Blog Post #1 Personal Learning Networks and Digital Identity

• What does it mean to network using social media?

People from all corners of the world are creating a good environment in which they simply communicate, creating platforms of different kinds. These connections become important in helping different issues that people come across. People are able to solve situations that seem complicated, through uniting and finding a solution. Social media has made it possible to have friends across the continents, without even being physically available in these locations.

• How are we motivated to participate in networked publics?

Everyone has their personal needs that are important to them, they make us find solutions of any kind that can be helpful with everyone’s needs or wants. In this way, we find our interest matching with other people’s experiences, which becomes an important chance to learn from others. A good example is the political debates that make people talk about the issues affecting them, medical emergencies, education, technical problems, etc…

• What are the risks & rewards of public communications?

 “View of Understanding Personal Learning Networks: Their Structure, Content and the Networking Skills Needed to Optimally Use Them: First Monday.” View of Understanding Personal Learning Networks: Their Structure, Content and the Networking Skills Needed to Optimally Use Them | First Monday, First Monday, 2 Jan. 2012, firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3559/3131.

There are many rewards and risks as well for public communication, they heavily depend on the evaluation and purpose of the platforms identified by any user before communication is started. It is important in that it creates awareness, it is educative, and most importantly solves issues that are best handled by the public. During the lockdown and Covid-19 restrictions, it has shown its major importance in almost all sections. It has created a link between employers and employees, to facilitate the progress of their work. It has also ensured that classes have taken place, facilitating the students to continue with their studies as usual. Some of the risks include the assurance of security, especially on personal information. It also includes the high rate of confusion due to information expansion within the internet. The realness of the information available would also be a huge challenge to students, as many may not be able to differentiate the reliable authors or sources.

• What is a digital identity?

Digital identity is the part of a person that helps in identifying their presence in the digital world. It is a set of credentials that feature a person to the digital platforms, which can be used to relate to the digital identity of a person.

• How do personal versus professional approaches to digital identity affect social media use?

How people conduct themselves through social media, can vary depending on the personal or professional approach. Some prefer to maintain their appearance based in a professional manner, making their character professional. This can limit them from some form of interaction with other people, or making comments to other people’s work. Others may feel comfortable with their content, making them free to share any category of information. From a personal point of view, professional standards maintain a majority of people within a professional approach.

• How do digital identities converge in networked publics – what are the impacts and/or benefits?

Within the networked public, having a digital identity that is categorized is important. It ensures the public remains aware of the many convincing attributes that you may have. It can ensure the creation of a strong brand, which would ensure trust among the users, credibility, and even consideration by others.