IT’S NOT THE END, BUT THE BEGINNING

12 days of #MANG2049 have gone past in a blink of an eye and it is finally the end of the module. Even though the class has come to a close, the knowledge and skills learnt from this module will carry me through as I continue to develop myself in the digital world.

Source: Self-Produced Via Biteable, Information Via #MANG2049

When the module first started, there was a self-test that all of us had to complete. This self-test questioned the various aspects of our digital profiles from the way we manage our online identity to how we collaborate with others.

After I took the test, the results showed that I scored moderately in all the aspects and this allowed me to see that I had a long way to go in understanding how to manoeuvre through the digital space.

Source: Self-Produced Via Piktochart, Information Via #MANG2049

In this blog post, I will be touching on some of the aspects that have influenced my journey drastically as well as what I plan to focus on for the future.

Accessing, Managing and Evaluating Online Information

Like any other user of the digital space, we become more reliant on social media such as Facebook and Twitter to get our news. However, as the number of channels increases so too does the avenue for fake news. Before going through #MANG2049, I seldom cross-checked information to challenge its authenticity. However, I have learnt to be more adept at accessing and evaluating online information.

Source: Self-Produced Via Biteable, Information Via Aaron Wong

One drastic change that I have adopted is to use the 3 C’s concept. This concept has allowed me to check the authenticity of any article by checking the citations, comparing it to other news outlets and reading the comments. So far, this concept has enabled me to filter out bad information and allowed me to be a more responsible user of the digital space.

Managing Your Online Identity

Source: Self-Produced Via Piktochart & Gighy

Being a responsible user of the digital space also requires me to maintain a positive identity online. Through the course, I noticed the change in me of a digital visitor to being a digital resident. Before #MANG2049, the concept of single and multiple identities was non-existent to me. I only knew to have a single identity which provided me with the ease of convenience as well as a high level of authenticity.

Unfortunately, a single identity approach has proven to be riskier. In this digital era, our personal information is widely available on the internet due to us oversharing on social media and this can lead to identity theft. Furthermore, as more employers screen the social media accounts of prospective employees, no matter how much I try to clean my social media account up, a random tagged post could ruin my chances.

As such, I have realised the importance of having multiple identities online, separating the personal from the professional to minimise these risks and am taking steps to better manage my online identity.

Source: Self-Produced Via Piktochart, Information Via Futurelearn (2017)

The Future

As a person who is looking into a career in Digital Marketing, there is a need for me to understand the digital space and be experienced in handling different situations online.

Source: Screenshot of LinkedIn’s Profile

But first, in order to kick-start my career, I will have to successfully manage both my personal and professional identities online. On the professional side, some actionable items that I plan to start would be to create a LinkedIn profile so that future employers can find me easily. In addition, I will follow thought leaders on the Digital Marketing sphere so that I can participate in the online community there and learn from them.

Being a Digital Marketer would mean having to live and breathe the goings-on around the internet. This means that discerning true information from deceiving ones has to be second nature to me. I may have some tools that will aid my learning but there is more than I have to learn by myself on how to verify information online.

Furthermore, as social media like Facebook and Instagram are important for a Digital Marketer, it is important that I keep up with the trends. As such, I plan to focus on curating posts on my Instagram and Facebook so that future employers who conduct social media scanning will observe that I am adept at handling myself on public domains and am up to date with the latest happenings.

Even though #MANG2049 is only the surface into an otherwise very deep ocean of digital experiences, I believe that having this solid foundation will aid me in my future endeavours. This course presented me with a very in-depth learning experience of the digital sphere through the use of blogging, Twitter and virtual seminars. Learning from these avenues also created a hands-on experience to developing a digital profile instead of just studying it 2-dimensionally. Despite it being the end, the building of my digital profile does not stop here and this is only the beginning of an exciting journey.

Last but not least, I want to thank all of my #MANG2049’s coursemates as well as Lisa, Sarah and Nicholas for the enriching experience.

