In today’s digital age, online communities have become integral to connecting, learning, and developing our sense of self. These virtual spaces offer unique opportunities for personal growth, identity formation, and challenges that require careful navigation.
Dr. Vanessa Dennen is the Tyner Distinguished Professor of Education at Florida State University and co-editor-in-chief of The Internet and Higher Education. As a scholar, she researches how people interact with each other and information in online environments, considering topics such as learning, sense of belonging, identity, privacy, and ethics.
She advocates for people using online spaces with purpose, kindness, curiosity, and respect for other people’s boundaries.
According to Dr. Vanessa, genuine online communities are spaces where people with shared interests or experiences come together to discuss, support, and learn from one another. These communities can exist on various platforms, from social media groups to specialized forums and even older technologies.
One of the most significant ways online communities influence our identities is through self-presentation. When you join a new online space, you must decide how to present yourself to others.
Choosing a username is often the first step in crafting our online identity. This decision can communicate much about how you want to be perceived in a particular community. The information you choose to share (or withhold) in your profiles also plays a crucial role in shaping our online identities. Each information you share contributes to the overall picture that others form online.
Dr. Vanessa emphasizes that there’s a significant difference between active and passive participation in online communities, but neither approach is inherently superior. Passive participants, often referred to as “lurkers,” play an essential role in online communities:
Active participants, on the other hand, develop stronger connections with each other and shape the community’s culture.
While online communities offer numerous benefits, they also present challenges that users must navigate carefully. Newcomers to a community may inadvertently violate established norms by jumping in too quickly with questions or demands. The open nature of many online communities means that anyone can present themselves as an expert.
Online communities offer rich opportunities for personal growth, learning, and connection. By understanding how these spaces shape your identity and learning to navigate them effectively, you can harness their potential while mitigating risks.
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