Republic of the Philippines
ILOILO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY
La Paz, Iloilo City
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GE 1SS | 1
Module 7 : UNPACKING THE SELF
Rationale :
Understanding the self is a complex process. To be able to delve into it, one has
to scrutinize the specifics to be able to appreciate the whole. It is a complex process
because one has to consider the many forces that has an impact in its development. As
a millennial, you have been exposed to these many factors thus, it is the intention of this
module that you will see the many aspects of yourself, in this case your digital self that
influences how you see yourself and how it affects your self-esteem.
Module Outcomes :
At the end of the unit, you must have:
1. explored the different aspects of self and identity.
2. demonstrated critical, reflective thought in integrating the various aspects of self
and identity including holistic understanding of peace and violence.
3. identified the different forces and institutions that impact the development of
various aspects of self and identity.
4. examined yourself against the different aspects of self discussed in class.
Lesson Title : THE DIGITAL SELF
Lesson Outcomes :
At the end of the lesson, the learners must have:
1. determined the influence of social media in self-construction.
2. proposed ways to become responsible users of media and information.
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Let us Take a Look at This…
If you want to use a certain social networking site like Facebook, you need to create GE 1SS | 2
an account. This account will comprise some data about your personal life as a new user.
The information being declared that is seen on your Facebook profile or the profile picture
that you post may either be true or not, or may even be a combination of the two.
nationalelfservice.net
Your family, relatives, and close friends may easily determine if your profile
contains true information or not. But for those who do not know you, they have no chance
to validate the information. As they say, on the Internet, no one knows who you actually
are. All the personal data, activities, ideas, and thoughts that you uploaded on Facebook
or any other social networking site show how you want to be perceived virtually.
When did you last change your profile name (pn) and profile picture (pp) in
Facebook (FB)? Was it last month? Last week? Yesterday? Last night? Or was it just
today? As you get to know some features of the FB, you will realize that you can only
change your profile name every 60 days or two (2) months, but you can change your
“profile picture” anytime.
In the onset of online class, we were advised to create a new Facebook account
to be used in Social Learning and for educational purposes to safeguard our personal
account. How about you? Did you make a new one or did you retain your old account?
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Let’s Get on
GENERATION: THE BREAKDOWN OF AGE
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Though exact years born is still a dispute, this should give you a general range to
help identify what generation you belong in. According to kasasa.com new technology is
typically first adopted by the youngest generation and then is gradually adopted by the
older generations. As an example, 96% of Americans have a smartphone, but Gen Z (the
youngest generation) is the highest user.
THE GREATEST
GENERATION
Birth Years: 1901–1927
THE SILENT
GENERATION
Birth Years: 1928–1945
Media Consumption: Baby boomers are the biggest
THE BABY BOOMER consumers of traditional media like television, radio,
magazines, and newspaper. Despite being so traditional,
Birth Years: 90% of baby boomers have a Facebook account. This
1946 to 1964 generation has begun to adopt more technology to stay in
touch with family members and reconnect with old friends.
Current Age:
57 to 76 y.o. Shaping Events: Post-WWII optimism, the cold war, and
the hippie movement.
Media Consumption: Gen X still reads newspapers,
THE GENERATION X magazines, listens to the radio, and watches TV (about
165 hours' worth of TV a month). However, they are also
Birth Years: digitally savvy and spend roughly 7 hours a week on
1965 to 1979/80 Facebook (the highest of any generational cohort).
Current Age:
41 to 56 Shaping Events: End of the cold war, the rise of personal
Other Nicknames: computing, and feeling lost between the two huge
"Latchkey" generations.
generation, MTV
generation
Media Consumption: 95% still watch TV, but Netflix edges
THE MILLENNIALS out traditional cable as the preferred provider. Cord-cutting
in favor of streaming services is the popular choice. This
Birth Years: generation is extremely comfortable with mobile devices,
1981 to 1994/6 but 32% will still use a computer for purchases. They
Current Age: typically have multiple social media accounts.
25 to 41
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Other Nicknames: Shaping Events: The Great Recession, the technological
Gen Y, Gen Me, explosion of the internet and social media, and 9/11
Gen We, Echo
Boomers
Media Consumption: The average Gen Zer received their GE 1SS | 4
THE GENERATION Z first mobile phone at age 10.3 years. Many of them grew
up playing with their parents' mobile phones or tablets.
