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Remember who you are. (The Lion King)

I think we have well established the importance of impression management and having a good public image on social media within the framework of breaking the status quo and Internet trolls. We know why you should not post rashly, break character, perhaps even why you should not show weakness on social media. However, we have not really discussed the benefits to maintaining a good online image and how to maintain one.  

In the movie "The Lion King", Mufasa speaks to Simba from beyond the grave, reminding him to "remember who [he is]". Because you can operate online at your own leisure, you have time to curate images and posts that are true to your online persona. However, if "online you" is vastly different from "in-person you", things might get a little sticky and you might start to wonder who you are. 

I fully admit that I'm mostly a "lurker" on social media. However, as a college senior who has to create and upkeep a quasi-professional online presence, I realize how easy it could be to fudge your online reputation. I think your online presence should be a reflection of who you are as a person. You don't have to be exactly the same person on Discord and Instagram that you are in real life, but for the sake of cognitive consistency, you should be at least somewhat authentic. This cognitive consistency, both for yourself and for your followers that either know you in real life or will know you in real life (e.g. future employers), is probably the most important benefit to maintaining a positive public image that is consistent with who you are as a person.

In my weekly musings, I will share with you my top 5 ways to maintain a friendly, relatable, authentic, and quasi-professional online image.

  1. Consider what kinds of standards you place on people you know personally in the social media world. Do you expect nothing less than perfection in their online performance? If you don't, be gentle and don't expect from yourself what you wouldn't expect from others. If you do, try to remember that people are imperfect, no matter how much we may wish them to be.
  2. Think back to the questions I posed to you last week. Would you be able to handle the consequences if this were to turn around and bite you in the behind? If you would not, you probably shouldn't post that.
  3. Keep potential employers in the back of your head. Remember that while your employers also are human and likely enjoy a good laugh, they also are looking to see professionalism. Would you make this comment or joke in the workplace? Treating the internet like a workplace makes it a bit easier to gauge what is appropriate to share online and will display a positive version of yourself.
  4. This one might seem obvious, but to have a friendly, personable online self, post things that are friendly and personable! It's hard to maintain a positive presence if all you do is complain about your life and bring others down.
  5. Finally, picture yourself saying that comment or that relatable meme post out loud. Does it sound like something you'd say? If not, it may not come off as very authentic.

At the end of the day, your online reputation and persona are a representation of you. Remember who you are and who you want to become!

Image credit of Disney Wiki

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