Blog
Online Identity
Online identity is all the information we leave on the Internet - It’s our digital footprint. With such details as our email address, social media posts, and even our purchasing habits on online stores.
When we’re online, we can be anyone that we want. For most people, this might mean carefully curating our social media content to make ourselves seem a little bit cooler, a touch funnier or leading a slightly more glamorous life than we are in reality. It’s natural and understandable, certainly – but is it exactly honest? What’s more, if we expect other people to believe these subtle modifications, how do we know that what we’re being shown online about other people’s lives is genuine?
It’s often hard to step back and recognise that most things posted on social media are only highlights of others’ lives – and don’t include everything that happens behind the scenes. We might find ourselves scrolling through social media and comparing our lives to what we see online, but we must remind ourselves that it's only a snapshot of that person’s life; that person likely has other day-to-day struggles that they’re not sharing on social media.
Here are some key points to consider:
- Take a social media break – It is possible to temporarily delete apps from your devices without actually deleting your account. This can be a good way of taking a break without having to remove everything.
- Remember that nothing is temporary online – the internet is a place of “no takebacks” – what you do can be seen even if you delete it.
- Remember that what others post doesn’t always reflect reality – It’s often just a distorted view of life, so remember that what you see online isn’t always everything.
- Take a breather to avoid "flaming” - Feel like firing off an angry text or comment? Wait a few minutes, calm down, and remember that the comments may stay long after you've regained your temper or changed your mind.
- Avoid using social media at night – studies show that night-time social media use can have a worse impact on mental health.
- Check yourself - Check your "digital footprint." Try typing your screen name or email address into a search engine and see what comes up.
- Take it offline – In general if you have questions about your trail or what you might be posting try talking to the person in real life. It’s often much easier!
Your online identity and reputation are shaped in much the same way as your real-life identity. But when you're online you don't always get a chance to explain your tone or what you mean or explain that there are other things happening in your life. Thinking before you post and being responsible can help you avoid leaving an online identity trail you regret or that deliberately misleads others.
