The first reason is interesting enough, but it was the second reason that floored me. It had not crossed my mind that I used social media to, as Great-Great-Granny might have put it, manage my reputation.People use social media for two primary reasons: (i) to connect with others, and (ii) to manage the impression they make on others.
I am bemused to find that I do.
I will spare you the evolutionary benefits of putting out and maintaining one's reputation. They revolve around the idea that the group aristocrat gets the goodies. Rather, I will try to stick to the topic.
On Facebook, I take care to react to and share wry, witty content from various sites that I find to be sophisticated (and so guarding my reputation for quirky intelligence). I gently ask for opinions and reasons from "friends" with differing political backgrounds - but rarely get answers, more is the pity. (Maintaining my self-described reputation as curious, analytical, questing for understanding, etc.)
On Linked In, I try to manage my reputation as someone who is a seasoned professional, with a broad range of positions, but also as someone who is hip to the modern world on learning technologies and would be interesting to work with. Considering my age (hard to hide with my profile picture, I try to post au courant content, again trying to manage my reputation as well-versed in current learning technologies, theory, etc.
On Instagram, I was tempted to say I don't give a hoot for my reputation, and will post anything, but that isn't true. I consider myself something of an artist, and absolutely would not post something that didn't please my own eye. Heavens forbid I become known for spontaneity as opposed to reason.
On blogging, well, I'm somehow willing to let myself go and be a crank. With one exception, I feel no fear of context collapse, and so find myself more willing to let go of the reputation I guard in other forms of social media. With other forms of social media, the threat of context collapse is much more eminent. I am connected to my family on Facebook, I may work with my connections on Linked In, and my next-door neighbor follows me on Instagram.
I would be very interested in hearing from you about how, or if, you use social media to "manage the impression you make on others."
As someone very new to using social media, I have to say that the desire to be hyper articulate and present a particular hyperbolized version of myself has been fairly anxiety inducing lol. I agree that blogging is where I let go because I view it as an exercise in journaling where a certain level of earnestness and unrefined thoughts are acceptable and even expected. But aside from blogging, I'm still not sure if I have the energy to manage multiple personas across platforms and perform the curatorial work of social media. Judith, as someone who does manage their reputation across platforms, do you find the work rewarding??
ReplyDeleteGreat question! Not at all; it takes more energy to pick and choose than I really want to spend. Perhaps I'm being paranoid, but especially with LinkedIn, I would rather be blandish than too spicy!
ReplyDeleteMe, too! I'm always reticent to post things on LinkedIn!
DeleteYes! I definitely think I do, but I don't think I obsess over it. I just am careful to not post anything that I do not want to follow my digital footprint. I keep more professional places a bit more professional with a personal touch on occasion. I keep personal spaces personal, but add some professional stuff occasionally. So, I do mix the two and I do manage my reputation on all sites to a point. I do not try to be someone that I am not, but at the same time, I do not put out every opinion about everything personal and professional.
ReplyDeleteI am a car crash on impression management. I can't be active on 'professional' online spaces such as LinkedIn because it is really difficult for me to mold my presence in a form that they want me to be visible to others in certain ways. I am sorry, I don't want to be perceived as much serious as you want me to perform! However, I also feel that there is something and I escape it! I have to try and I should start with a 'professional' photo to take the control over my online presence.
ReplyDeleteGreat comments, Oliver. I had to really tone myself down to write my LinkedIn portfolio. I did a few workshops on it with folks from the Career Center here in Tallahassee. It was like pulling teeth!
DeleteI'd highly recommend a professional photograher! I'm really unphotogenic. It was helpful to have a good photo to get me in the mood.
All that being said, do you NEED the LinkedIn thing? I did, but there have been job-hunting times when it would have made no difference at all.
Thanks, Oliver, for the reply!