Final Reflections

This module has taught me a great deal on several topics. However, it is incomparable to the perspectives and skill-sets that I’ve been exposed to while going through this module. Some examples include research techniques and creation of online materials. Beyond proper research techniques and information literacy, I’ve learnt to consider alternate perspectives as well. An example would be how media organizations and their publications can sometimes be aligned with political agenda. While the publications can be legitimate sources of information, they might not be as credible as many might think. These are several takeaways that will go beyond my time in this module and likely, my life as a student in the University of Southampton.

My Digital Self-Test

The digital self-test framework revealed to me that I was very much a digital visitor. Over time, my perspectives and competencies had seen an improvement. An example would be how I’d created infographics on my own. Without this module, I wouldn’t have known about Piktochart as a design tool or even considered designing something other than a resume. I am also more confident in maintaing an online and public profile.

Prior to this module, I shared a very transactional relationship with the Internet. The Internet was, to me, an online toolbox. It was where I’d gone to satisfy my needs online. Some examples include online entertainment, video games, research, and social media. And if I’m being honest, pornography. I limited my participation and interaction online as much as possible and to some extent, still do. My apprehension to digital residency was largely based on my fear of judgment, that nobody would take a young adult seriously on the Internet.

My last instagram post, dated 20th July 2015.

However, the module has since forced me to step out of my comfort zone and take a few steps towards digital residency. I’ve had to create online material for the sake of publishing it, participate in discussions and form a public identity. It was extremely daunting for me to take on the task. Yet, the positive feedback and constructive criticism I’ve received have eased my apprehension towards digital residency.

Feedback Received During Module

The feedback received during this time has helped a lot with my work. This is especially for the constructive criticism I’ve received from Dr Nicholas Fair. It in providing an alternate perspective on the work I’ve done and prevents me from entering an echo chamber.

From here henceforth, I am working towards a more prolific online presence. An example would be setting up my LinkedIn account. Another example would be to start live-streaming my video game sessions on Twitch.

My Personal Twitch.tv Account

A Resume I Designed For E-Sports Companies on LinkedIn

I am positive that my planned online activities will lead to an overall increase in participation on the Internet, a stronger identity and greater digital literacy. Yet, these are merely small steps towards my digital profile. I would have to work on updating my digital profiles with the latest information, curate and manage my existing digital footprints and come up with a consistent post schedule to maintain my relevancy.

Digital Visitor-Resident Continuum

The topics in itself were a huge enlightenment on the Internet as a subject. The topic of Digital Residency provided insights on the type of Internet users around. The topic on Digital Divide allowed me to understand the reasons behind the type of Internet users. The subject of digital, media and information literacy had shed some light on the competencies and skills associated with Internet users. Lastly, the topic on digital identities allowed me to review my personal strategy in managing my online profiles.

However, the topics on digital literacy and identities resonated with me more. Digital literacy consists of media, information, data literacy and skills associated with using the Internet. Being adept at accessing, managing and evaluating online information is a skill that will benefit me beyond the classroom. I will probably be required to conduct research, primary or secondary in a professional capacity. I wouldn’t want to embarrass myself or anyone by submitting false information. People have had their careers ruined over poor data literacy (Lin Yangchen, 2015) Therefore, I will not be able to neglect the importance of digital literacy and its components.

Another important takeaway I’ve had is the importance of digital identities and how I shouldn’t fear the creation of single and public identities.. Digital profiles and identities can often last beyond online learning modules too. I’ve always been a private person online, it’s not a result of my personality or fear of lack of privacy. Rather, I attribute my privateness to a fear of being judged negatively. As a result, my public online activity is almost inexistent. This module has made me realize that nobody starts off with the perfect digital profile or identity strategy. Similar to the blog posts, feedback has allowed me to improve my work over time. Digital profiles work the same way too. I’d like to think that everyone has a voice on the Internet, and how loud you are depends on the quality of what you’re saying. Hence, if I put enough effort into releasing credible and high quality content, I’d no longer have to fear negative judgement.

https://www.powtoon.com/embed/fEhzKAO389T/

Word Count: 874 Words

 

 

Reflection on Topic 3

In the process of reflection, I had read the blogs of my classmates. Two that stood out to me were Alicia’s and Jocelyn’s. Through my understanding of these two blogs, I found that we shared a consensus on the topic of digital identity. However, we each had a separate point of focus.

