Module 10: Digital Self

• Digital Self


  A mask we put on to engage in the technological world
• Tim Berners Lee


  • Invented the World Wide Web
• The Philippines is among one of the countries with the most active internet users
• Types of Identity

  • Online Identity
  • Partial Identity
  • Persona
  • Personal Identity
  • Social Identity
• Online Identity


  The sum of all our characteristics and our interactions
• Partial Identity


  A subset of characteristics that make up our identity, e.g. AKA
• Persona


  The partial identity we create that represents one's self in a specific situation
• Personal Identity


  The interpersonal level of self that differentiates the individual as unique from others
• Social Identity


  The level of self whereby the individual is identified by his or her group memberships
• Self-Presentation


  The process of controlling how one is perceived by other people
• Types of Self-Presentation

  • Pleasing the audience
  • Self-construction
• Pleasing the audience


  Tries to match the self to the audience's expectations and preferences
• Self-construction


  Tries to match oneself to one's own ideal self
• Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)


  The lack of privacy in many aspects of social media makes the users more vulnerable
• Disinhibition Effect


  The resulting disinhibition causes people believe that they are able to express their "true self" better online than they ever could in face-to-face contexts
• Types of Online Disinhibition

  • Benign Disinhibition
  • Toxic Disinhibition
• Benign Disinhibition


  To combat loneliness and depression through online interaction
• Toxic Disinhibition


  Going to the dark web to access irrelevant sites like crimes, pornography and other forms of violence
• Subtopics under Toxic Disinhibition

  • Cyberbullying
  • Cyber Harassment
• Cyberbullying


  Bullying that takes place using electronic technology
• Cyber Harassment


  Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to harass, control, manipulate or habitually disparage a person
• The Evolving Concept of the Extended Digital Self

  • Belk investigated the individual consumer behavior in the context of a then emerging technological environment
• Needed Extended Self Updates Due to Sharing

  • Self Revelation
  • Loss of Control
  • Shared Digital Possessions and Aggregate Self
  • Shared Sense of (Cyber) Space
• Self Revelation


  The sharing of information about self online facilitated by the disinhibition and confessional effects means that it is now far easier to present ourselves in ways that would have been awkward and best in pre-digital times
• Loss of Control


  It is harder to control all our digital self-representations when others may re-share with unintended audience
• Shared Digital Possessions and Aggregate Self


  When things are jointly owned, they are also likely to be more relevant to the aggregate level of self-encompassing those with whom they are shared
• Shared Sense of (Cyber) Space


  We consider cyberspace as a public place that is occupied by a partially rotating set of participants
• Watching television sex can influence adolescents' sexual attitude and behavior
• Sexting


  Refers to sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit messages, photographs or images, primarily between mobile phones
• Smart Sharing


  • Is this post/story necessary?
  • Is there a real benefit to this post, is it funny, warm hearted, teachable or am I just making noise online without purpose?
  • Have we resolved this issue? Issue being worked at home, should not be in public.
  • Will this seem as funny in 5, 10, 15 years? Or is this post better suited for sharing with small group of people.
• Being a Good Web Citizen


  • Stick to safer sites
  • Guard your passwords
  • Limit what you share
  • Remember that anything you put online or post on a site is there forever, even if you try to delete it.
  • Do not be mean or embarrass people online.
  • Be choosy about your online friends.