Reflection – Topic 3: The Anonymous

Source: Dribble

Who would’ve thought that the identity that you have in real life, isn’t the only one you can be known for or recognised by. Reflecting upon my very own online identities, I came to realised that these identities were unknowingly built by myself, though it’s hard to actually explain these identities individually and why they were built these way. Before being exposed to this topic, I never really took a second look at the way I presented myself on my social media platforms or even fathom that registering for an account on a shopping site can also contribute to my online identity!

Reading through and a few other colleague’s post made me realised that many of us identify with multiple online identities since it benefits us by allowing us to separate the different sides of us that we choose to present in different contexts.

One part of online identity that I did not cover that was mentioned in both Eva and Yu Ying‘s post was about anonymity. My first impression on anonymity was a negative one as I quickly associated it with users who hurl hate comments on the Web, thinking that their anonymity can help shield their real identity. But further research showed me that anonymity has also helped marginalized, and otherwise ignored populations be heard as it helped protect these voices, creating more and better contributions to the marketplace of ideas. (Waldman, 2016) For example, when LGBT activists were fighting to make their voices heard, anonymity gave them the freedom to express without having to deal with any direct consequences such as backlash from their existing network, especially since the topic was much more sensitive in the past.

Source: Original Infographic

 

Ultimately, what’s most important is for users to take an active role in managing the identity(s) they own, and making sure that it stays true to what they want to portray on the Web.

  Word Count: 298 words

Posts I’ve Commented On:

Eva

Yu Ying

References:

“Home | Discover Where Cybercrime Goes To Hide.” Us.norton.com. N.p., 2017. Web. 21 Nov. 2017. https://us.norton.com/mostdangeroustown2/bonus/why-freedom-and-anonymity-on-the-internet-is-important

Hyvönen, Sanna et al. Online Activism: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. 2015. Web. 21 Nov. 2017. chrome-extension://oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/https://studentportalen.uu.se/uusp-webapp/auth/webwork/filearea/download.action?nodeId=1469123&toolAttachmentId=299062&uusp.userId=guest

Palme, Jacob, and Mikael Berglund. “Anonymity On The Internet.” People.dsv.su.se. N.p., 2004. Web. 21 Nov. 2017. https://people.dsv.su.se/~jpalme/society/anonymity.html

Saadaoui, Sami. “Online Anonymity: Sometimes Necessary, Sometimes Dangerous.” Igmena.org. N.p., 2017. Web. 21 Nov. 2017. https://www.igmena.org/Online-anonymity-Sometimes-necessary-sometimes-dangerous

Waldman, Ari Ezra. “The Dangers Of Anonymity On The Internet.” The Forward. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Nov. 2017. http://forward.com/shma-now/tochecha-rebuke/353506/the-dangers-of-anonymity-on-the-internet/

 

 

Topic 3: Different Platforms, Different Me

The Web is a user-centred platform for interaction and sharing. (Coasta & Torres, 2011) How you’ve presented yourself on the Web, the people you’ve connected with online, or even simply registering with a site are some things that could’ve contributed to building your online identity. Our online identities can be defined by almost anything, from basic information like our name to our likes and preferences. (Sharma, 2016)

Source: Original Infographic Made Using: Piktochart

With the rise of social media platforms, it’s not unusual for users to present themselves differently on different platforms especially since they all work differently. We may prefer to show our raw and unedited self on Snapchat as our stories are not permanent. Compared to Instagram where everything appears to be perfect and highly filtered as it’s more accessible to the public. Simply said, “Different sites, different audiences, different purposes.” (Lee, 2016) But this has often raised the issue of authenticity when it comes to users who choose to have multiple online identities. Mark Zuckerberg was quoted saying that “having two identities for yourself is an example of a lack integrity” and emphasised that users should only have one identity. (Zimmer, 2010) But having multiple identities may just come from individuals who want to create a variety of digital personas across different platforms to not share information with unnecessary people and therefore keep some privacy. (Krotoski, 2012) In contrast, users who prefer a consistent presentation of image may see it as a good personal branding of themselves when they keep a single identity. One may also prefer the easier management and lesser worry of presenting yourself wrongly on different identities. Users who are more of a digital visitor may also find that having a single identity is substantial since they don’t upkeep a strong online presence.