Self-produced graphic

Without corroborating, we each wrote about how single identities can often be seen as more ‘authentic’. However, Alicia shared more on the dangers of having a single identity on the Internet. In contrast, Jocelyn and I shared the same view on how multiple identities can cater to different audiences and contexts.

This revealed to me that the single-multiple identity dichotomy is still largely a personal choice to people. 70% of employers were found to screen the social media accounts of potential candidates (Salm, 2017). It provides an incentive for Internet users to manage a single identity, to appear authentic and desirable to potential employers. Yet, Internet users persist in managing multiple identities.

Self-produced graphic

Also, I came to realize that the authenticity of single identities was wrapped in apostrophes in all our of blog posts. Are single identities truly a more authentic representation of Internet users in reality? Internet users were found to present an idealized version of themselves as opposed to an accurate representation of themselves (Haimson & Hoffman, 2016).

In reality, people own multiple identities and behave differently in different social settings (Goffman,1959). For every identity that an individual has, there exists a ‘back-stage’ area for them to revert to their true selves. Yet, individuals with multiple digital identities are perceived to be less authentic than their counterparts with single digital identities.

By this evaluation, the authenticity of single digital identities is flawed.

Word Count: 298 words

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Salm, L. (2017). 70% of employers are snooping candidates’ social media profiles | CareerBuilder. [online] Careerbuilder.com. Available at: https://www.careerbuilder.com/advice/social-media-survey-2017 [Accessed 20 Nov. 2017].
2.  Haimson, O., & Hoffmann, A. (2016). Constructing and enforcing “authentic” identity online: Facebook, real names, and non-normative identities. First Monday, 21(6). doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.5210/fm.v21i6.6791
3. Goffman. (1959). The Presentation of Self: Goffman’s Dramaturgical Model. Available at: https://web.csulb.edu/~hmarlowe/SOC335/Goffman_Dramaturgical_Model.pdf

 

COMMENTED ON

1. Alicia’s blog
2. Jocelyn’s blog

 

Online Identities : The Types of Online Identities

The proliferation of the Internet has led us to another problem: online identities. A sizable amount of employers incorporate the candidate’s social media identities into the screening process (Forbes, 2013). There are several ways to manage online identities. One can maintain a single identity or adopt multiple personalities, including public or anonymous ones.

Self-produced graphic

A singular identity across different networks can present both advantages and disadvantages. It allows one to establish a more reachable presence and can benefit community engagement (Costa & Torres, 2011). It can demonstrate trustworthiness and high levels of authenticity to interested audiences (Hogan, 2010). It is also easier for others to find and connect to the individual. (Costa & Torres, 2011)

However, the lack of distinction between personae and content from a single identity can lead to negative outcomes. An example would be how an assistant director of a trade union congress in Singapore posted was sacked for posting derogatory remarks on Malays (Durai, 2012).It may also cause a lack of privacy. (Costa & Torres, 2011) A single online identity is also more susceptible to identity fraud (National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, 2017).

 

Self-produced graphic

Multiple online identities may also present advantages and disadvantages. It allows one to separate different personae and tailor each to relevant audiences and contexts (University of Southampton, 2017). It allows the individual to create a private backstage, where the individual can be relieved from the pressures of keeping up appearances of public identities (Hogan, 2010).

However, it may lead to higher risks of displaying inauthenticity or the lack of integrity on these identities. It would also require more effort to manage and curate multiple profile (University of Southampton, 2017).

 

Think of a single identity and multiple identities as a coffee machine v.s. a soda fountain. A coffee machine serves limited beverages whilst the soda fountain can serve different consumer drinks. The latter requires more effort to fill up.

Word Count: 304

Bibliography

Costa, C. & Torres, R., 2011. To be or not to be, the importance of Digital Identity in the networked society, s.l.: University of Salford, UK, i2Cat Foundation .

Durai, J., 2012. NTUC assistant director sacked for racist remarks, Singapore: The Straits Times.