Birth Years: They have grown up in a hyper-connected world and the
1997 to 2012 smartphone is their preferred method of communication.
Currently Aged: On average, they spend 3 hours a day on their mobile
9 to 25 device.
Other Nicknames:
iGeneration, Post- Shaping Events: Smartphones, social media, never
millennials, knowing a country not at war, and seeing the financial
Homeland struggles of their parents (Gen X).
Generation
Media Consumption: Alphas are being raised in homes
GENERATION ALPHA with smart speakers and devices everywhere; technology
is built into everyday items. Many of them attended school
Birth Years: virtually thanks to the global pandemic and are gravitating
2012 to 2025 toward online learning with programs such as Khan
Currently Aged: Academy, Prodigy, and IXL. Many have even had a digital
0 to 10 presence since before they were born, with their Millennial
Other Nicknames: parents creating social media handles for their infants.
None that have
stuck. Often the Shaping Events: Global pandemic, social justice
nickname centers on movement, Trump-era politics, and Brexit.
a defining event or
characteristic.
I, ME, MYSELF AND MY USER ID ONLINE IDENTITY
A. My Online Identity
While looking at your classmates’ Facebook profiles in your group chat or Social
Learning class especially their profile pictures, you may notice that these images are only
projected images – these are how your classmates want themselves to be seen. You will
see various kinds of individual with profile pictures like:
• taken in a well-known place
• taken with or of loved ones, family, or relatives
• with famous personalities with pets or other important things
• not of the profile owner himself or herself
• a particular character, image, or icon
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This can be done because Facebook and other social networking sites permit users
to choose what picture to upload to their profile. To be precise, any image can be used
as your profile picture.
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pinterest.com
But why do your classmates and you are posting these kinds of profile pictures? Here
are some of the possible reasons according to Corpuz, et. al. (2019):
▪ Those with profile pictures taken from very well-known places, they might be
projecting their daring and adventurous personality to the public or just simply
proud about having been to these famous places.
▪ Those with profile pictures with their families, loved ones, or relatives they may be
showing a happy family or that they are a responsible and caring grandparents,
parents, son, daughter, or grandchildren.
▪ Those with profile pictures with popular personalities in showbiz, politics, or sports,
they could be showing off that they have met their idols.
▪ Those with profile pictures with or of pets, they maybe projecting that they just love
animals.
▪ Those with profile pictures with religious images, they may be showing that they
are religious individuals.
▪ Those with profile pictures of cartoon heroes or characters, they might want to be
recognized with the qualities and traits of these cartoon characters and heroes.
People’s profile pictures symbolize or represent many things about them. Whatever
reasons you may have in using these profile pictures are certainly influenced by how you
want to be perceived by your friends and other people on social media. These profile
pictures on Facebook or any other social networking sites reveal the online identities
people want to create.
B. Selective Self-presentation and Extended Self
According to Goffman (1959) and Leary (1995) as cited by Alata, et. al. (2018),
self-presentation is the process of controlling how one is perceived by other people and
it is the key to relationship foundation and development. To build positive images, you
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selectively give information about yourself and carefully supply this information in
response to other’s response.
Anything that you post online must be considered “public” no matter what your
“privacy” settings are. For example, a classmate wrote online about how much he hated
another classmate in school, and started bullying her online. Does it matter if the student GE 1SS | 6
said, “Well, this is my personal account”? Even if your classmate wrote it in a “private”
account, it can become public with a fast screen shot and shared with everyone on social
media.
Now, please take note of these two (2) important terms that Alata, et. al. (2018)
emphasized and what its significance to you as a person.
Personal identity = is the interpersonal level of the self that distinguishes the person
as unique from other people.
Social identity = is the level of the self in which the person is identified by his or her
group memberships.
The “self” that is presented online can be viewed as one’s “extended self.” Belk
(1998) as cited by Corpuz, et. al. (2019) suggested the concept of the extended self 26
years ago, when the Internet was still being conceptualized and developed. Nowadays,
along with the development of many technologies, the possibilities of self-extension have
never been so extensive.
Belk (2013) in Alata, et. al. (2018) pointed out that sharing ourselves is nothing
new and has been done since then when human beings were formed. Digital devices help
us share various data to the whole world, more than ever before. It is now possible that
your friends on social media are more updated about your daily activities, connections,
and thoughts than your immediate families, loved ones, and relatives.
