Navigating the Digital Landscape: A Professional Commitment
As a Marketing major, I’ve recognized the critical importance of understanding digital rights and data privacy, especially with the evolving landscape shaped by AI and social media in the U.S. My intentions are that my professional and personal online identity will reflect honesty and integrity across all platforms, including LinkedIn and other business channels. I am committed to presenting myself authentically and ensuring that my online presence aligns with my desired narrative, not just what is passively perceived. Often in online circles, you have around 3 seconds to interest someone before they scroll/swipe. I intend to use all three seconds.
Summary of Key Learnings
The research by Luci Pangrazio and Julian Sefton-Green on "Digital Rights, Digital Citizenship and Digital Literacy: What’s the Difference?" resonated strongly with me. Their insights into commercial profiling, data surveillance, and protectionist approaches highlight the complexities of the digital realm. The authors effectively argue that the term "digital" is often redundant, as demonstrated by examples like "digital camera." Furthermore, the application of "digital" to concepts like rights, citizenship, and literacy often leads to intricate and confusing discussions, emphasizing the need for clear definitions and understanding in these areas. Digital rights are intrinsically linked to digital literacy, guiding how individuals ethically and legally access, create, and share information within digital platforms. Digital literacy is foundational, particularly in the initial steps of engaging with a digital platform, such as navigating terms and conditions, as discussed by Pangrazio and Sefton-Green. Subsequently, the exercise of both digital literacy and digital rights protects not only others from illegal actions but also safeguards individuals as they interact with social media or even their healthcare providers' websites. Legislation aims to ensure the safest possible digital experience for everyone. Digital literacy also directly connects with digital citizenship, empowering users with the right to engage in online activities such as chatting, sharing, and sending information. It is our responsibility to exercise these permissions in a respectful and observable manner. As emphasized in my Digital Literacy class Module 3 content, practicing the SIFT method is crucial to preventing the spread of misinformation online. Ultimately, maintaining kindness and consideration towards others on digital platforms is vital, as our online persona inevitably influences our real-life reputation.
Professional Identity in the Digital Age
I’ll align my digital actions with my true values and personality to be seen with a creative mindset, an adaptable nature, and real authenticity on online platforms in the professional world. With my initial engagement, I’d like to maintain continuous credibility, so I will proactively avoid distastefulness in online spaces by employing the SIFT method: stopping to consider information, investigating sources, finding broader coverage, and tracing claims and quotes to maintain a safe and credible online presence. This critical thinking and information verification becomes even more crucial as the integration of Generative AI (Gen AI) into various industries presents both opportunities and challenges. I intend to leverage Gen AI to showcase my creativity while adhering to safe and ethical practices that will benefit clients. My career demands a strong foundation in digital literacy, which is essential for tasks ranging from email marketing and data analytics to public relations consulting. Staying current with terminology, systems, and social media trends is principal. My university experience, particularly a digital literacy class, significantly deepened my understanding of the interconnectedness between the online and offline worlds.
Works Cited
Pangrazio, Luci, and Julian Sefton-Green. “Digital Rights, Digital Citizenship and Digital Literacy: What’s the Difference?” Journal of New Approaches in Educational Research, vol. 10, no. 1, Jan. 2021, pp. 15–27. https://doi.org/10.7821/naer.2021.1.616.