Hogan, B., 2010. The Presentation of Self in the Age of Social Media: Distinguishing Performances and Exhibitions Online, s.l.: SAGE Publications.

National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, 2017. Identity fraud reaches record levels, U.K: National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre.

University of Southampton, 2017. What is your network identity?. [Online]
Available at: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/learning-network-age/3/steps/263025
[Accessed 20 November 2017].

Commented On

1. Alicia’s blog
2. Jocelyn’s blog

 

Topic 2: Are We Ready To Do Away With Censorship For Improvements in Digital Literacy?

In several of my discussions with my classmates on the topic of digital literacy, censorship came up as a key factor. Censorship is the mortal enemy of free speech and the freedom of expression. With limited content from censorship, digital literacy will not grow. However, censorship can provide some benefits to Internet users.

Censorship on the internet can refer to obstacles to access, limits on content and restrictions on the rights of Internet users. (Karlekar & Cook, 2009) Examples include court-ordered internet bans and surveillance on internet use. (United States Courts, n.d.) Censorship can also bring about several benefits. Of which, censorship can prevent child exposure to inappropriate material and from child predators online. (Bremer & Rauch, 1998) In the absence of censorship, Internet users may take offense at materials and commit violence. An example being the Charlie Hebdo attack in France. (Rayner, et al., 2015) Lastly, censorship laws can also promote accountability on the web. A key example would be how a couple behind socio-political website The Real Singapore was charged for publishing an article containing false claims. (Channel News Asia, 2015) Punitive measures for publishing false information deter others from doing so and result in increased accountability for what goes up on the Internet.

Self-produced graphic

On the contrary, censorship can often diminish democracy by stagnating growth of public knowledge. (Moon, 2009) Censorship can also reduce the individual’s responsibility in filtering content on the Internet. Censorship can often infringe on freedom of expression, an internationally recognized human right. (Dutton, et al., 2011) There is also a lack of transparency and accountability in censorship amongst democratic and authoritarian settings. (Karlekar & Cook, 2009) This could eventually lead to misuse of censorship by incumbent governments to silence political dissent.

Are we prepared to make concessions on the benefits of censorship for improvements in digital literacy?

Word Count: 300 Words

Previously Commented On

1. Darren’s blog

2. Marianne’s blog

3. Bernard’s blog

Bibliography

Bremer, J. & Rauch, P. K., 1998. Children and Computers: Risks and Benefits. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 37(5), pp. 559-560.

Channel News Asia, 2015. The Real Singapore duo slapped with 7 charges under Sedition Act. [Online]
Available at: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/the-real-singapore-duo-slapped-with-7-charges-under-sedition-act-8258686
[Accessed 17 November 2017].

Dutton, W. H. et al., 2011. Freedom of connection, freedom of expression: the changing legal and regulatory ecology shaping the Internet, s.l.: UNESCO.

Karlekar, K. D. & Cook, S. G., 2009. Freedom on the Net, s.l.: Freedom House.

Moon, R., 2009. THE SOCIAL CHARACTER OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. Amsterdamn Law Forum, 2(1).

Rayner, G., Samuel, H. & Evans, M., 2015. Charlie Hebdo attack: France’s worst terrorist attack in a generation leaves 12 dead, Paris: The Telegraph.

United States Courts, n.d. Chapter 3: Computer and Internet Restrictions (Probation and Supervised Release Conditions), s.l.: United States Courts.

 

Topic 2 : Digital Literacy And The Reliability of Information

The advent and explosive growth of the Internet has been a major boon to society. However, events like the 2017 U.K General election and 2016 U.S. Presidential election has highlighted the importance of digital literacy.  Digital literacy refers to the “ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.” (American Library Association, 2011) Data, information and media literacy are hence precursors of digital literacy.

