Thursday 28 February 2013

The Path of Least Resistance: Social Media and Relationships

The Path, Photo of myself (2011)
Energy takes the path of least resistance; it's the law of physics.  As I explore the complexities of how and why humans are utilizing technology, I can't help but wonder, are humans using social media as the path of least resistance?  Sacks and Graves (2012) point out all too clearly that "the use of social media lends itself well to many of the impression management techniques...such as personal branding (p. 80) which provides individuals with a quick and simple tool to pick and choose the best images that create immediate impressions on those that view the tailored profile.  Immediate consideration of this opportunity sounds incredible.  Within minutes, anyone can create custom tailored profile suitable for any image an individual wishes to portray.  Are we concerned at all about perfectionism, vanity or narcissism when creating the self-brand? How many imperfect Avatars are being created or profiles that include pictures of our bad hair, wrinkles, or when we're feeling unfit?                    

The amount of time needed to create a real life image requires repetitive physical/social interaction, sensory acquisition, emotional engagement and is dependent upon a continual impression based on how you and the other individual/s behave.  Pollet, Roberts, and Dunbar (2011) explain it perfectly when they state, "Time is a crucial constraint shaping primate sociality, and recent diary studies...have shown that time spent using a computer does negatively affect time spent interacting... (p. 256). Social networking sites, online messaging, texting, emailing, are all ways to create a highly efficient forum for interacting, creating an impression, building a reputation that doesn't require the confidence of face-to-face verbal conversation but may give the impression of confidence.  And what about the idea of building character?  Are we no longer concerned about real life human integrity?  How do we create that in a matter of hours or days? Can we trust the images we are being provided with?  

Relationships are being formed online via new virtual societies and Brown (2011) indicates that "we will see an increasing transition from basic matchmaking sites to sites that enable people to actually go out on online dates" (p. 30).  It seems even love is happening with less effort and takes the saying, "falling effortlessly in love" to a whole new dimension.  Have we forgotten the saying, "if it wasn't difficult, it wouldn't be worth it?"  I can't help but wonder if we're short changing the journey for the end results, and feeling less satiated because of it.

I love what technology has enabled us to accomplish, "bringing people together who would not otherwise be in the same place for business meetings, financial planning, meal sharing" (Brown, A., 2012, p.34) online education, and perhaps we are enabled to express ourselves with less restraint because of the space, time, and consideration writing provides us with; "greater self-disclosure and thus for communication to become unusually intimate and hyper-personal, leading to stronger relationships" (Pollet et al., 2011, p. 257).  I also love making an effort, being brave, trying new things, facing my insecurities, stepping out of my comfort zones and if there is a balance to be achieved between online and offline relationships it will need the acknowledgement of the masses. Mutual agreement and understanding in what habits/behaviours are acceptable need to be met.  If there are those who wish to live and build relationships in the virtual world, will they influence the potential for others who wish to live and build relationships in the real world? Are they willing to forgo the path of least resistance?



References: 

Brown, A. (2011). Relationships, community, and identity in the new virtual society. The Futurist, 45(2), 29-34. Retrieved from:http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/58079646/relationships-community-identity-new-virtual-society
 Pollet, T. V., Roberts, S. G. B., &  Dunbar, R. I. M. (2011). Use of social network sites and instant messaging does not lead to increased offline social network size, or to emotionally closer relationships with offline network members. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 14(4), 253-258. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2010.0161
Sacks, M., & Graves, N. (2012). How many "friends" do you need? Teaching students how to network using social media. Business Communication Quarterly, 75(1), 80-88.

Thursday 14 February 2013

Digital Footprints in the Sand

You leave footprints on the internet, just as you leave fingerprints on everything you touch.  Our online existence is like our digital DNA and while you type in your searches, click your preferences, navigate through the sites, "every movement, every transaction, every record - is woven into a single virtual database" which is and will always be your individual "digital footprint" (Weaver, S.D. & Gahegan, M., 2007, p. 329).  Are you mindful of this every time you log on to your internet?  Does this information change the way you perceive, interact, and live your online existence? Please visit Lisa Nielson's website http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2011/08/discover-what-your-digital-footprint.html for effective ways to take control of your digital footprint (Nielson, L., 2011).  I found this site illuminating!

Do you know that most of your choices, preferences and interactions are being tracked, observed, tapped, surveyed and/or used by marketing companies?  Kligiene (2012, p.71) explains that "personal data are the new fuel for the internet and the true currency of [the] digital world".  He goes on to confirm that the majority of most internet users would not give permission to online companies to use "behavioural advertising", and though efforts have been made by public policy-makers to protect the privacy of digital citizens, these protection rights are insufficient.

