Online Identity, reputation Online Identity, reputation and Professional Practiceand Professional Practice

Sarah Bodell and Angela HookSarah Bodell and Angela HookSenior Lecturers in Occupational Senior Lecturers in Occupational

TherapyTherapyUniversity of Salford, UKUniversity of Salford, UK

Who am I?Who am I?

Image: by Cayusa, Flickr Creative Commons License

Traditional context of identityTraditional context of identity

Image: bodhileaf.wordpress.com/.../personal-identity/

On line identity…..On line identity…..

Image: http://marketing.blogs.ie.edu/archives/2007/10/online_communic_1.php

The online community is vast and interwoven

Are you already out there?Are you already out there?

Who am I online?Who am I online?

““I could be brown, I could be blue I could be violet I could be brown, I could be blue I could be violet sky.sky.

I could be hurtful, I could be purple, I could be I could be hurtful, I could be purple, I could be anything you like.”anything you like.”

(Mika, Grace Kelly, song lyric(Mika, Grace Kelly, song lyric))

Online identity and Professional Online identity and Professional IdentityIdentity

Professional identity stems from professional Professional identity stems from professional socialization and development socialization and development (McGowen & Hart, 1990).(McGowen & Hart, 1990).

This includes the acquisition of specific This includes the acquisition of specific knowledge and skills and the development of knowledge and skills and the development of new new values,values, attitudes and behavioursattitudes and behaviours (Hall, 1987; (Hall, 1987; McGowen & Hart, 1990; Watts, 1987).McGowen & Hart, 1990; Watts, 1987).

Too time consuming…….Too time consuming…….

I don’t have the time…I don’t have the time…

Image: Blake Flynn http://home.comcast.net/~blake.flynn/paintings/timeconsuming.html

Too Risky…..Too Risky…..

Identity theftIdentity theft

PrivacyPrivacy

Personal and Professional world may Personal and Professional world may collidecollide

My mistakes might come back to haunt meMy mistakes might come back to haunt me

Standards for Professional Standards for Professional PracticePractice

HPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics HPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (2008)(2008)

Is this ok?Is this ok?

Collision…..Collision…..

Crew sacked over Facebook Crew sacked over Facebook postsposts

Thirteen cabin crew staff have been sacked Thirteen cabin crew staff have been sacked by Virgin Atlantic over their use of a by Virgin Atlantic over their use of a social networking website, it has social networking website, it has emerged.emerged. It launched disciplinary action last week following It launched disciplinary action last week following

claims staff had used Facebook to criticise its claims staff had used Facebook to criticise its safety standards and call passengers "chavs". safety standards and call passengers "chavs".

The airline said the crew's behaviour "brought the The airline said the crew's behaviour "brought the company into disrepute". company into disrepute".

Too scary?Too scary?

Some people think they can escape risk by Some people think they can escape risk by escaping being online, but which is worse--escaping being online, but which is worse--having someone see you and know that you having someone see you and know that you have some flaws or being invisible? have some flaws or being invisible?

http://michelemartin.typepad.com/thebambooprojectblog/2007/10/lets-get-naked.htmlhttp://michelemartin.typepad.com/thebambooprojectblog/2007/10/lets-get-naked.html

A modern day professional A modern day professional necessity?necessity?

Reputation enhancingReputation enhancingProfile developmentProfile developmentProfessional networkingProfessional networkingEngaging with a global communityEngaging with a global communityCPDCPD

TipsTips

Build you identity carefullyBuild you identity carefully

Choose the best tools for the jobChoose the best tools for the job

Manage and monitor your identity regularlyManage and monitor your identity regularly

Maintain your visibilityMaintain your visibility

Adhere to netiquette Adhere to netiquette

DefinitionDefinition

Network etiquetteNetwork etiquette

Netiquette is a set of rules for behaving Netiquette is a set of rules for behaving properly online. properly online.

““When you enter any new culture -- and When you enter any new culture -- and cyberspace has its own culture -- you're cyberspace has its own culture -- you're liable to commit a few social blunders. You liable to commit a few social blunders. You might offend people without meaning to. Or might offend people without meaning to. Or you might misunderstand what others say you might misunderstand what others say and take offense when it's not intended. To and take offense when it's not intended. To make matters worse, something about make matters worse, something about cyberspace makes it easy to forget that cyberspace makes it easy to forget that you're interacting with other real people”you're interacting with other real people”

Virginia Shea http://www.albion.com/netiquette/introduction.htmlVirginia Shea http://www.albion.com/netiquette/introduction.html

Communication on the internet is very

quick, and very easy. So it can be a real

case of act in haste, repent at leisure!

If you remember one thing, it should be

to think before you write anything!

ShoutingShouting

People who type with the 'Caps Lock' on, People who type with the 'Caps Lock' on, and type ALL IN CAPITALS ARE and type ALL IN CAPITALS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE SHOUTING, which CONSIDERED TO BE SHOUTING, which is very rude in almost any environment! is very rude in almost any environment!

Remember the humanRemember the human

““Humans exchanging email often behave Humans exchanging email often behave the way some people behind the wheel of the way some people behind the wheel of a car do: They curse at other drivers, a car do: They curse at other drivers, make obscene gestures, and generally make obscene gestures, and generally behave like savages. Most of them would behave like savages. Most of them would never act that way at work or at home. But never act that way at work or at home. But the interposition of the machine seems to the interposition of the machine seems to make it acceptable”make it acceptable”

Would you say it to the person's face?Would you say it to the person's face?

Be ethicalBe ethical

You are a professional first and foremostYou are a professional first and foremostDon’t jump to conclusionsDon’t jump to conclusionsFollow your Code of Professional ConductFollow your Code of Professional ConductDon’t plagiarise someone else’s workDon’t plagiarise someone else’s work

Lurk before you leapLurk before you leap

Know where you areKnow where you areProfessional forum/chat Professional forum/chat

forum/facebook/blog etc may all require a forum/facebook/blog etc may all require a different style of communication and different style of communication and deliverydelivery

Joking around Joking around

Be careful when using humour. It is Be careful when using humour. It is important to remember that tone of voice important to remember that tone of voice often plays an important role in letting often plays an important role in letting people know that you are making a joke. people know that you are making a joke. Because people can't hear your voice they Because people can't hear your voice they may think you are being sarcastic. Some may think you are being sarcastic. Some people use slang such as LOL (laugh out people use slang such as LOL (laugh out loud) when joking online.loud) when joking online.

Make yourself look goodMake yourself look good

You won't be judged by the colour of your You won't be judged by the colour of your skin, eyes, or hair, your weight, your age, skin, eyes, or hair, your weight, your age, or your clothing. or your clothing.

You will, however, be judged by the quality You will, however, be judged by the quality of your writing. Spelling and grammar of your writing. Spelling and grammar count!count!

Know what you are talking about and Know what you are talking about and make sensemake sense

In summaryIn summary

Anonymity vs the real youAnonymity vs the real you

Treat others as you would like to be Treat others as you would like to be treatedtreated

Everything you write and put out on the Everything you write and put out on the web is a reflection of you.web is a reflection of you.