How and Why It Affects Me

Original graphic by Kirby Koh Gengshan

As a student, I have often been tasked with research for my assignments. It could come in the form of qualitative or quantitative data. There were times when I had presumably formed conclusions and searched for data to confirm my conclusions. I had unknowingly locked myself within an ‘echo chamber’. (University of Southampton, 2017)

LEARNING IN THE NETWORK AGE – Futurelearn MOOC

There are several cognitive biases that affect me and possibly others as well. Of which, the confirmation bias plays a huge role in shaping media literacy. Confirmation bias is described as “the tendency to tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one’s pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses”. (Center For Media Literacy, 2017)

Importance of Digital Literacy and Its Precursors

Without a certain degree of media and digital literacy, people can often fall prey to misinformation or fake news. This has resulted in consequential or important decisions being made. An example would be the ‘scholarly ‘ article that linked autism to the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Even with the retraction of the article, some parents are still convinced by the misinformation. (Man-pui Sally Chan, 2017)

There have been some measures to counter misinformation. An example being the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act. (United States Congress, 2016) Despite so, this is merely a solution, to the symptom of the problem that is the lack of digital literacy.

Word Count: 310 Words

Bibliography

American Library Association, 2011. Digital Literacy Definition. [Online]
Available at: http://connect.ala.org/node/181197
[Accessed 15 November 2017].

Center For Media Literacy, 2017. Confirmation Bias and Media Literacy. [Online]
Available at: http://www.medialit.org/sites/default/files/connections/Confirmation%20Bias%20and%20Media%20Literacy.pdf
[Accessed 15 November 2017].

Man-pui Sally Chan, C. R. J. K. H. J. D. A., 2017. Debunking: A Meta-Analysis of the Psychological Efficacy of Messages Countering Misinformation. Psychological Science, 28(11), pp. 1531 – 1546.

United States Congress, 2016. S.3274 – Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act. [Online]
Available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/3274
[Accessed 15 November 2017].

University of Southampton, 2017. Media Literacy. [Online]
Available at: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/learning-network-age/3/steps/263021
[Accessed 15 November 2017].

Previously Commented On

1. Darren’s blog

2. Marianne’s blog

3. Bernard’s blog

 

Topic 1 : A Reflection On The Digital Divide

The blog posts of namely, Jennifer Lee, Jerrom Tan and Shanelle Chong have allowed me to grow my understanding of the topic. I had previously adopted a narrow view and perspective on the causes of digital differences. In my first post, I attributed the digital divide to socio-economic factors. Of which, the individual plays an instrumental role in bridging the digital divide.

From a micro-perspective, Jennifer’s blog post reaffirmed my understanding of the impact of socio-economic factors such as age, household income and education level can often result in digital differences. Upon further discussion with Jennifer based on the levels of digital inequalities, she proposed additional factors such as motivation, attitude, willingness and knowledge. This is congruent to Shanelle’s perspective on the importance of individual attitudes and motivation towards shaping digital differences.

From a macro-perspective, Jerrom’s post suggested that the individual might not be able to influence certain factors out of his/her sphere of influence. Macro-environmental factors such as the PESTEL framework have since come to mind.

An example of a legal factor would be China’s Great Wall of Fire, which regulates and outlaws certain content on the Internet.(Albert, 2017) The Chinese citizens are thus unable to access more content on the Internet as freely as the rest of the world.

(Claudio R., 2017)

Another example of a macro-environmental factor would be the cost of household Internet. The average cost for a 1mbps connection in Japan was  $0.27 while the average cost for a 1mbps connection was $10.99 in Portugal. This price disparity could thus create barriers to entry for individuals who wish to interact with the Internet.

(Frucci, 2009)

To conclude, I have since gained a broader perspective on the issue and causes of digital differences and will be looking forward to engage in more discussions on the topic.

Word Count: 305 Words

Bibliography

Albert, E., 2017. Media Censorship in China. [Online]
Available at: https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/media-censorship-china
[Accessed 14 November 2017].

Frucci, A., 2009. Internet Speeds and Costs Around the World, Shown Visually. [Online]
Available at: https://gizmodo.com/5390014/internet-speeds-and-costs-around-the-world-shown-visually
[Accessed 14 November 2017].

R., C., 2017. The Great Firewall Of China – What Is It And How To Bypass It. [Online]
Available at: https://anonymster.com/great-firewall-china-bypass/
[Accessed 14 November 2017].

