SOCIAL NETWORKS AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF IDENTITY IN DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS

Authors

  • MÓNICA ARESTA University of Aveiro, Portugal
  • LUÍS PEDRO University of Aveiro, Portugal
  • CARLOS SANTOS University of Aveiro, Portugal
  • ANTÓNIO MOREIRA University of Aveiro, Portugal

Keywords:

Online identity, social networks, digital literacies, analysis model

Abstract

The recognition of the creative, participatory and social dimensions of the Web brought profound changes to the way individuals approach education, identity, practice and knowledge. In a scenario characterized by connectivity and ease of access to people and content, the network provides a space where people can interact, learn, share experiences and build a reputation and identity available and accessible to the entire community. When it is almost impossible to stay out of the digital world and, therefore, of the production of an online identity, this paper addresses issues related with digital literacy, social networks and online identity. Presenting the main results of a case study developed at the University of Aveiro – Portugal, this paper describes how a group of students from a Master Degree Course adopted social networks to build a presence over the web and how they created, manifested and managed their online identity. When the characteristics of the digital world change the ways of building identity, and in a scenario where the contextualization of data and information is becoming increasingly important, this paper reflects upon the importance and relevance of building an identity in open social online environments.

 

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Published

2014-02-23

How to Cite

ARESTA, M. ., PEDRO, L. ., SANTOS, C. ., & MOREIRA, A. . (2014). SOCIAL NETWORKS AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF IDENTITY IN DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS. Journal of Mobile Multimedia, 10(3-4), 194–205. Retrieved from https://journals.riverpublishers.com/index.php/JMM/article/view/4563

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