When All is Said and Done….Can We Turn this Around?!

Our online identity is like a digital scrapbook, where we curate different snapshots that reveal various facets of who we are. Nicole Lee highlights that having multiple online identities is more common than we might think—similar to how we adapt our behavior in different real-life contexts and with different groups of people. Just as we present different sides of ourselves at work, with friends, or at home, our online personas can reflect these nuances.
Managing these diverse online identities can feel like juggling multiple tasks simultaneously. It requires balance and skill to navigate the different platforms, audiences, and purposes for which we use them. Each online persona may serve a specific purpose, whether personal, professional, or communal, and maintaining consistency across them while staying true to ourselves can be challenging yet rewarding.
While there isn’t a single “authentic” online self that captures the entirety of who we are, striving for authenticity across all our digital spaces remains crucial. Authenticity builds trust and credibility, allowing us to foster genuine connections and relationships online. It’s about aligning our digital footprint with our values and beliefs, ensuring that each online interaction reflects our true selves.
By embracing our various online personas while remaining genuine, we enhance our digital presence and enrich our online experiences. This approach not only helps us navigate the complexities of online interactions more effectively but also enables us to cultivate meaningful connections with others, despite the diversity of our online identities. Thus, by staying true to ourselves across different digital platforms, we can create a cohesive and authentic online presence that resonates with others.

In the digital landscape, our every action leaves a trace—a digital footprint that others can follow to gauge our integrity and authenticity. Being truthful in our online endeavors is key, as each post, comment, or interaction contributes to shaping our digital identity. It’s easy to give in to the pressure of presenting an idealized version of ourselves, masking imperfections to maintain a flawless image. However, trust forms the cornerstone of any relationship, even those cultivated in the digital realm. When we’re honest and real online, people trust us more. Even though we might want to make ourselves look better, being true to who we are is better in the end. It’s not about pretending to be perfect, but about showing our true selves. This helps us gain trust and respect from others as we interact online.

Monica Lewinsky’s TED Talk, “The Price of Shame,” discusses the harsh realities of public humiliation, emphasizing how deeply it can hurt people, sometimes irreversibly. She points out that even in 1998, when online platforms were new and uncommon, they could still cause significant shame. The need for compassion is just as important now as it was then. In today’s digital age, Lewinsky’s idea that people can be seen by many but known by few remains very true. We often follow others online based solely on their posts without really knowing them. And one wrong post can quickly make someone lose all their followers. Being part of the online community is a privilege that comes with a big responsibility. Cyber shaming happens often today because of our culture of humiliation, which Professor Nicolaus Mills says started about two decades ago and has only gotten worse with the internet.

Dealing with cyberbullying can be really tough, but I want to share some tips I read from an article on how to help kids deal with cyberbullying. I hope this can help make a difference for anyone going through the sting of online shaming.

1. Stay Calm and Don’t Respond Immediately: Take a moment to breathe and avoid reacting impulsively. Responding angrily or defensively can sometimes escalate the situation.
2. Document Evidence: Keep records of the cyberbullying incidents. Take screenshots or save messages, comments, or posts as evidence. This may be useful if you decide to report the bullying.
3. Reach Out for Support: Talk to someone you trust about what you’re experiencing. This could be a friend, family member, or counselor. Having emotional support can provide comfort and perspective.
4. Block and Report: Most social media platforms and websites have mechanisms for blocking users and reporting abusive behavior. Use these features to prevent further contact from the bully and to notify the platform of the issue.
5. Understand It’s Not Your Fault: Remember that cyberbullying says more about the bully than it does about you. It’s important not to blame yourself or internalize the negative messages.
6. Take Breaks from Social Media: If the cyberbullying is affecting your mental health, consider taking breaks from social media or limiting your online presence until you feel more comfortable.
7. Seek Professional Help if Needed: If you’re struggling to cope with the emotional impact of cyberbullying, consider talking to a therapist or counselor who can provide guidance and support.
8. Know Your Rights: Familiarize yourself with your rights regarding cyberbullying in your country or region. There may be legal options available to you if the situation escalates.
9. Educate Others: Consider sharing your experience (if you feel comfortable) to raise awareness about cyberbullying and its effects. It can help others understand and prevent similar situations.
10. Focus on Self-Care: Engage in activities that promote your well-being and self-esteem. Surround yourself with positive influences and prioritize your mental and emotional health.

If  you have the opportunity,  I highly recommend watching this campaign led by Monica Lewinsky that aims to shift the narrative on online bullying.

Thinking back on what we talked about in class, a few big ideas stand out. First, there’s the idea of people using the internet to punish others for doing something wrong, like cyberbullying or publicly shaming someone online. It’s like a digital version of taking justice into your own hands, and it can get out of control fast. Then there’s the concept of digital footprints, which is basically all the stuff we do online—posts, comments, likes—that leaves a trail of data about us. This info can be used for good things, like showing us ads we might actually be interested in, but it also means our privacy is at risk. Lastly, there’s the idea of having some control over what’s out there about us online. We should have the right to ask for certain things to be removed from the internet if they’re old or not relevant anymore. It’s about finding a balance between our own privacy and the public’s right to know. These topics all point to the fact that as we spend more time online, we need to be careful about how we treat others, what we share about ourselves, and what rights we have to control our online presence. It’s all about being smart, kind, and respectful in the digital world, just like in the real one.

We can start asking these questions or continue pondering on them as we continue to educate ourselves in this digital realm and manage our digital footprints responsibly:

• How can we foster a digital environment that prioritizes both privacy and accountability, ensuring that our online interactions reflect the same values of respect and kindness that we uphold in our offline lives?
• How can we empower individuals to manage their digital footprints responsibly, ensuring that our online presence reflects our values of kindness and respect?
• Are there effective ways to address wrongdoing while respecting the dignity and privacy of individuals?