C. Digital Self
Questions like these may arise as we discuss the topic on digital self. So, brace
yourself and answer what comes immediately to mind. Here goes!
▪ What exactly is your age?
▪ Real vital statistics?
▪ Eye color?
▪ How about your skin complexion?
▪ Do you present in social media your actual physical characteristics?
Today, through the use of digital technologies, it is very easy for you to redefine or
recreate yourself digitally, or the images that you want to manipulate through your skills
in Photography or Photoshop.
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By using photo manipulation, you can be taller, shorter, thinner, fairer, and can even
have different eye color. It seems that everything is possible, anything can be modified.
While technology can change your physical appearances, what it does to produce is
definitely not the genuine self. Manipulated images simply serve as representations of
your ideal self and what you desire to be.
GE 1SS | 7
fixthephoto.com
In this period of high technology, your self adapts to the surroundings that is controlled
by digital technology. In order to gratify your goals and ambitions outside of your inner
self, things, products, or services allow you to consider that you can change, enhance or
improve your physical characteristics. One’s digital self consists of how one expresses
himself for himself in various online platforms. Like for example:
✓ If you want to be a famous showbiz personality, it is easy to get a picture of a
celebrity and use it in your profile picture.
✓ If you want to be in your most wanted place, it is easy to photo shop the picture to
show that you are in a certain place even if you have not been there before.
But the question is…
Is it right to use the picture of a famous celebrity as your profile picture on social
media? The possible answers…
✓ People will look at it as your way of fulfilling your dreams.
✓ Others might consider this action as a lack of acceptance and gratefulness for your
God-given physical characteristics because you are not contented with how you
look like.
Does it really have a psychological and moral implication if you will not reveal your
real self on social media? It depends upon your view but as one popular song in the year
2000 states “Will the real Slim Shady, please come up?” as Corpuz, et.al. (2019) asked.
Now…I’ve got the same question and I will add another one:
Will the “real you” come up? Are you ready to show your “real self” to the world?
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D. What Should Not Be Posted Online
Listed below are some of the things, information, activities, thoughts, opinions, and
feelings that should not be posted online according to Corpuz, et. al. (2019). Each of
this will be explained in order to clarify why these things should not be posted online.
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1. Sexy or revealing Pictures
If you have these photos, these should be kept in private for security reasons.
Some people may take advantage of these and spread them without your knowledge. So
it’s advisable that you should not take these kind of photos or videos for your security.
2. Pictures or videos showing private moments with loved ones
Even if you are too showy of your feelings towards your loved ones, kissing,
necking, and other intimate moments and activities must be kept in private as well and
should not be posted on social media.
3. Pictures or videos showing bad habits
Pictures showing while you are drinking intoxicated drinks or being drunk, smoking
cigarettes, and gambling must not be posted online. It is indecent to be proud and tell the
public about your vices, it only shows that you are too proud about your bad habits and it
certainly sets a bad example to others on social media.
4. Negative comments on another person’s attitudes
This is considered a crime of slander. It is impolite to post negative comments and
publicize to the world what you think of another individual’s attitudes. It is unfair and
injurious to another person’s character. In other words, it is wrong to criticize the person
online for it is open for everybody to see and can be posted without the person knowing
it.
5. Post announcing conflicts with other people
The conflicts with other people cannot be solved by posting about them online. The
best way of resolving these conflicts is to face and talk to them personally. Posting
conflicts online only intensifies the conflict. As the saying goes, “Do not wash dirty linen
in public.” Please do take note of that.
6. Post of the results of a particular competition with the defeated participants
You have the right to be proud about your accomplishments of your success but it
is not correct to show and tell the world the failure of others. It can be destructive to
people’s dignity and it can also affect their psychological well-being.
7. Comments showing strong oppositions to certain issues
You are free to express your ideas and opinion on a particular issue but sometimes
it may upset others or worst, it can even lead to having an enemy. Yes, the social media
is a way to express your personal views on certain issues, but you cannot be assured
that everyone on social media is open-minded. Some people are involved in bashing,
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name-calling, and other forms of incorrect behaviors because they feel at ease because
they cannot be seen in cyberspace.
