So, I googled myself. And I pretty much found what I expected to find. Links to my Twitter, Facebook, blog posts and Google+ pages, which made me instantly go and double check what my privacy settings were. A couple of different profile pictures that I have used were also up there. There also was this news article that was written about me, with the badass headline and the goofy picture with my arms stretched out.
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/amateur/sidoryk-says-no-to-grim-reaper-70172237.html
Overall though, I would say that my online identity, or digital footprint, isn't very big. I tend not to make many social media posts as a rule, and try to keep my identity relatively private. I think that students need to also realize how important it is to be careful about what they share, and to always be mindful of what they are doing online. They need to learn the steps it takes in order to protect themselves online, and to be mindful of what they are posting as well since anything that gets posted is essentially there forever then.
The idea of digital dualism is also something that needs to be understood by our students moving forward. Students need to realize that it possible to act differently from the other side of a screen, and that there are those people out there who will use that to their advantage. It is something they need to be aware of in order to best protect themselves. Often though, I feel like people are able to use their online identity as a platform to put their best self forward for the world to see, when they have been taught acceptable ways of doing so.
Much of this is discussed way better by Alex Couros in the TEDx video below. Although it is similar to the presentation that he shared with our class, it is still helpful to watch since it reminds us about the realities that we all are facing in the digital world we now live in. I'll share the description of the video as well, since it sums up what the video entails. Even though the audio isn't great, the presentation in itself is.
"Alec delves into the challenges facing children today in an increasingly digital world where things are never forgotten and their online identities ‘are’ their real world. Preparing children to recognize that information is Public by default and Private with effort is an important role that teachers and schools can impact in a positive way. Alec challenges us to find ways to help our students discover and experience networked human connections in ways that are positive and thoughtful and keep them safe."
- B
Alec Couros - Identity in a Digital World
Thanks for sharing this video, Brody - and your personal story, courage!
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