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Course Code and Title: GE 101 – Understanding the Self

Lesson Number: Lesson 13 (Week 14)

Topic: The Digital Self

INTRODUCTION:
This chapter explains the concept of digital self and the importance of digital technology in human
activities. It also presents the implications of and the ethical issues involved in sharing personal
information especially in social networks.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
▪ Define digital self;
▪ Explain the role of mobile phones, internet, and social networking in developing the digital
self;
▪ Identify the Filipino values of social networking;
▪ Explain the role of the government, school, and church in the prevention of identity theft, false
information, and fake news; and
▪ Describe the provisions of the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
LESSON PRESENTATION:

How can we expect another to keep our secret

if we cannot keep it ourselves.
- François de La Rochefoucauld

THE DIGITAL SELF

Among the Filipino youth, the use of digital technology has now become part of the self--the digital
self. The digital self is the aspect of the self that is expressed or shared with others through online
interactions on the internet, specifically in social networking sites. On such sites, users normally
disclose personal information such as their name, age, birthdate, address, and contact details.
Some users also provide very personal information about themselves such as their likes and
dislikes, hobbies, favorite food, favorite movies, places they have visited, relationship status,
thoughts and feelings, and important events in their lives. This sharing of personal information on

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social networking sites may be related to the strong desire of adolescents for social approval and
acceptance. Similar can be said about adults.

SELF-PRESENTATION AND IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT

John DeLamater and Daniel Myers (2012) cite that the self is heavily influenced by feedback from
others. The impact of others whom people interact with depends upon the nature of one's
relationship with them. Interaction with significant others may be very influential to how one
presents himself or herself in a virtual space. The views of others through online interactions
(social networking) are so important that they become part of the self. Personal information that
individuals disclose through online interaction which others judge favorably through "liking" and
"reacting" contribute to positive self-concepts. Nevertheless, people try to present themselves in
such a way to impress--that is, to create positive impressions in the eyes of other people.
Self-presentation refers to an individual's attempts, both conscious and unconscious, to control
how he or she projects himself or herself in social interactions. Some forms self-presentation may
be authentic, but some may be tactical or selective.

Self-presentation is inherent in all situations. The widespread use of online interactions has
increased the opportunities to engage in self-presentation and impression management. Most
people strive to create images that are positive. Thus, individuals use several methods to create
positive impressions of them. Some individuals try to alter their appearances through what they
post on social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by using photo editing
tools. The desire to impress other people on social media may lead to showing off one's work,
achievements, and material possessions in a virtual place.

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Nevertheless, the desire to create positive impressions and to be "liked" by others may lead to
consequences that can be risky to one's security and mental health, such as identity theft,
cyberbullying, gossiping as well as anxiety and depression. Thus, individuals should be very careful
with what they post or share on social networking sites. People should still be mindful of their privacy
using social networking sites.

EXPRESSION OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY ONLINE

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines sexuality as the quality or state of being sexual while
gender is the psychological identification of a person as masculine or feminine. Both could affect not
only how people think about themselves but also their relationships with others and how others think
of them as well (Cicarelli & White, 2012). Individuals tend to be categorized based on their gender
identities and sexuality in different types of situations that are visible in different forms of media,
especially social media. The portrayal of male and female behaviors in media could affect the
construction of appropriate sexual behaviors of people, especially adolescents.
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The internet and social networking sites provide channels for dissemination of information, including
information about gender and sexuality. For this reason, better and accurate information is now
becoming available. The Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP), for example, provides
scientific knowledge on the application of psychological theories, concepts, and principles on gender
identity and sexual orientation to benefit society and improve the lives of the members of the
LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, +) community. In the PAP website, online
resources and publications on LGBTQ+ issues, resources, and information addresses bias and
discrimination issues. With the increasing urgency to uphold human rights and to protect the dignity
and equality of all persons of various sexual orientations, a measure prohibiting discrimination on the
basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression is developed. In particular, the Anti
Discrimination Act aims to protect the rights and welfare of the LGBTQ+ people in the Philippines.
The act recognizes the important role of telecommunications and social media in protecting,
particularly, the LGBTQ+ people from discriminatory acts.

