My star sign and online persona should have little in common but as a Gemini, the twin sign, my zodiac is representative of how my online self and ‘real’ person coexist. Geminis, for those of you that share my lack of obsession with astrology, is said to exhibit dual personalities with sociable, creative tendencies that contrast inconsistency and mood swings. Whether you believe in the lore or not, I find myself gravitating toward these characteristics and duality as an example of how my online self and physical person are similar to twins but are also two different entities at the end of the day. Reflecting on these differences allows further insight into why people post and how we present ourselves online, cultivating our own internet twin selves.
The justification behind my own posting could be attributed to my current class urging me to write, however, I have a choice over what to post and how to post it. Having this autonomy has provided a unique opportunity to explore my online style of self-presentation, one that revolves around elements like minimalism and introspection. The link between knowledge and internet is also a bridge that I aim to explore with studies, “f(inding) that many schools in our fieldsites recognize that social media simultaneously assists informal learning (UCL Home).” This furthers the importance of content legitimacy on my website and the clarification that all of these works are self-created and do not reflect the majority’s opinion and rather my personal views. I create content to entertain my readers but also offer insight into global perspectives on things like the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that I am passionate about. My blog also gives me the ability to execute Erin Hollenbaugh’s idea of “strategic self-presentation” with my curated content that fits the standard I set for my work and for self-publishing which motivates me to create more content (2020).
Presenting oneself online can be seen through the rise in, “creative reimaginings of blogs have quietly taken nerdier corners of the internet by storm” that offer unique insights into the full range of human expression and passion (Basu 2020). An example of such expression can be seen in Blogroll’s article on Pokemon being used to communicate across media forms through its diverse fanbase and related content being available on a variety of mediums (2013). Depending on the internet medium content creators are able to present themselves in a variety of ways from professionally via platforms like LinkedIn or in more casual contexts on a personal blog or social media site like Twitter. For the purposes of my own content, I generally appreciate a blend of professionalism and casual correspondence with the reader, using personal pronouns while also maintaining a language and professional standard that does not include the use of sarcasm or crude humor. In my self-presentation outside of internet presence, I find myself gravitating to more casual interactions with friends and contrasting professional attitudes with professionals different than my overarching presentation of a blend on my website. Such choices allow me to understand the difference and Gemini form of differences and similarities within my in-person and online self.
The combination of content creation and self-presentation has showcased all the decisions that go into putting an image of self online. This journey has also led to self-reflection and an understanding that while my physical self and online self exist as two entities they are linked and cohesive in many ways.
Works Cited
Basu, Tanya. “Digital Gardens Let You Cultivate Your Own Little Bit of the Internet.” MIT Technology Review, MIT Technology Review, 3 Sept. 2020, https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/09/03/1007716/digital-gardens-let-you-cultivate-your-own-little-bit-of-the-internet/.
BlogRoll. “Pokemon as Transmedia Storytelling.” Kevinbrittenylauren.wordpress.com, BlogRoll, 21 Nov. 2013, https://kevinbrittenylauren.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/pokemon-as-transmedia-storytelling/.
Hollenbaugh, Erin E. “Self-Presentation in Social Media: Review and Research Opportunities.” Self-Presentation in Social Media: Review and Research Opportunities, Communication and Media Technologies, 24 Dec. 2020, https://www.rcommunicationr.org/index.php/rcr/article/view/71.
UCL. “For Some People, Social Media Does Not Detract from Education – It Is Education.” Why We Post, University College London, 9 July 2020, https://www.ucl.ac.uk/why-we-post/discoveries/2-social-media-is-education.