Community contribution #1

Digital identity is not only what we share online but how other users interpret it or choose to. I think this is a tricky part of social media because words can easily get taken out of context leading one to become defined by a narrative they never had they intent of sharing in the first place.  

Currently, people use LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and other platforms. It is certainly a spectrum whether those use social media for exclusively personal and/or professional reasons. When it comes to the internet, especially social media I think it is virtually impossible to completely separate personal vs professional use. Even with all the precautions (having separate accounts, posting only related things to professional accounts, etc.), I don’t see how there would be a way to separate the ideas from the person. However, I don’t know if this is something that should be of large concern. Of course, there needs to be boundaries that are respected but I think a big part of what makes learning on social media appealing is that it is personal. I find it a lot easier to learn when I am listening to someone’s voice rather than reading an article. Just that small change makes it easier to think of my own thoughts in response rather than reading a compiled list of statistics.  
In terms of expanding my personal learning network, I learned a lot from Karla Gutierrez’s blog, ‘What are Personal Learning Networks?’. She talks about how it is important to think about your intention prior to making connections. It is easier to think about if someone will be able to help when your goals are clear. I also thought it was interesting learning about the three layers to a PLN. The smallest and closest ring is friends and personal mentors, followed by a group that shares common interests but are not necessarily close friends, and the last layer is experts and professionals. Though there might not be much interaction, if any at all, we still look up to these people and can learn lots from them. 

Overall, I learned a lot regarding digital identity and everything entailed includes much more than I thought. 

Works Cited 

Bui, Hung Phu, et al. “Editorial: The Roles of Social Media in Education: Affective, Behavioral, and Cognitive Dimensions.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 14, 22 Sept. 2023, https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1287728/full, 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1287728. Accessed 18 Sept. 2026. 

Gutierrez, Karla. “What Are Personal Learning Networks?” SHIFTelearning, SHIFT eLearning, 21 June 2016, https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/personal-learning-networks. Accessed 18 Sept. 2026.