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What does it mean to a network using social media?

I think using social media networks means that people can share their lives and meet people from different cultures on the platforms provided by social media. On the other hand, we can also use social media platforms to expand our interests and find people and organizations with similar goals and interests.

How are we motivated to participate in networked publics?

I believe that participation in the networked public requires the following:

1. Respect the privacy of others.
2. Respect different cultural backgrounds and beliefs (any form of racial discrimination is unacceptable).
3. Don’t share or spread unconfirmed news and information.
4. Accept reasonable opposing views and ignore offensive and unreasonable comments.
5. In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, try not to expose personal privacy, we are responsible for our privacy.

The above points are the principles I have been following and represent only myself.

What are the risks & rewards of public communications?

Since we are in the age of big data, I think the biggest risk that social media brings to us is the damage to our personal privacy, because the backend of any social media will keep records of our personal information and browsing history, and it is usually impossible for people to predict in what form their personal privacy will be compromised, so in order to avoid unnecessary losses, try not to post with personal information in social media platforms. Also, I believe that the rewards of social media depend on what people use it for and how they use it. Suppose a person who has fitness habits and likes to work out can share his fitness experience and daily fitness record on social media to attract other people with the same interest to follow him, when this person’s attention reaches a certain level, it can bring him relative income through the number of followers, for example, a certain protein powder brand will contact him to hope to sell goods through his endorsement, there are many examples like this on social media platforms. Therefore, I think the return of social media may not be so obvious in the short term, but if people use the free platform provided by social media wisely, there will be unexpected gains.

What is a digital identity?

A digital identity represents an account for each person on a social media platform. People have the right to choose whether or not to provide their real name, gender and age as well as other personal information in a digital identity.

How do personal versus professional approaches to digital identity affect social media use?

The difference between personal and professional digital identities is relatively large, and people often use personal accounts to share their lives, moods, and other informal content. However, in professional personal accounts, people share more content, achievements and ideas related to their careers. On the other hand, in professional careers or brand accounts, people are more focused on building a brand image, showcasing specialized skills and promoting corresponding services and goods.

How do digital identities converge in networked publics – what are the impacts and/or benefits?

The integration of digital identity in the online public has brought people the benefit of enhanced communication between people, which is mainly reflected in the fact that people can communicate with people in different countries and time zones through the Internet connection, which effectively circumvents the limitations brought by geographical factors. The impact on people depends on the level of integration, if a person spends a lot of time communicating with other people through social media, it can lead to a lack of face-to-face communication and a desire to escape from the real world.