(886 Words)

Reference:

Kathy Dyer (2015). The Importance of Student Self-Assessment. [online] Available: https://www.nwea.org/blog/2015/the-importance-of-student-self-assessment/

Wong Siew Ying (2016). ‘1 in 3 Singapore Consumers’ in Card Fraud. [online] Available: http://www.straitstimes.com/business/1-in-3-spore-consumers-victims-of-card-fraud

Chad Brooks (2017). Keep It Clean: Social Media Screening Gain In Popularity. [online] Available: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2377-social-media-hiring.html

Futurelearn (2017). What Is Your Network Identity? [online] Available: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/learning-network-age/3/steps/263025

 

 

Reflection on Topic 3

Before #MANG2049, I never knew that there was a difference between having a single or multiple identity and always thought that having a consistent image throughout all social media platforms was the most effective. However, after going through this course and learning from my coursemates, I have learnt that having a single identity not only has a high chance of identity theft but also an even greater risk of the “unintended”.

After reading Aaron’s blog, he came up with a unique concept called F.A.C.E.S which can be used to identify the type of identity suitable for an individual.

Source: Self Produced

Aaron also uses the analogy of a Masquerade to demonstrate the idea of being anonymous online. Anonymity is a useful identity to have because it reduces the risk of identity theft and increases freedom of speech. Despite the many benefits, some people take it for granted and abuse this identity. As such, it is important to educate users on their social responsibility on the web and to also have safety nets in place when deviants slip through the cracks.

In addition, Sarah’s comment on having multiple identities on social media platforms such as LinkedIn has shown me that it is indeed a useful tool to have when trying to separate the personal from the professional.

Learning from this course, I have decided to adopt the integrated single identity- one identity for each social media platform. This identity is a mixture of both the single and multiple identity and allows me to remain authentic while still differentiating between personal and professional.

In conclusion, at the end of the day, no matter what identity is used, it is important to be a responsible user and be authentic in how you behave online.

(289 Words)

Comments:

Sarah

Aaron

 

 

IDENTITY OR IDENTITIES

Source: Yahoo News

Most Singaporean should remember this infamous story which saw an NTUC Assistant Director fired for posting racist remarks on Facebook. Amy Cheong the NTUC Assistant Director has a single online identity on Facebook, which combines both her personal and professional identities. At the heat of the moment, an ‘unintended’ remark ruined her career. Personally, this incident has forced me to review our interactions on social media and has also changed the way I post on public domains.

But before delving into what am I, let’s take a look at what network identity is.

Source: Self-produced Via Piktochart, using information from Futurelearn (2017)

I believe that different people will use a different approach to network identity. As it higher depends on our digital difference. A resident would most likely have multiple identities while a visitor would have a single identity.

I choose to use the “single identity” approach to the Web. As said from Topic 1, I am more of a digital visitor compare to being a digital resident. Hence, most of the cons for single identity does not reflect on me. I find the single identity approach to be more convenient and it allows others to connect with me. At the same time, I give others the authenticity feel.

After #MANG2049, I find myself growing from a digital visitor to a digital resident. It made me realised that I have to integrate the use of “single identity” approach and I need to start “defining” my identity. For example, I have to “Clean Up” my social media account such as deleting inappropriate post or photos and improving my privacy and security by changing the settings.

(272 Words)

Reference:

FutureLearn. (2017). What is your network identity? – Learning in the Network Age – University of Southampton. [online] Available: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/learning-network-age/3/steps/263025

Jeanette Tan (2012). NTUC Fires Assitant Director. [online] Available: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ntuc-assistant-director-says-sorry-for-racist-post.html

Reputation Defender (2016). Digital Identity: What is it, and Why is so important to manage? [online] Available : https://reputationdefendertestimonials.com/digital-identity-important-manage/

White, D. and Le Cornu, A. (2011). Visitors and Residents: A new typology for online engagement. [online] Available: http://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3171/3049

 

Reflection on Topic 2

In this digital era, information is obtained easily. But there’s a catch, how much of it is real? Before #MANG2049, I never knew that a wrong piece of information sometimes could mean life and death. Therefore, there is a need to learn about them.

Source: Self – Produced Via Pikochart

From Shilin‘s blog, I understand that there may be propaganda behind the news. But we as an individual cannot do much about it. To protect ourselves, the importance of evaluating information becomes our top priority.

