[Xmca-l] Re: risk awareness and aversion in online spaces

[Ian O'Byrne]

Hi Michael,

Thank you again.

I think it's intriguing for a couple of reasons. One, I think we're still
in between two models in terms of online identity..and cultural norms, etc.
I think it's too early...but alas this is the current state. Second, I
think that the socially constructed identities of "educators" (in this
discussion) change over time. When I was teaching ten years ago....you hid
your Facebook account or you were fired. Now, it's changed...to some
extent. :)

I'm intrigued by how individuals construct and modify their digital
identities using multimodal and social content. I'm interested in the
decisions that they make, and for the most part have been able to focus on
what they build, and look and semiotics behind these decisions. Now, we're
starting to have the more savvy users indicate a consideration of what they
want their digital identity to be...and how that relates to what society
thinks.

Don't get me wrong...this also provides some of our participants with an
opportunity to reject the status quo and create their own identity. This
brings in elements of critical literacy, feminist ideologies, queer
theory,and post-structural perspectives.

We think it's cool stuff...but just trying to unpack it and see if others
are seeing the same. I'll check out the Second Life pieces, and the
Well...especially Howard and Gilly Salmon's work.

Thanks again,
-Ian

On Fri Nov 28 2014 at 3:05:56 PM Glassman, Michael <glassman.13@osu.edu>
wrote:

> Ian,
>
> That is really interesting stuff.  The applications are extraordinarily
> different, but there is some really interesting stuff on identity and the
> creation of avatars (mostly in Second Life I think).  Maybe take a look at
> Gilly Salmon's stuff.  Also if you have a chance take a look at the history
> of the Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link' - The WELL - communities (Howard
> Rheingold and others) where this whole idea of negotiating online identity
> and offline identity is really fascinating.
>
> I think we are still waiting for a history of online identity as dangerous
> - attempts to define the Internet as a dangerous place.
>
>
> Michael
> ________________________________________
> From: xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu [xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu]
> on behalf of Ian O'Byrne [wiobyrne@gmail.com]
> Sent: Friday, November 28, 2014 2:52 PM
> To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
> Subject: [Xmca-l] Re: risk awareness and aversion in online spaces
>
> Hi Michael,
>
> Thanks for reaching out. Specifically, we had teachers creating and sharing
> content on Twitter. There tends to be this concern, or awareness with the
> teachers that the content that they are sharing is impacting their digital
> identity...and also their identity. Our hypothesis is that the more savvy
> users are considering this socially constructed identity of an "educator"
> and that impacts the content they share online...and how much they share.
>
> We had participants indicate that the content and identity they portrayed
> online was either just like their offline identity (or the complete
> opposite) as they considered what society wanted educators to be online.
> Some accepted this and cleaned up what they shared...others were aware the
> potential risk involved...but wanted to be "themselves" and just posted it
> anyway.
>
> It's an intriguing mix of identity, identity construction, cultural theory,
> hegemony, and the risk piece we're trying to unpack.
>
> Thanks again,
> -Ian
>
> On Fri Nov 28 2014 at 2:44:02 PM Glassman, Michael <glassman.13@osu.edu>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi Ian,
> >
> > This is a little general.  What type of risk awareness and/or aversion.
> > Is it a general sense of Internet anxiety - there has been some research
> on
> > this?  Or is it an aversion to specific activities on the Internet.  For
> > instance some of the research we have been doing suggests that
> individuals
> > (in this case college students) have different levels of aversion between
> > simply communicating on the Internet, worries about whether they will be
> > overwhelmed with data, or whether they actually put themselves out on the
> > Internet in terms of actually generating new information, or even
> > responding to the posts of others.  Our findings suggest much greater
> > confidence (actually self-efficacy) in communication and being able to
> > handle a lot of information, less in actually posting.
> >
> > Or is it a fear on teachers' part that students will know more about
> using
> > the Internet than they do and fear using it and giving up their place as
> > experts in the educational process.  There is some (not much) research on
> > this - and it might be partially urban legend.
> >
> > Anyway, just interested if you are finding something more specific.
> >
> > Michael
> > ________________________________________
> > From: xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu [xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu]
> > on behalf of Ian O'Byrne [wiobyrne@gmail.com]
> > Sent: Friday, November 28, 2014 2:11 PM
> > To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
> > Cc: juliebwise@comcast.net
> > Subject: [Xmca-l]  risk awareness and aversion in online spaces
> >
> > Dear colleagues,
> >
> > In our research we're seeing signs of this form of risk awareness and/or
> > aversion as it relates to digital identity construction and sharing in
> > online spaces. Specifically, participants are making decisions about
> what &
> > how to share content in online spaces while considering what others will
> > think about their digital identity as an educator.
> >
> > I'm wondering if anyone else is seeing this in their work...and what
> > citations or literature do you reference. We're having trouble nailing
> down
> > a specific field or construct.
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> > -Ian
> >
> >
>
>