Digital reputation:
As Daniel Solove stated, “The Internet makes gossip a permanent reputational stain, one that never fades. It is available around the world, and with Google it can be readily found in less than a second” (Solove, 31). After reading this I decided to look at many of the different social networks that I have contributed to such as Facebook to look at it from an “outsiders” perspective. I found some positive pictures and quotes from my mission trip and memorable quotes from the bible and a recent movie I watched Eat,Pray,Love. However, I also found a few pictures of me celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays that may lead some people to have a more negative viewpoint of my reputation. “Once information about us finds its way into the minds of others, we can’t control what they think about it. Our ability to exercise control consists of being able to limit the circulation of information about us.” (Solove, 35) For this reason, I only allow friends and family to access my Facebook account and have chosen not to link it to my blog. On the other hand, while I was looking at the information that I found while searching MIT's Personas project there was some information about me that was left out because I had a name change at the age 20. I was published under my previous name and it is not connected with my new name when I did a search. It made me wonder, once a girl gets married and changes her last name is she now starting over with a new digital identity and losing her old? I am very proud that I am published and it bothers me that people will never know this unless I give them my former name.
As Solove says, “Hence the conflict: we want information to flow openly, for this is essential to a free society, yet we also want to have some control over the information that circulates about us, for this is essential to our freedom as well.” (Solove,35). As a teacher and as a role model to my students I feel I need to be more aware of the pictures and comments my friends and I post on the social networks, keeping in mind that the audience that sees this information may not always be what I initially intended.
References:
Solove, Daniel J. (2007) The Futureof Reputation: Gossip, Rumor and Privacy on the Internet, New Haven and London: Yale University Press.
Tricia, I could not agree more with the fact that it's nice being published when it's positive. On the other hand, I feel like in this digital age a lot of information can be misconstrued and even inaccurate when put in the wrong hands. Especially when we are talking about the students that we serve.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we want information to flow freely, but to an extent. I keep my facebook account public for anyone to view, but I'm drifting towards blocking access to certain individuals. You never know who, maybe one of you friends, may post a picture of you that you deem inappropriate that they feel fine about posting. I'm very particular too about pictures of me at parties, etc. I think educators are held to a higher standard, which is positive, but sometimes an innocent picture can turn into someone communicating something totally different than what really was there. Words are powerful and when someone doesn't see the picture, but is told, "Oh, did you see Mrs. so and so's picture on her facebook page?" "She was out partying and having a great time with her friends!" This is not a negative statement when we are talking amongst our friends, but I definitely would be uncomfortable if one of my students heard that.
Tricia you said, as a teacher and as a role model to my students I feel I need to be more aware of the pictures and comments my friends and I post on the social networks, keeping in mind that the audience that sees this information may not always be what I initially intended.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. It is because of this same reason I deleted my facebook account. Although these sights are used for social networking one must be careful. It's not only what you post that people look at but they also look at comments from your friends. As the saying goes you are known by the company you keep.
Tricia said I also found a few pictures of me celebrating I found some pictures that others put out of me that I am not sure I want students and parents to see. I have been asking people to take my pictures of thier myspace and other web sites. (really not many horrible pictures but I know others might not understand)
ReplyDeleteI also have to congratulate you on being published! That is a wonderful thing.
It is amazing how our past can catch up to us so fast. It’s almost not fair for today’s children. They will have a lifetime of Internet activities to answer to. It will shape how they are perceived throughout their life. We have only a couple of decades to worry about, imagine they trouble the Web can create for the future graduate wanting to get hired as a professional.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, media can be controlled by you, I almost forgot how others can unintentionally take pictures and print them. This can add to your profile in both negative and positive ways. I prefer not to post pictures of other people, and have asked for my picture not to be used, before. It’s amazing, just yesterday I had to remind a parent that they couldn’t use their iPhone to take video and pictures while picking up their child. Not that I really could care it’s a nice moment, but with the OCPS Media Policy I have no way to know who has permission from their parents to be photographed and who doesn’t have permission. This is just one of the tiniest little things that we have to do to protect and remember as a teacher.
As my Facebook, was given an off name, and is locked down, it still doesn’t stop someone from going onto it and showing 20 people at a part you page. Please it actually makes me feel guilty not to “friend “someone. And then the next day you get the, “why didn’t you friend me” question. In the back of your mind, you’re thinking because absolutely one thing on your page I find acceptable, you have to quickly come up with some lame excuse. The page my wife and I have we combined, and use it mainly for pictures of our son, so his grandparents can what him grow up. It actually doesn’t get used through the year until summer. But your right what other people post of you can cause just as much damage as what you post. My advice, don’t let people take your picture, become invisible or erase all the hard drives in the world. Not any of that is possible, but it could work.