Source: Self – Produced Via Pikochart

From Aaron‘s blog, I learnt about a simple way to remember how to evaluate the quality of information and it is using the 3 C’s.

From Jianwen‘s blog, I learnt that everyone plays a role in countering “Fake News”. As an individual, we need to be critical of the information we receive so as to gain a wider perspective. Government as well as the media organisations, such as Facebook and Twitter, are trying to combat the situation.

From Jennifer‘s comment, I learnt that the Singapore government will soon be implementing a new law to punish the maker of fake news. This will provide a warning to those troublemakers that there will be consequences as well as inform citizens the seriousness of fake news.

In this time of crisis, every individual plays an important role on the Web. There is a saying – “People aren’t always going to be there for you, that’s why you learn to handle things on your own.” Web users need to learn to have good judgement of whether an information is reliable and have to be responsible for what they create as well as sharing of information.

(283 Words)

Comments:

JIAN WEN

SHI LIN

AARON

Reference:

Media Literacy – Learning in the Network Age – University of Southampton. (n.d.).  Retrieved November 16, 2017, from https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/learning-network-age/3/steps/263021

Data Literacy – Learning in the Network Age – University of Southampton. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2017, from https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/learning-network-age/3/steps/263023

Information Literacy – Learning in the Network Age – University of Southampton. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2017, from https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/learning-network-age/3/steps/263022

Josh Constine – Facebook Tries Fighting Fake News. Retrieved November 16, 2017, from https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/05/facebook-article-information-button/

James Carson – Fake News – What exactly is it. Retrieved November 16, 2017, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/0/fake-news-exactly-has-really-had-influence/

 

THE NEW NEWS

 

Source: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

Technology is changing the way we consume “news”. “News” is spreading faster than ever due to increased use of social media platform. But how much of those “news” is authentic and reliable?

In this digital era, information is obtained easily online as there are many search engine available on the Web. Anyone is able to create content on the Web. An example of a fake news will be “Headline: The World Ending In 5 Hours”. If the information is made to believe, it would create chaos.

Living in the 21st century, we need to have good judgement towards the information that we receive. To protect ourselves, we need to learn how to determine real to fake.

Source: Self-produced using information from NPR.org

The future of fake news accrescent. Solon (2017) suggested that there is a new manipulation tool which allows the creation of realistic looking footage of public figures appearing to say anything. We were told not to believe everything that we read. But soon, even questioning what we see and hear as well.

In conclusion, having good judgement may not be enough. Fake news has become a global issue. Media organisations would have to strive to meet the needs of readers for reliable and credible information to make sense of the changes taking place. Government around the world have to educate every individual on the Web to learn how to spot fake news as well as being a responsible user. The individual will need to evaluate and analyse to find out the truth.

If we do nothing, trolls could rip apart countries and threaten values that we hold dearly.

(276 Words)

Reference:

Wynne Davis (2016). Fake Or Real? How To Self-Check The News And Get The Facts. [online] Available: https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/12/05/503581220/fake-or-real-how-to-self-check-the-news-and-get-the-facts

Olivia Solon (2017). The Future Of Fake News. [online] Available: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jul/26/fake-news-obama-video-trump-face2face-doctored-content

 

Reflection on Topic 1

Source: Self-produced Via Piktochart

#MANG2049 have changed my views about the Web. Reading through my friends’ blog, each and every one of them has different viewpoints. All of them are right and there is no correct answer in this sense. Digital difference is something that we cannot avoid. Everyone is brought up differently and have their own set of perspective.

There are 4 main takeaways from Topic 1 which are as following:

Balance – We have to strive for balance when dealing with the digital world. There are cases of addiction and health issues derive. People get lost in the virtual world and neglect their health. Therefore, a balance is needed when using the Web.

Learning – The internet is a useful tool for learning. It enhances learning by providing more information and visual aids. As quoted from Rebecca – “Allowing me to learn online at my own pace as well as practice independent learning by figuring out ways to aid my learning through the Web.”

Motivation – One of the most important factors that affect learning whether using or not using technology. As quoted from Amoz – “It is possible that self-will can seek to surpass that, depending on an individual will.”

