What is digital identity?

Digital identity means an individual’s digital footprints across online activities, reflecting their characteristics from a digital perspective. This includes personal profiles on various social media sites, chats, networks, and other forms of communication. Individuals can tailor how they present themselves within their digital identity to match the nature of the platform. For instance, people may display different aspects of themselves on professional, personal, and dating platforms, each tailored for a specific purpose.

How do you present yourself on social media platforms for personal use? What kind of content do you share, and how do you manage your privacy?

On WeChat, I typically use Moments to share content and pictures that show the interesting aspects of my life, such as hobbies, food, and scenic views. Sometimes, I also express my opinions on news and events to reflect my personal values. In the past, when I was in a relationship, I would post photos with my girlfriend. Now that I’m single, I focus more on my own experiences rather than pictures with others. I also prefer not to share photos of my family. To manage my privacy, I set the visibility of my posts to six months and block certain individuals, like teachers or internship colleagues, from seeing specific posts to prevent context collapse. Additionally, I am careful not to share overly personal information, such as details about my family members, home address, or phone number.

What steps do you take to maintain a professional image online?

To maintain my professional image online, whether on school platforms, resumes, or recruitment sites, I ensure all information is valuable and relevant to my objectives. For instance, my resume highlights my educational background, contact details, past internships, program experiences, relevant skills, and strengths. I tailor my expression to align with the targeted position and use numbers to demonstrate my achievements. In my cover letter, I convey my passion, insights, and reasons why I am a suitable fit for the job to constructively persuade employers. In China, it’s required to include a personal photo on resumes, so I use a professional headshot. Additionally, when responding to emails or during online interviews, I maintain professionalism by using appropriate language and being familiar with the experiences listed on my resume.

How do personal versus professional approaches to digital identity affect social media use?

People often use different social media platforms to separate their personal and professional lives due to varying presentation logic and nature. For example, my friends typically chat on WhatsApp, share life updates and news on Facebook, follow celebrities and post trendy photos on Instagram, and present professional content on LinkedIn.

Reflect on the challenges and benefits of maintaining personal and professional digital identities. How do you ensure they complement rather than conflict with one another? Provide examples from your own experiences.

I tailor my personal and professional images using different social media platforms. Combining these aspects can be challenging and often depends on the nature of the work. For example, for a sales, I believe a mixed social identity that incorporates appropriate personal information can enhance trustworthiness and authenticity, making the product information seem less driven only by business motives. I also follow some fashion designers on Instagram who effectively merge their personal lives with their professional designs. This approach helps communicate to consumers that their inspirations stem from a genuine, fantastical life, enhancing the designer’s charm.

As a job candidate, however, I choose to focus primarily on my professional attributes because personal opinions or affiliations could lead to biased perceptions by potential employers, potentially disadvantaging me. For instance, if I were applying for a journalist internship at China Media Group, I would need to carefully manage my digital identity. Sharing personal, critical, or radical opinions about the Chinese government could directly jeopardize my chances of securing the position.

Looking ahead, how do you plan to manage your digital identity as social media continues to evolve? What steps will you take to adapt to new platforms and trends while maintaining a consistent and positive digital presence?

As social media continues to evolve, I believe that platforms will enhance their user-friendliness and functionalities. I will stay informed about the latest privacy policies and features to better manage my digital identity in my professional life. I will stay real to tailor my online presence, appropriately reflecting my mood on personal platforms and keeping my professional sites updated with relevant experiences to enhance my career. Additionally, I’m open to exploring new platforms that can help achieve my goals. For instance, if I were to start a business in China, it would be crucial to establish a presence on the Red online community to gain followers and increase exposure.