonymity on the web can cause vulnerabilities; prior to this topic, I did not know of the legal implications in having a number of online identities on gambling websites, which could lead to fraud and debt. I will continue to use multiple online identities to separate parts of my identity for purely employment purposes – especially now after learning that 40% of employers screen job candidates online profiles preceding the hiring process.
georgiavarti 