Previously Commented On

1. Jennifer’s Blog

2. Shanelle’s Blog

 

Topic 1 : My Digital Differences And Its Impact on My Web Interactions

As a millennial in Singapore, I have had the privilege of growing up along with the advent of mainstream Internet. This is the same for most Singaporeans. An infographic published by the Singapore Department of Statistics has revealed that in 2013, 78% of all households had Internet access. (Singapore Department of Statistics, 2017)

Also, there were 4.3 million Internet users (Euromonitor, 2016) in a total population of 5.6 million in Singapore. (Singapore Department of Statistics, 2017)

It has since been established that socio-economic factors such as age, wealth, education and even gender in some societies can lead to digital inequalities or differences. (Robinson, et al., 2015). It is also important to note that digital differences can be further segmented into two levels. The first being Internet usage. The second-level of digital inequalities refer to the skills, participation and efficacy of Internet usage. Even digital ‘Residents’ are not spared from the latter. (Robinson, et al., 2015)

I am 22, a newly-enrolled student in university, belong to a middle-class family and have access to the Internet. These factors have since shaped my interactions with the Internet and will continue to evolve as I move along different social contexts. As a student, online learning environments such as Blackboard and research resources are new to me. I am also a semi-professional video gamer who is proficient with online gaming platforms such as Steam and Discord. However, someone of the same socioeconomic status might have an entirely different makeup of digital interactions.

Simply think of the Internet as a candy store and the digital interactions that come with it as candy. If you’re older in age or have less disposable income, you’re far less likely to walk into the candy store. And if you already purchase candy, you might find yourself limited by the choices of candy available or your purchasing power.

Word Count: 297

References

Euromonitor, 2016. Economies and Consumers Annual Data. [Online]
Available at: http://www.portal.euromonitor.com/portal/statisticsevolution/index
[Accessed 10 November 2017].

Robinson, L. et al., 2015. Digital inequalities and why they matter. Information, Communication & Society, 18(5), pp. 570-571.

Singapore Department of Statistics, 2017. STATISTICS SINGAPORE – Singapore in Figures, 2017. [Online]
Available at: https://www.singstat.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/publications/publications_and_papers/reference/sif2017.pdf
[Accessed 10 November 2017].

Futurelearn (2017). Digital differences – inequalities and online practices.

Digital Undivide, 2013. What is the Digital Divide?[Online]
Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQD5soc2r7Y

 

Comments

1. https://shanellecky.wordpress.com/2017/11/10/digital-differences-how-experience-changes-the-way-you-interact-with-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-3
2. https://jennifer2049blog.wordpress.com/2017/11/10/topic-1-living-on-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-2

 

 

Digital Visitors vs Digital Residents

In this post, I will be comparing the digital visitor vis-à-vis the digital resident and evaluating my digital literacies.

The Visitor
The digital visitor can simply be described as an individual who views and treats the internet as an online ‘toolbox’. Visitors use the web as a set of tools to achieve individual objectives. (White and Le Cornu, 2011) It is often noted that visitors often avoid leaving a digital trace and creating an online presence for fear of identity theft and privacy issues. (Selwyn, 2009)

The visitor’s relationship with the internet is more transactional in nature.

The Resident
The digital resident is an individual who views the internet as a destination, to forge online relationships and a sense of belonging to online communities. The internet is an extention of the resident’s identity and persona. (White and Le Cornu, 2011)

The resident’s relationship with the internet is more interactive in nature.

The Resident-Visitor Continuum and Where I Stand

To further evaluate myself based on the Resident-Visitor continuum, I would categorize my web usage into “personal” and “institutional”. 

As a millenial, I own several social media profiles on the various platforms. I consume and share content frequently on these platforms. I am also a part of Linkedin, a professional social-networking platform. The profiles I have on these platforms are also available for the public to view.

As an avid gamer, I am a frequent contributor to online gaming communities on Discord and Reddit.

As a student, my internet usage is more transactional in nature and is similar to that of a Digital Visitor. I frequently make use of online learning environments like Blackboard and online libraries to conduct research and work on my assignments. However, the activity ends upon completion of my research or assignment.

Hence, I am more of a Digital Resident.

Word Count: 301

 

First blog post

This is your very first post. Click the Edit link to modify or delete it, or start a new post. If you like, use this post to tell readers why you started this blog and what you plan to do with it.