Source: Original Infographic Made Using: Piktochart

Source: Original Infographic Made Using: Piktochart

There’s nothing wrong with having either numbers of identities, what’s more important is for users to know how they can effectively manage and maintain them.

Source: Original Infographic Made Using: Piktochart

Word Count: 298 words

References:

Costa, Cristina, and Ricardo Torres. To Be Or Not To Be, The Importance Of Digital Identity In The Networked Society. UK: University of Salford, i2Cat Foundation, 2011. Print.

Krotoski, Aleks. “Online Identity: Is Authenticity Or Anonymity More Important?.” the Guardian. N.p., 2012. Web. 20 Nov. 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/apr/19/online-identity-authenticity-anonymity

Lee, Nicole. “Having Multiple Online Identities Is More Normal Than You Think.” Engadget. N.p., 2016. Web. 20 Nov. 2017. https://www.engadget.com/2016/03/04/multiple-online-identities/

Sharma, Ankur. “Why Your Digital Identity Is The Base Of All Businesses On The Internet?.” LoginRadius. N.p., 2016. Web. 20 Nov. 2017. https://blog.loginradius.com/2016/01/digital-identity-base-of-all-web-business/

“What Is Your Network Identity? – Learning In The Network Age – University Of Southampton.” FutureLearn. N.p., 2017. Web. 20 Nov. 2017.

Young, Ruth. “Your Online Identity: Your Strongest Brand Or Worst Nightmare?.” HuffPost. N.p., 2016. Web. 20 Nov. 2017. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/ruth-young/your-online-identity-your_b_9994346.html

Zimmer, Michael. “Facebook’S Zuckerberg: “Having Two Identities For Yourself Is An Example Of A Lack Of Integrity” | Michaelzimmer.Org.” Michaelzimmer.org. N.p., 2010. Web. 20 Nov. 2017. http://www.michaelzimmer.org/2010/05/14/facebooks-zuckerberg-having-two-identities-for-yourself-is-an-example-of-a-lack-of-integrity/

Reflection (Topic 2): What’s Left to Trust on the Web?

Indeed, the Web is a great platform that lets anyone share information and ideas. But it does come with a price – how can we know if it’s reliable and authentic? It’s not just what’s written on the Web, content and visuals that you share on social media plays an important role when it comes to disseminating a piece of inaccurate information any further. Not forgetting that what you see on the Web, may be the result of an algorithm that has learnt your preference and behaviour.

Source: Original Infographic, Made Using: Piktochart

Reading through my colleague’s blog also provided me a different perspective of the issue. Aside from the commonly talked about issues on Social Media, Shi Ming‘s mention about Citizen Journalism caught my attention. It made me wonder if the ease of being able to post whatever we want on the Web could be the reason for reliability issues as users don’t directly see the problem when they post inaccurate information or false claims. Moreover, some of such sites (an example I found on STOMP) may even distort what contributors have posted by editing or cutting out certain important parts.

In Stella‘s post, she mentioned the lack of press freedom in Singapore which may restrict the kind of news we see here. My take on this is that with such a restriction, we may only be seeing certain issues from a single perspective, which may lead to us being trapped in an echo chamber.

Source: Original Infographic, Made Using: Piktochart

Trusting the Web will not come easy from now. But as the saying goes “Don’t give up the forest for one tree”, there’s so much to learn from the Web and all it takes, is a little effort on our part to make sure that what we see can be deemed credible before we believe in it.

Word Count: 297 words

My Contribution on MOOC:

Here

Posts I’ve Commented On:

Stella

Shi Ming

References:

“How Filter Bubbles Distort Reality: Everything You Need To Know.” Farnam Street. N.p., 2017. Web. 17 Nov. 2017. https://www.farnamstreetblog.com/2017/07/filter-bubbles/

Lee, Stella. “How Do We Know If Internet Sources Are Credible?.” Living & Working on the Web. N.p., 2017. Web. 17 Nov. 2017. https://stellahsxx.wordpress.com/2017/11/15/can-internet-sources-be-credible/

Saxena, Roheeni. “The Social Media “Echo Chamber” Is Real.” Ars Technica. N.p., 2017. Web. 17 Nov. 2017. https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/03/the-social-media-echo-chamber-is-real/

Shi Ming. “Topic 2 – Learning On The Web.” Hello there!. N.p., 2017. Web. 17 Nov. 2017. https://ming2049.wordpress.com/2017/11/15/topic-2-learning-on-the-web/

Titcomb, James, and James Carson. “Fake News: What Exactly Is It – And Can It Really Swing An Election?.” The Telegraph. N.p., 2017. Web. 17 Nov. 2017. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/0/fake-news-exactly-has-really-had-influence/

Topic 2: Getting the Real Deal Online

Original Graphics, Made Using: Canva

We all probably believe that Google has answers to all our questions and is able to help us solve all kinds of problems. But have we ever once doubted the sources Google provides us? In fact, have we ever thought of evaluating the reliability and authenticity of what we see online – on social media, blogs, articles and more?

