When it comes to discussing digital identity, I see my digital footprint from a whole new perspective. Now, more than ever, as a future educator I am so conscious of how my actions or media I share could affect my future, hence why this blog post feels personal to me. I think as a teenager I didn’t realize that what I was posting online could be seen by the world and images like drinking or partying wouldn’t be seen as “cool” the more I mature. I do still have a soft spot for these pictures as I still see them as memories formed by friendships but I am aware of how my professional profile can be misrepresented. I connect this to the TED talk “How one tweet can ruin your life“, as after I watched that video I felt uncomfortable about how accessible it is for the whole world to shame you for post you make. Do I think Justine Sacco deserves to be harassed, shamed, and have her life turned around? No. I can recognize that we as humans can easily say or do the wrong things, this doesn’t mean someone deserves what had happened to her.
I often flash back to times when I was posting pictures and thinking, ‘Is this trendy?’, ‘Do I look skinny enough?’, or ‘Will people think I’m weird for posting this?’ Now, as a more confident woman, I wish I could tell my younger self that I didn’t need to conform to social media’s standards—that it was okay to post pictures that made me happy. I can relate my past feelings of anxiety to Maddison Holleran’s story, as she too felt pressure to present a ‘picture-perfect’ life online. These feelings are not uncommon. As social media becomes a bigger part of our lives, the pressure to appear perfect has only grown. I understand the importance of sharing Maddison Hollerans story, as people of all ages need to know that it is ok not to be perfect and its important that you do not keep these feelings inside.
As an experiment, I decided to research one of my peers, Mackenzie Evans, to explore what her digital identity looks like. To my surprise—both disappointing and relieving—the only source I could find was her educational blog for this class. From the blog, I learned that Mackenzie is from Kelvington, Saskatchewan, and currently lives in Langenburg. She has nieces and nephews who helped spark her passion for teaching. I also found out that she originally started in a nursing program but later switched to education.
Interestingly, there are no pictures of her on the site—which isn’t necessarily good or bad. Based on what I read, I would feel comfortable hiring or trusting Mackenzie; she comes across as personable and genuinely passionate about teaching. I also appreciated being able to see the progress she made in her learning project—it gave me a sense of her dedication and follow-through.
Overall, I think Mackenzie has made a great start in building a positive digital footprint. I’d love to see more images or posts that reflect her personality or interests. That said, I understand the challenge professionals face in deciding what to keep private versus what to share publicly. It’s a tricky balance when creating a digital identity.