Two Sides of Me Online

When I think about my digital identity, I see two sides. On one side is my personal self — someone who shares photos with friends, follows dog accounts, and uses social media to stay connected with family and trends. On the other side is my professional self — the student who maintains a WordPress portfolio, writes blog posts like this one, and follows educators online to build ideas for teaching.

These two identities aren’t completely separate. Sometimes they overlap in ways that feel natural, like when I share a teaching resource that excites me, or when I post about finishing a big paper. But at other times, they feel like they’re in tension. For example, I’ve caught myself wondering: Would this post be seen as too casual if a future employer read it? Or, does my personal humour align with the professional image I want to present?

Being Intentional

So far, I’d describe my approach as semi-intentional. I’m not someone who plans every tweet or post, but I do think about audience. If it’s something meant for classmates or future colleagues, I try to keep my tone professional but authentic. If it’s something more personal, I share it in spaces where the audience is closer to me. Taking the Digital Tattoo quiz helped me see my habits more clearly — I use social media in a way that blends connecting, browsing, and occasionally creating. That mix reflects how I see myself: not fully a “visitor” or a “resident” (to use David White’s framework), but somewhere along the continuum depending on context.

Looking Ahead

What I’ve realized through this course is that my digital identity isn’t fixed. It will continue to evolve as I move into teaching, and I want to be more intentional in curating it. My professional identity will likely become more visible — through lesson ideas, networking, and possibly engaging in teacher Twitter or LinkedIn groups. At the same time, I don’t want to lose the personal side, because authenticity matters. As the readings reminded me, digital identity is always shaped by participation, sharing, and connection. For me, that means finding a balance where both my personal voice and my professional goals can co-exist.

In the end, I see my digital identity as less about keeping two separate versions of myself, and more about deciding which parts of myself to show in different contexts. Like a teacher stepping into a classroom, I want to present myself online in ways that are true to who I am — but also mindful of the audiences watching.

Images below: These two images symbolize the balance between my personal presence on social media and my professional identity as a future educator.