Do you think it is important for e-society to be well informed of these issues?  Do you believe digital citizens have a right to privacy, and a right to say whether they consent to the public use of their digital footprints or not?  Technology, if used in an ethical context can provide the e-world with extraordinary benefits however, there is ample room for data-errors which can later be used against an individual and in the digital context Weaver and Gahegan (2007, p. 345) agree, "guilt by association in these spaces becomes more prevalent and the number of coincidences necessary to significantly"colour" one's digital persona decreases...the ability to manipulate digital personae or to misinterpret them increases."

With your privacy and safety concerns in check, you can take this knowledge and put it to use by creating a digital footprint that benefits e-society (Richardson, W. 2008, p.18).  Manoeuvring through your digital existence with integrity, strength of good character, high moral standards, and a code of ethics will contribute to your online communities in a positive, educational way. We need to be aware of our rights and privacy in order to set a good example for children who look to adults and educators to set the example for safe, respectful, and open methods of communication (Cassidy, W. Brown, K. & Jackson, M., 2012, p. 529) because we never know who or how others may be observing our digital footprints.   How does this influence your future online choices?


References:


Cassidy, W., Brown, K. N., & Jackson, M. (2012). ‘Under the radar’: Educators and cyberbullying in schools. School Psychology International, 33(5), 520–532.  Retrieved from:

KligienÄ—, S. (2012). Digital footprints in the context of professional ethics. Informatics In Education11(1), 65-79.  Retrieved from:

Nielsen, Lisa. (2011, August 19).  Discover what your digital footprint says about you.  The Innovative Educator.  Retrieved from:http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2011/08/discover-what-your-digital-footprint.html


Richardson, W. (2008). Footprints in the digital age. Educational Leadership66(3), 16-19.  Retrieved from: http://ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ817754&site=ehost-live

Weaver, S. D., & Gahegan, M. (2007). Constructing, visualizing and analyzing a digital footprint. Geographical Review97(3), 324-350.  Retrieved from:



Thursday 7 February 2013

Privacy and Professionalism in Online Social Media?

The paradox of privacy and professionalism in online social media creates confusion and conflicting views on what is appropriate for many digital citizens.  Is it fair for employers to terminate their employees based on comments and images posted on their employees' Facebook profiles?  Is it possible that firing someone based on their comments and photographs infringe on their human rights? What message is this sending to digital citizens?

There are numerous social media sites with varying degrees of privacy options and uses, but I think we can all agree that the first and main purpose of social media, is for students' social interaction not professional interaction (Teclehaimanot, B., & Hickman, T., 2011, p. 20).  If one wanted to use a social media site geared specifically towards professional interaction, one would likely choose LinkedIn which was specifically designed as a professional networking site.  Perhaps the first order of business would be to clarify and come to an international consensus on the purposes of each social media site.  The second order of business might be to ensure the laws of digital citizenry are being learned and applied to all social media sites and mediums.  If every digital citizen upheld their legal obligations, then there should be no reason for employers to feel it necessary to terminate their employees because they have not committed a crime.  Is this a fair statement?  Are their other factors that should be considered?

It is possible that firing someone based on their social networking profile could be infringing on their human rights.  I would like to use the example of our Canadian right to the freedom of speech, "Section 2(b) of the Charter states that "Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: ...freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication" (Magnet, J., 2002).  Canadian law may not be agreed upon by all citizens but freedom of speech is in fact the law and allowing digital citizens to express themselves, whether through photographic images or written comments is the law of freedom of thought, belief and opinions in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Beliefs (Government of Canada, online web document, 2012, p. 2).  

What is the message employers are sending that terminating an employee based on the expressions (which includes visual images) used on social media profiles sends to the general public?  Well, what do you think?

References: 

Government of Canada (2012) The Canadian Charter of Rights and Beliefs. Information Archived on the Web. Retrieved from: http://publications.gc.ca/site/archivee-archived.html?url=http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/CH37-4-3-2002E.pdf

Harte, H. (2011). E-professionalism for early care and education providers. Dimensions Of Early Childhood, 39(3), 3-10.

Magnet, J. (2002). Constitutional-law.net.  Retrieved from: http://www.constitutional-law.net/expression.html).

Schachter, R. (2011). The Social Media Dilemma. District Administration, 47(7), 27-33.

Teclehaimanot, B., & Hickman, T. (2011). Student-teacher interaction on facebook: what students find appropriate. Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 55(3), 19-30.

Thomas, Gordon. (2009, May 5). Teachers and Facebook, ATA News, 43(17). Retrieved from http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Publications/ATA%20News/Volume%2043/Number17/Pages/QA.aspx