Miranda’s Muddled Musings?

There is so much to unpack after our first week of readings and discussion. Currently sticking with me are the ideas of identity and performance of the “palatable self”, speculative fabulation and implications of digital dualism on our reality. I apologize in advance if I leave you with more questions than answers.

Identity and the “Palatable Self”

The blog post from Katia Hildebrandt, co-authored with Alec Couros: (Digital) Identity in a World that No Longer Forgets  raised many important considerations about the way that we choose to represent ourselves online, and how we present what we perceive to be our most “palatable self” to others. The idea of the “palatable self” is actually quite sad to me. We feel pressured to conform to dominant societal ideals as the true versions of ourself are not good enough. Now, this isn’t too much different than the masks we wear during in-person interactions. However, this online version of ourselves is documented with more permanence, and thus our actions hold more weight. What also feels more dangerous about documenting ourselves online is that oftentimes our audience is larger than regular social interactions and so the pressure is greater. As we perform what we perceive others to desire from us and balance the risk of speaking our truth, we also run the risk of silencing non-dominant ideas (such as conversations about equity or justice), and we only speak to that which we are most passionate. Does this increase polarization and eliminate the middle ground? I can relate with this as an administrator in a small rural town. I very cautiously use my platform to further equitable causes due to the high risk of my permanently documented words being used as weapons against me. Does that make me a weak leader, or am I a shining symbol of the nonpartisan educator?

Speculative Fabulation

Masked identity and risk have a flip side through the endless potential for speculative fabulation online. Speculative fabulation is defined as A type of “narration” that enables one to unfold new worlds through arousing an appetite for what’s possible (what could or could have taken place). It is a driver of social change. The online world is a perfect place to do this! We can create new identities and interact with people across the globe that share common interests. As social media platforms serve as windows into others presented realities, we can see situations in a new light. We can find refuge and a sense of belonging with others that may face the same challenges. We can tell stories that experiment with power dynamics and imagine new futures. How might I be treated if…? What could our world look like if…?

Implications of Digital Dualism

In today’s world, what is evident is that we can never really log off. While it is comfortable to assume a disconnect between the online world and the offline world — they are the same: one muddled, fractured and manipulated reflection of the other. There is increasing evidence that the psychology of the upcoming generation is changed, and there is also a strong correlation between the rise of social media and our increasing mental health crisis. As Chamath Palihapitiya asserts in the video we watched this week, “The short-term, dopamine-driven feedback loops that we have created are destroying how society works” (22:44). Technology as the scapegoat for social issues is a strong and dominant narrative.

I wonder what the data would say if we stopped separating technology and reality? What might we notice if we stop villainizing technology and rather view it as an inseparable part of society? Would this new lens give us a clearer view of actions we can take to improve our relationships with one another?