When we “network”, we connect with others. This process can improve people personally, professionally, or both. Networking via social media means utilizing online spaces to make connections with others by sharing, posting, and engaging with both people, and content online. When we network, either online or in person, we create personal learning networks (Rajagopal et al., 2011), communities where we can learn with, and from, others. I believe people are motivated to participate in these types of networked publics because of the knowledge they can attain. Improving ourselves through connections with others makes us life-long learners. Participating in these types of public communication can be rewarding when we connect with others in a positive way by learning something important or being hired from work that we posted online. In contrast, participating in these types of environments is also inherently risky. A lot of our information and data is shared online when we participate in these types of activities because participating online without sharing data and information is virtually impossible. When we share info about ourselves, it ultimately shares information about others as well (Boyd, 2012).  

Our digital identities also come into play when we discuss the risks and rewards of networked publics. Your digital identity is your presence online (Eric Stoller, 2016). It is what you post, share, and engage with on the internet (Eric Stoller, 2016). Our personal and professional digital identities can often become intertwined when using social media. Although social media can be a great place to post, share and engage with information and learning about your professional field, it can also be a place where the things that you post, share, or comment on in your private life can affect you professionally. Many people have been hired based on how they present themselves online through their digital identity, but many people have also lost their jobs based on how their personal identities are portrayed online (Eric Stoller, 2016). 

My question to others is whether it is possible to have a completely controlled social media presence? I feel like my presence on social media is very controlled. Every account I own is private and I try my best to not share too much information about myself online, but you can never truly control what others who follow you on social media do with your information. When you sign up for accounts, your data is also shared with other sites across the internet. I wonder what fully controlled social media would look like? 

Resources: 

Boyd, D. 2012. Networked Privacy. Surveillance & Society 10(3/4): 348-350.http://www.surveillance-and-society.org 

Rajagopal, K., Joosten-ten Brinke, D., Van Bruggen, J., & Sloep, P. B. (2011). Understanding personal learning networks: Their structure, content and the networking skills needed to optimally use them. First Monday. https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v17i1.3559 

YouTube. (2016). Eric Stoller – What is Digital Identity? Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0RryRbJza0.