This week, we talked about single and multiple online identity as well as their benefits and drawbacks. I have also learned how to use PowToon to create interesting and fun animated videos.
Based on my comment and what I have read on Jian Wen’s blog, I have learned that multiple identities can be viewed as a good or bad motive. This motive will thus determine whether the person is authentic or not. Also, pseudonyms are not necessary a bad thing like what I had imagined before. The infographic below demonstrates the differences between good and bad motive.
(Self produced using canva, 2017)
As mentioned above, Photoshop can be a method of creating false appearances online. Below are some examples of Chinese netizens photoshopping themselves beyond recognition.
(Source: Koreaboo, 2017)
You may also find some interesting stories of ‘sockpuppetry’ here which I had shared with Jian Wen.
Another blog I have read and commented on was Gladys’. Her post had made me questioned myself whether we are having an online identity crisis, due to the differing viewpoint of Mark Zuckerberg and Danah Boyd. The video below shows how Facebook and Google are trying to “push” users into signing in with a single account, thus aggregating users into a single identity. All these are done without the user knowing, even though acknowledgement or consent has been given.
(Self produced video using PowToon, 2017, Source: Wired)
By doing so, the privacy and security of users will be at risks. Furthermore, Google has recently admitted that they have been tracking Android users even with location service turned off and sim cards taken out (Gibbs, 2017).
Therefore, regardless of having a single or multiple online identity, the most important factor is to protect your identity and prevent personal information from getting stolen using methods I had suggested to Gladys.
Word Count: 300
References:
Gibbs, S. (2017, November 22). Technology: Google has been tracking Android users even with location services turned off. Retrieved from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/nov/22/google-track-android-users-location-services-turned-off-sim
Koreaboo. (2017, October 16). These Chinese Girls Are Going Viral For Being Photoshop Masters. Retrieved from Koreaboo: https://www.koreaboo.com/buzz/chinese-girls-are-going-viral-for-being-photoshop-masters/
Lee, G. (2017, November 22). Topic 3: Single Online Identity vs. Multiple Online Identity. Retrieved from WordPress.com: https://gladysleehy.wordpress.com/2017/11/20/topic-3-single-online-identity-vs-multiple-online-identity/
Lee, N. (2016, March 4). Having multiple online identities is more normal than you think. Retrieved from Engadget: https://www.engadget.com/2016/03/04/multiple-online-identities/
Pay, J. (2017, November 22). Am I Who You Think I Am? Retrieved from WordPress.com: https://payjianwenjournal.wordpress.com/2017/11/20/am-i-who-you-think-i-am/
Seife, C. (2014, July 29). The weird reasons why people make up false identities on the internet. Retrieved from Wired: https://www.wired.com/2014/07/virtual-unreality-the-online-sockpuppets-that-trick-us-all/
Vronay, D. (2014, November). The Online Identity Crisis. Retrieved from Wired: https://www.wired.com/insights/2014/11/the-online-identity-crisis/
Zimmer, M. (2010, May 14). Facebook’s Zuckerberg: “Having two identities for yourself is an example of a lack of integrity”. Retrieved from Michael Zimmer: http://www.michaelzimmer.org/2010/05/14/facebooks-zuckerberg-having-two-identities-for-yourself-is-an-example-of-a-lack-of-integrity/
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