Guidance – Living in a country where internet is easily accessible, guidance is needed for our younger generations to learn how to be online responsible as well as learn how to use technology effectively.

In conclusion, the internet is a powerful tool for learning. As quoted from Shih Ying – “Studies have shown that by using technology-enabled learning, it allows learners to tap on resources and expertise anywhere around the world. (US, Department of Education, 2017)” But we can only learn so much based on the level of motivation. Hence, we need guidance and achieve a balance when using the Web.

(300 Words)

Comments:

https://rbcmang2049.wordpress.com/2017/11/10/topic-1-evaluation-of-digital-differences-on-how-i-interact-with-the-web/#comment-1

https://tshihying.wordpress.com/2017/11/10/digital-difference/#comment-2

https://amozk.wordpress.com/2017/11/10/digital-differences-interactions-implications-topic-1/#comment-1

 

DIGITAL DIFFERENCES

Looking back when my parents was a kid, the Web seems so foreign. But compared to me, the Web seems otherwise. Through Prensky (2011) theory, everyone is either natives or immigrants. But now times have changed, as the Web is incorporated into our daily life.

Samuel (2017) suggest that there are 3 distinct groups of young people based on how parents manage their kids’ use of technology in very different ways.

Digital Orphans – have grown up with a great deal of tech access but very little guidance.

Digital Exiles – are at the opposite extreme, they have been raised with minimal technology.

Digital Heirs –  have impressive tech skills, thanks largely to their parents and teachers.

Being in a well-to-do family, I was fortunate to have access to the Web. I would consider myself as in between orphans and heirs. My parents would not limit my usage and they gave me the freedom to explore. At the same time, they would teach me on how to use it responsibly.

The digital world has enhanced my learning. For example, doing a research. In the past, people would have to go to the library and find articles. But now, we would just have to search it online. Digital learning has changed the way people learn and has helped us to learn better.

I believe that the difference in digital knowledge does cause an effect. It will determine how we progress further. I feel that the way people relate to technology will definitely shape the future.

(273 Words)

Reference:

Alexandra Samuel (2017). Opinion: Forget “Digital Natives.” Heres’s How Kids Are Really Using The Internet [online] Available: https://ideas.ted.com/opinion-forget-digital-natives-heres-how-kids-are-really-using-the-internet/

FutureLearn. (2017). Page from Learning in the Network Age – University of Southampton. [online] Available at: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/learning-network-age/3/steps/263012#fl-comments 

FutureLearn. (2017). Page from Learning in the Network Age – University of Southampton. [online] Available at: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/learning-network-age/3/steps/263013#fl-comments 

WHAT AM I?

What am I? Am I a Digital Resident or a Digital Visitor? Before deciding which one am I, let’s look into what they are individual.

Digital Resident

Digital Resident refers to someone who views the Web as a platform for them to share information and communicate with their friends and family about their daily life. Resident creates an online identity of themselves as they feel comfortable in expressing themselves on social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. The platforms provide them a sense of belonging in the virtual world.

Digital Visitor

Digital Visitor refers to someone who views the Web as a platform for them to use only when the need arises. Digital Visitor does not have an identity and appears anonymous to others. Visitor prefers to socialize face-to-face as compared to using online as a platform for socializing.

Conclusion

Digital Resident and Digital Visitor are the two extreme end of a spectrum. Living in the 21st century, technology has changed the way we communicate with one another. It is impossible to interact without the use of technology. However, every individual engages the Web differently.

Based on the self-test for the current level of digital literacy, I concluded that I am more of a “Visitor” than a “Resident”. In most of it, I rank myself low or close to no experience. Even though I use social media to communicate with my friends, I do not feel comfortable to express my personal opinion on the Web.

Living in this century with the fast-moving technologies, I have to improve my knowledge about the Web to be prepared for the future.

Through this module, I hope to understand more about the digital world and make use of the knowledge that I learnt in the future.

(294 words)

Reference

White, D. S., & Cornu, A. L. (2011). Visitors and Residents: A new typology for online engagement. (Accessed on 09/11/2017)