8. Comments with foul, vulgar, indecent, and offensive words
Let us say somebody attacked you by throwing the first negative comment, but it
does not mean that is okay to counter attack by using cruel words. You should think that GE 1SS | 9
you are a student with a good reputation and soon you will be some professional after
you finish your tertiary education. Your response reflects who and what you are and it has
nothing to do with the one you are relying to.
9. Pictures or videos revealing one’s financial status
You should be careful in revealing about your own and your family’s finances
because it may place you at security risk.
10. Pictures or videos showing family trips
Posts showing too much data about your family get-togethers may also pose
security risks because it may draw unwelcome attention from criminals.
11. Pictures or videos displaying one doing good deeds
Doing good deeds are very good to see and that’s a lot to be proud of, but it is
deceptive to take photos of such deeds because it tends to focus more on you as the
doer of the good deed instead of the deed itself.
12. Pictures or videos in hospitals
It is both wrong and illegal to take photos in hospitals. Whether it is just a photo of
a part of hospital or of a patient that is your family member, relative, or love ones, taking
of photos in hospital is against the law.
13. Posts of every single thing you do
Social media is a not a journal where you can write down every single thing that
happens to you every moment of the day. If you announce on social media every detail
of your day-to-day activities, this may show or tell the world that you lack self-esteem.
People who post on social media everything seem to be looking for public affirmation or
recognition and this is a sign of low self-esteem.
E. Setting Boundaries to your Online Self: Smart Sharing
Alata, et. al. (2018) pointed out that these guidelines will help you share information
online in a smart way that will protect yourself and not harm others. Before posting or
sharing anything online, consider the following questions and think carefully before
sharing data on social media.
✓ Is this post/story necessary?
✓ Is there a real benefit to this post? Is it funny, warm-hearted, teachable-or am I just
making noise online without purpose?
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✓ Have we (as a family or parent/child) resolved this issue? An issue that is still being
worked out at home, or one that is either vulnerable or highly emotional, should
not be made public.
✓ Is it appropriate/ Does it stay within the boundaries of our family values?
✓ Will this seem funny in 5, 10, or 15 years? Or is this post better suited for sharing
with a small group of family members? Or maybe not at all? GE 1SS | 10
F. Rules to Follow
The following additional guidelines are needed for proper sharing of information
and ethical use of the Internet according to New (2014) as cited by Alata, et. al. (2018)
▪ Stick to safer sites when surfing.
▪ Guard your passwords at all costs.
▪ Limit what you share on social media.
▪ Remember that anything you put online or post on a site is there forever, even if
you try to delete it.
▪ Do not be nasty or shame other people online.
▪ Always inform if you see any strange or bad behavior online.
▪ Be selective about your online contacts.
▪ Be patient.
G. “Think Before You Click” Campaign
I will add another safety tip for you and this line which is very familiar to you. This
is the famous line, “THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK” campaign of GMA Network in 2011
and which also won the Globe Tatt Awards in 2012. Surely, you would think before you
press the ‘Enter” key on your keyboard of your computers, laptops, tablets, or on your
smartphones. This campaign has been very successful since the social media users are
reminded of their responsibility to the world of thinking first before they post anything
online to avoid the consequences of their actions.
In this famous campaign, GMA Vice President for Multi-Media Journalism and
GMA News Online Editor-in-Chief, Howie Severino, reminded viewers of the great
influence of the Internet and its possible implications. He explained that,
“If we are aware that we have the power to build, create, or destroy and ruin people’s
reputation and even lives, then we’re going to be much more responsible on how we use
it (Internet)” (GMA 7, 2012).
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GE 1SS | 11
teacherspayteachers.co
THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL ADVANCEMENTS TO IDENTITY
Now, let us go directly to the point. What exactly are the impacts of these digital
advancements to your identity? Why these have become an issue in the whole world?
You may not notice the changes in your personality but look into the list below and see if
these impacts of digital advancements are happening to you.
Magalona. et. al., (2018) provided a list of impacts of digital advancements and
each of them will be elaborated afterwards. These are the following:
1. Disconnectedness
The growing use of gadgets and existence in the social media led to being
disconnected from others around us. Oftentimes, you prefer to stay fixed on the social
media creating the latest posts or stalking on somebody’s account for so many hours and
being mentally insensitive to the events happening around you.
