Personal Digital Identity
On the personal side, my digital identity shows up mostly through Instagram and Facebook. These platforms act like a digital scrapbook, where I share moments from travel destinations, moments with my friends and family or pictures of my dog. For me, it’s a space for connection and expression, highlighting joy, creativity and relationships.
At the same time, I’ve realized that even casual posts have weight. As Danah Boyd reminds us in her discussion of networked publics, once something is online, it can circulate far beyond the intended audience. That idea has shifted the way I think about posting. Before hitting “share,” I now ask myself: Would I be comfortable if someone outside my circle saw this?
Professional Digital Identity
My professional presence feels much more curated and deliberate. LinkedIn and Facebook groups are where I highlight my education and connect with other educators, while my teaching e-portfolio is becoming a showcase of lessons, reflections and my philosophy as a teacher. Even small details, like my school district email signature automatically showing my role and affiliation, add to this professional identity. These pieces together form a more formal impression of who I am in an educational context.
This identity feels more like a portfolio than a scrapbook, organized, polished and future-focused. George Couros’s perspective that digital portfolios tell the story of both who we are and who we are becoming really resonates with me. Each time I add a reflection or lesson, I’m not just documenting work, I’m shaping how I want to be seen as an educator.
Where the Two Meet
What’s interesting is how these identities overlap. Over my last practicum, I shared an Instagram story about a grade 2/3 thumbprint art activity where students explored how tiny, individual marks could grow into imaginative creations. I also posted about a collaborative mural project that brought the whole class together to design and paint a shared piece. Both posts felt personal, moments I was genuinely proud to celebrate, but they also worked as professional snapshots of my teaching style and values. That blending reminded me that my online presence isn’t divided into two separate categories, instead, it exists on a spectrum where personal pride and professional identity naturally intersect.
Moving Forward
I now see my digital identity as an evolving project rather than a finished product. Balancing personal authenticity with professional responsibility isn’t always simple, but it’s part of shaping a meaningful presence online.
So, I find myself asking: do we really have two separate digital identities, or are we all just writing different chapters of the same ongoing story?
References
Boyd, Danah. 2010. “Social Network Sites as Networked Publics: Affordances, Dynamics, and Implications.” In Networked Self: Identity, Community, and Culture on Social Network Sites, edited by Zizi Papacharissi, 39–58. (Draft version). Accessed [date]. https://www.danah.org/papers/2010/SNSasNetworkedPublics.pdf
Couros, George. “Resources on Blogs as Digital Portfolios.” GeorgeCouros.com. Accessed [date]. https://georgecouros.com/presentation-resources/resources-on-blogs-as-digital-portfolios/
“Cozy Creative Rituals – Minimalist Line Art Printable | Doodles, Sticker Art, Yoga Drawing.” Pinterest. Accessed [date]. https://pin.it/5i7D8Lp0T