Source: Original Infographic, Source of Content: BBC News, Future Learn,Quartz, Washington Post, Made Using: Venngage

During the Fukushima Nuclear explosion, many users believed that a photo of deformed daisies posted on Twitter by a local, provided strong evidence of toxic conditions in that area even though no source or location were given for the photo. It was ultimately proven that the radiation level in that area was at a level considered to be safe for “medium to long-term habitation.” (Howard, 2015)

Source: Original Graphics, Source of Content: National Geographic, Tweet Source: @san_kaido , Made Using: Canva

But this shouldn’t deter you from using the Web. Instead, it’s a great opportunity to improve your overall online literacy when looking for media, data and information. A good start when assessing information you’ve acquired would be to ask yourself if you are searching widely enough. Being stuck in our own filter bubble may mean that we only stick to a certain source or perspective. It’s also important to be critical of the information presented to you and have a thought of what could be the purpose and intention of the author.  (O’Byrne, 2017) Evaluating the information with an objective mindset can give you a clearer idea of whether the information provided to you could possibly be biased or fake. Ultimately, the list is never conclusive when it comes to adopting different ways of assessing online information.

Source: Original Infographic, Made USing: Piktochart

While the internet has allowed the sharing of information and knowledge in ways that no one could have imagined, users have an important role to play in ensuring that the information they share and use have high levels of reliability and authenticity.

 

 

Source: Original Graphics, Quote From: Brainy Quotes, Made Using: Canva

Word Count: 300 words

References:

Emba, Christine. “Opinion | Confirmed: Echo Chambers Exist On Social Media. So What Do We Do About Them?.” Washington Post. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Nov. 2017.

“Data Literacy – Learning In The Network Age – University Of Southampton.” FutureLearn. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 Nov. 2017.

Delaney, Kevin. “Filter Bubbles Are A Serious Problem With News, Says Bill Gates.” Quartz. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 Nov. 2017.

Howard, Brain. “Are ‘Mutated’ Daisies Really Caused By Fukushima Radiation?.” News.nationalgeographic.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 15 Nov. 2017.

“Information Literacy – Learning In The Network Age – University Of Southampton.” FutureLearn. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 Nov. 2017.

“Media Literacy – Learning In The Network Age – University Of Southampton.” FutureLearn. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 Nov. 2017.

O’Byrne, W. lan. “Develop A Criteria For Critical Evaluation Of Online Information.” W. Ian O’Byrne. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 Nov. 2017.

“The Rise And Rise Of Fake News.” BBC News. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Nov. 2017.

Reflection: Topic 1 – How Digitally Different Are We?

The topic on digital difference has really broadened my knowledge about the ways we use the Web and how it differs for all of us. Reading through other blog posts has made me realised that even though the Web is a common platform for all, it definitely performs a different role in our lives and more importantly, realising that there is no fixed or accurate way to use it due to the differences of our beliefs and attitudes.

From Joey‘s blogpost, I was enlightened about her point on how cultural differences play an important role in digital differences. Cultural difference is an evidently crucial factor when it comes to differences between any two countries. Especially when it comes to social norms, what may be deemed as acceptable in one society may not be accepted in another.

Yuping‘s post also shed light of the way we may use the Web differently according to our interests and hobbies. This allows for similar groups of users to connect and share their perspective of certain topics, in her case: K-pop. One point she brought up that is important to consider would definitely be the issue on cyber bullying and fraud. Factors like these would deter victims from using the Web leading to a change in their online practice.

Through both of their blogposts, as well as a few others that I’ve read, I was able to explore the topic further through different perspective that I had not considered during my course of research. Furthermore, learning through Future Learn allowed me to gain a better understanding of what the topic was about before kickstarting my research on it. I particularly enjoyed the audio recording of the professors as it made the topic much easier to digest.

