Topic 2: Managing Multiple Online Identities

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In the past, when the internet was still a new invention, people were still learning the basics of using it. There was practically no need for the establishing of identities because people could do whatever and get away with it. Legal regulations were almost non-existent back then. Thus, the risk of exposing an individual’s identity was rather minimal.

However, as the advancement of technology continued to take place, the internet has become such an integrated tool in the lives of every individual. Smartphones, tablets, laptops are a common digital tool being used by people every second of the day. Social networking sites have become a normality and a heavy reliance among the society to connect with people efficaciously for business, work, school and leisure purposes.

There are higher expectations placed on people to establish online identities nowadays, so as to allow the other parties to know who they are communicating with. For instance, some examples would be email, chat applications and Facebook.  However, I feel the need for people to maintain multiple online identities for different purposes, segregating them between private and public uses. This would reduce the chances of an individual’s official identity from being compromised so that they do not fall victim to phishing or fraud. In addition, it prevents an individual from being overclouded by information from the different avenues in contrast to them having a single identity. By having private and public online identities, it does not indicate that an individual is dishonest or has something to hide as opposed to Mark Zuckerberg’s stand. They just don’t think it’s ideal to divulge a more personal side of them for their customers, teachers, students or supervisors to see because it might be inappropriate and unnecessary. Consumers would be turned away if they discovered a tainted reputation of a seller from personal information. Instead of having to consider what they should share or what they shouldn’t, it would be more effective to create and manage multiple online identities in this case.

However, the downsides of having multiple online identities could be the lack of monitoring the various identities and their security or even remembering the passwords for them. Unlike if an individual uses a single identity, they will be able to utilize filters/settings on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram regarding privacy issues and it would be easier for them to monitor. Thus, it also poses a risk of them losing confidential information of themselves online.

References :

Deb Shinder. (29 Feb 2012). Cybercrime and the problem of online identity verification. Available: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/it-security/cybercrime-and-the-problem-of-online-identity-verification/. Last accessed 3 Nov 2015.

Patrick Fiorenza. (19 Oct 2011). WHAT’S YOUR POSITION – DO YOU MAINTAIN ONE OR MULTIPLE IDENTITIES ONLINE?. Available: https://www.govloop.com/whats-your-position-do-you-maintain-one-or-multiple-identities-online/. Last accessed 3 Nov 2015.

Meghan Casserly . (26 Jan 2011). Multiple Personalities And Social Media: The Many Faces of Me. Available: http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2011/01/26/multiple-personalities-and-social-media-the-many-faces-of-me/. Last accessed 3 Nov 2015.

People Icon. (n.d.). [image] Available at: http://cwallpapersbackground.blogspot.sg/2015/06/people-icon.html [Accessed 3 Nov. 2015].

TukTuk Design, (n.d.). Admin, avatar, men, people, person, profile. [image] Available at: https://www.iconfinder.com/icons/278092/admin_avatar_men_people_person_profile_user_icon [Accessed 3 Nov. 2015].