2. Developing and Nurturing Virtual Relationship
The advanced development in the features of social networking sites lets you to
have hundreds of friends and even thousands of followers. In the long run, this resulted
to creating virtual relationships which gratifies the need for relationships and intimacy.
Yes, this can provide positive impact on you but it can also cause failure to continue
having face to face relationships which needs more personal adjustments and
understanding of individual differences.
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3. Online Recklessness
The digital world provides you with the opportunity of expressing your thoughts
and views from the confines and comforts of your room but do you really use this freedom
with a sense of responsibility? If you say an unusual response that can cause public
scandal or shared response from all of those who can see your rare reactions, are you GE 1SS | 12
willing to stand for the consequences?
We are all accountable for our acts but many have revealed the tendency is to be
reckless and irresponsible. They cannot control or monitor on their expression of
emotions. After the injury has been done through the posting of opinions or personal
reactions online, the next step is to delete the same. Well, this is certainly a display of
extreme recklessness which does not in any way help the development of maturity among
people.
4. Distorted Identity Formation
The social media world provides the chance to create some several online
identities depending to your heart’s desire. You can change your status, citizenship,
gender, physical appearance and even your character in the online world.
The desire to be somebody or to create an ideal “self” in the cyberspace can be
attained immediately by using the advance features offered in social networking sites as
improved by the various applications (Apps) provided to you. The identity that you desire
to show online may either reflect your true self or your ideal self.
As you aim for recognition and approval from your online friends and
acquaintances, you tend not to be real to yourself. Your “new identity” will assure
affirmation by the significant online friends, followers, and acquaintances even though
you are deviating from what is real.
5. A Significant Portion of Your Life is Being Broadcasted
The digital world offers you the opportunity to have this “celebrity feel” or becoming
famous. Like for example, you are possibly doing the following:
✓ You pose the image of a new gadget online as a way of expressing your
amazement.
✓ You want to share the joy of consuming a well-plated meal then you pose it on line.
✓ In order to show how you feel about a latest breakup then you pose it online.
✓ You post it online to express your emotions about an intense disagreement with
your parents.
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6. “Digital Self-Harm”
Results in research as cited by Magalona, et. al. (2018) found that around 6% of
adolescents between the ages of 12 to 17 years are practicing this so-called “digital self-
harm” and they are doing this by using smartphones. “The loneliness, emptiness, and
anxiety the digital technology led to the declining mental health and the rising rate of GE 1SS | 13
adolescent suicide.”
As the digital world has delivered the means for you to express yourself, it also
permits you to post bad self-impressions about your looks and character which later
confirms insecurities and low self-concept. Involvement in this online behavior also
permits “cyberbullying” as the information about the individual’s weaknesses are being
presented in public.
7. Contribute to a Declining Mental Health
Extreme loneliness and anxiety especially among teenagers like you can be the
effect of severe exposure and involvement in the digital world. The failure to get attention
from the significant people in your life leads to sadness and frustrations. This contributes
to a lot a declining mental health as you are incapable to overcome stress. Crimes
happen because of this reality as you develop anxiety and heighten emotional issues
which you cannot resolve in a more mature manner.
So I hope this would not happen to you. Never think that you are alone. Our
university has guidance counselors that can help you out and offers their free services,
especially in this time of pandemic.
8. Self-Obsession
Continuous exposure to the digital world has obviously increased the incidence of
“narcissism”. Many people have become self-obsessed and self-absorbed as facilitated
and endorsed by the social media. As social networking sites permits you to escape from
the miseries of your everyday life, expectations therefore arise.
All of these accounts have to do with yourself, what you are doing now, who you
are with, and what you feel now. You have become so engrossed with yourself. The digital
world has inspired you to be so amazed about the “me, myself, and I” trend.
References:
Alata, E.J.P., Caslib, Jr. B.N. , Serafica, J.N.J., and Pawilen, R.A. (2018). Understanding the Self.
1st ed., Manila, Phil: Rex Bookstore
Corpuz, R.M., Estoque, R.S. and Tabotabo, C.V. (2019). Understanding the Self. QC: C&E Publishing,
Inc.
Understanding the Self Module. (2020)
The Socio-digital Self. Retrieved Nov. 12, 2020 . (https://utsged101portfolio.wordpress.com/section-2-the-
socio-digital-self/
†AMDG/mmj/ge1ss
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