Word Count: 293

Posts that I’ve commented on:

Joey

Yu Ping

Topic 1: How Digitally Different Are We?

Youths today are born digital, myself included. We are so used to the perks of technology that it gets hard imagining what it would be like to live without it. Being so accustomed to such an environment, it may come as a surprise to know that even by the end of 2016, 53% of the world’s population was not using the internet. (‘State of Broadband 2016’ Report) And the lowest percentage of connected people included countries in South-east Asia!

Source: We Are Social

 

Question is, why aren’t people using the Web when it gives us so much convenience and space to connect? Sarah Newton shared that this gap was created by inadequate infrastructure and lack of basic knowledge about the digital world. Even countries like America face digital differences as well. A study by Pew showed interesting results in terms of internet usage, especially in the context of education.

Created by Me using Piktochart

Digital differences can exist even amongst long-term internet users. An interesting point from Future Learn that I find myself relating to is how our beliefs, motivations and attitudes is reflected on our online practices. For someone like me who prefers to maintain a higher level of privacy, I try to be extremely careful with who I make friends with and how I interact with others online. This digital difference of mine would decrease the chances of my interaction with others on the web especially on networking sites or applications such as Facebook or Tinder.

Taking into context the use of Grab/Uber service amongst us millennials as compared to our parents, Gen X. The idea of a car pooling application was extremely uncomfortable for my parents as they were concerned with safety factors. However, millennials like myself were fast to adopt this service as we tend to be more keen on trying new things. This supports Zickhur and Smith statement that one of the main gaps in digital use includes age.

Source: Geek and Poke

We all have our own reasons for using the Web which may mean that digital difference is ultimately inevitable. However, bridging the gap can help improve adaptability of both students and workers especially with the rise of technology capabilities.

Word Count: 300

References:

Newton, Sarah. “What Is The Impact Of The Digital Divide? | Sarah Newton.” Sarah Newton. N.p., 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2017.

The State Of Broadband: Broadband Catalyzing Sustainable Development. Broadband Commision, 2016. Web. 10 Nov. 2017.

“Page From Learning In The Network Age – University Of Southampton.” FutureLearn. N.p., 2017. Web. 10 Nov. 2017.

Zickuhr, Kathryn, and Aaron Smith. “Digital Differences.” Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. N.p., 2012. Web. 10 Nov. 2017.

 

Intro Post: Digital “Visitors” vs Digital “Residents” – Which Am I?

The act of labelling is nothing new to us as we use them to define ourselves and others according to their behaviours and habits. As for users of the web, terms such as Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants, introduced by Prensky back in 2001, have been frequently used to describe web users primarily through their demographics such as age.

Source: Beingfive.com

But can age really be the defining factor when it comes to labelling Web users? We all have different uses for the Web, some may view the Web as a platform to connect and make friends while others may use the Web primarily to gather information or news to fulfil work or school related projects. So instead of labelling users according to the century they were born in, it might be more accurate to categorise them according to an individual’s engagement with the web. Introduced by White and Cornu in their article: “Visitors and Residents: A new typology for online engagement”, they proposed two new typologies, referred to as – Digital “Visitors” and Digital “Residents”.

Self-Generated Graphics, Information Source: firstmonday

Simply said, Digital “Visitors” use the Web for information purposes, leaving little digital footprint whereas Digital “Residents” create an online presence of themselves and network with others. However, it is important to note that users can fulfil characteristics of both a “Visitor” and “Resident” as mentioned by White and Cornu; where it can be possible for individuals to sometimes function more as Visitors, and at other times more as Residents, according to their motivation.

As a frequent user of the web myself, I find myself to be leaning more towards being a Digital “Visitor”. Leaving little presence online as I use the web mainly for entertainment purposes with little contribution to communities. However, as I used to be very active on Twitter and Facebook, I may have created an online presence then that would have lasted till today, making myself a little bit of a Digital “Resident” as well.

What I’m curious to know is if there’s a possibility that I change over the next 12 days to become more of a Digital “Resident” as I learn more about building my presence online!

(Word Count: 330)

References:

Marc Prensky, (2001) “Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1”, On the Horizon, Vol. 9 Issue: 5, pp.1-6

White, David, and Alison Cornu. “Visitors And Residents: A New Typology For Online Engagement.” Firstmonday.org. N.p., 2011. Web. 9 Nov. 2017.