THE IMPORTANCE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

At present, the use of technology is essential for individual survival and for communication with other
people. Just as the use of technology Is becoming important for individuals, it is also developing to
be important for the development of society. The Business Dictionary defines technology as the
application of information in the design, production, and utilization of goods and services, and in the
organization of human activities. There have been so many technological advancements over the
past years. Technology has changed the social features of people’s lives. It has altered the way
people view the social dimension of relationships and dictated new ways for people to relate with
one another. Advancements in computer and software technologies reached an impressive level.
These technologies improve not only very common areas of people's daily life, but also areas of
education, health, and production industries (Mishra, Misra, Mueller, Perez, Bhatia, & Wang, 2014).
Forms of technology such as digital technology include all types of electronic equipment and
applications that use information in the form of numeric codes. Digital technology includes the use of
devices that process and use digital information such as computers and mobile phones. Digital
technology has enabled volumes of information to be compressed in compact storage devices, so as
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to be easily contained and delivered; minimizing the time it takes for data to be transmitted. Digital
technology has immensely changed the pattern of working as well as the learning of new concepts,
including communication. Innovations in mobile phones, for example, resulted in the widespread use
of the internet and social networking.

IMPACT OF ONLINE INTERACTIONS ON THE SELF

The Philippines has the fastest growing internet population in Southeast Asia. This can be rooted to
majority of the Filipinos, particularly the youth, use the internet primarily for social networking which
is mostly used for communication, information, and entertainment (Estuar, 2003; Bristol, Caro,
Mangaliman, & Bernarte, 2013; Ignatius & Hechanova, 2014).

Iqbal, Khan, & Malik (2017) suggest that mobile phones are ever more becoming a very valuable
part of the daily life of today's youth. They allow the users to keep in touch, connect with people, and
be updated on the activities and whereabouts of others. However, the use of digital technology and
online interactions limit face-to-face interaction with others and has drawn people away from
meaningful and intimate communication with families and friends. Hence, the growing use of the
internet and social networking sites changes the social behaviors of individuals, families, and
societies as a whole.

Hechanova and Ortega-Go find that the use of internet has both positive and negative outcomes. In
their study, the use of internet can improve one's relationships through easier ways of
communicating. Social networking can be an important facility for debates on current issues in the
country such as political issues. It can also be a facility to express the opinions, needs, and
concerns of people. However, it is also through social networking that identity theft, false information,
and fake news are able to circulate. Thus, the church, schools, and the government exert efforts to
prevent and effectively manage the spread of identity theft, false information, and fake news in the
country.
Most users of social networking sites prefer to be anonymous and may sometimes use false names.
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Privacy and confidentiality should be a major concern, especially for adolescents who may not be
entirely aware of the consequences of sharing private information online, for anyone to see. They
usually post pictures and videos of themselves, their friends, and family. Thus, adolescents are
particularly susceptible to cyberbullying, gossips, and stalking. For this reason, the government
together with academic and even religious institution in the Philippines make efforts to prevent and
effectively manage the spread of identity theft, false information, and fake news in the country.

DATA PRIVACY ACT

To protect the people from invasion of privacy, Republic Act 10173, otherwise known as the Data
Privacy Act of 2012 was passed in the Philippines. It’s act states that:

It is the policy of the State to protect the fundamental human right of

privacy, of communication while ensuring free flow of information to
promote innovation and growth. The State recognizes the vital role of
information and communications technology in nation-building and its
inherent obligation to ensure that personal information in information and
communications systems in the government and in the private sector are
secured and protected. Personal information in this context refers to any
information, whether recorded in a material form or not, from which the
identity of an individual is apparent or can be reasonably and directly
ascertained by the entity holding the information, or when put together
with other information would directly and certainly identify an individual.

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SUMMARY:

The digital self is the aspect of the self that is expressed or shared to others through online
interactions.
The use of technology is essential for individual survival and for communication with other people.
Forms of technology such as digital technology include all types of electronic equipment and
applications that use information in the form of numeric codes.
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The Philippines has the fastest growing internet population in Southeast

Asia. Adolescents are particularly susceptible to cyberbullying, gossips, and

stalking.

Republic Act 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012, protects people from
invasion of their privacy.

REMINDER:
▪ Do advance reading of module # 14 in Understanding the Self entitled Learning to Be a
Better Student.

ONLINE RESOURCES:
▪ How to manage your expectations
https://www.verywellmind.com/expectation-vs-reality-trap-4570968
▪ Know your data privacy rights
https://insidemanila.ph/article/293/heres-what-we-know-so-far-about-the-dfa-data-breach

REFERENCE:
▪ Go-Monilla, M.J. & Ramirez, N. (2018). Understanding the Self. C & E Publishing, Inc.