Online Identity: Friend or Foe?

Sarah BodellSenior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy

University of Salford, UK

Sarah BodellSenior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy

University of Salford, UK

Who am I?

“We are known by what we do”

(Christiansen 2004, p122)

Identity is fluid and is developed through interaction with others in society (Filmer, Jenks, Seale and Walsh 1998)

Identity and context

F2f identlty is context dependent

F2f contexts may be separate and discrete

The online community is vast and interwoven

Who am I online?

People differ in how much their unconscious needs and emotions surface in their online identities (Suler 2002)

I could be brown, I could be blue I could be violet sky.I could be hurtful, I could be purple, I could be anything you like. (Mika, Grace Kelly, song lyric)

Who am I online?

I would love to be windswept and interesting -not quite working though!!

I would like to be "Meredith (Merry for short) Carmichael", a Marine Biologist.

I want to be me. :D Eternally hopeful, especially in the face of

adversity I am wild…

Online identity and Professional Identity Issues of professional identity stem from

professional socialization and development (McGowen & Hart, 1990).

This includes the acquisition of specific knowledge and skills and the development of new values, attitudes and behaviours (Hall, 1987; McGowen & Hart, 1990; Watts, 1987).

Standards for Professional Practice You must keep high standards of personal

conduct.

You must behave with honest and integrity

Your behaviour must not damage the public’s confidence in you or your profession.

If a health professional does not meet HPC standards registration can be revoked.

HPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (2008)

Or this?

The power of Google

Google is not a search engine. It's a reputation management system.

Online your reputation is quantifiable, findable and totally unavoidable.

A single Google search determines more about how you're perceived than a multi-million dollar ad campaign.

http://michelemartin.typepad.com/thebambooprojectblog/2007/10/lets-get-naked.html

Too scary?

Some people think they can escape risk by escaping being online, but which is worse--having someone see you and know that you have some flaws or being invisible? Seems like a no-brainer to me.

http://michelemartin.typepad.com/thebambooprojectblog/2007/10/lets-get-naked.html

A modern day professional necessity?

Reputation enhancing Profile development Professional networking Engaging with a global community

CPD

Consider

Build you identity carefully

Think about the image you wish to convey

Choose the best tools for the job

Manage and monitor your identity regularly

Maintain your visibility