STS: OUR CYBER SELVES: IDENTITY & DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

What are the two reasons people are drawn online?

Connectivity (staying close when apart) and Community (finding shared groups/interests).

What four things have new media technologies promised us?

More time to relax, more friends, stronger bonds with loved ones, and the possibility of fame, popularity, and wealth.

What does "Promise of Sociality" mean in this context?

New media enables private selves to emerge publicly, allowing people to join larger groups sharing common interests.

Who introduced "Technologies of the Self"?

Michel Foucault.

What are Foucault's "Technologies of the Self"?

Technologies that permit individuals to transform themselves — their bodies, souls, thoughts, and conduct — to attain happiness, purity, wisdom, perfection, or immortality.

What is Foucault's focus in his concept of technologies of the self?

How individuals act upon themselves in the process of shaping their own identity.

What does Zygmunt Bauman argue about identity?

Identity is something we construct (invent), not discover — it is a target of effort built from scratch or chosen from alternatives.

When does identity assertion become especially prominent according to Bauman?

During periods of anxiety and social change.

What does Sherry Turkle say about digital environments and identity?

They allow us to explore and invent multiple selves rather than discover a single fixed self.

What does Turkle say digital environments promise in terms of social interaction?

Multiple encounters and the promise of affection, conversation, and a sense of beginning.

What is the key difference between Foucault's and Bauman's views on identity?

Foucault focuses on self-transformation through practice; Bauman focuses on identity as a social construction and ongoing project.

How does cyberspace affect the self?

It saturates the self with expanding networks, leading to overlapping and conflicting potentials for identity and voice.

How many internet users does the Philippines have (We Are Social, 2025)?

97.5 million.

How long do Filipinos spend online daily on average?

8 hours and 52 minutes, mostly via mobile devices.

What does this data suggest about Filipino digital behavior?

Filipinos are among the most connected populations globally, making digital literacy and critical evaluation of information especially important.

According to Abbas and Dertwin (2009), what do online activities become?

Markers of identity — the information people read and interact with becomes part of their life narrative.

What is "Polysemic Performance of the Self"?

Using online engagement to construct self-narratives by connecting experiences and events, sometimes leading to self-reflection, self-consciousness, or narcissism.

What is misinformation?

Information whose inaccuracy is unintentional.

What is disinformation?

Information that is deliberately false or misleading.

What are the three main drivers of misinformation/disinformation?

Politics, profit, and pranks.

What are the 7 types of misleading content?

Satire/parody, misleading content, imposter content, fabricated content, false connection, false context, and manipulated content.

What is "satire or parody" as a type of misleading content?

Humorous content that may mislead audiences who take it literally.

What is "misleading content"?

The misuse of legitimate information to frame issues in a distorted way.

What is "imposter content"?

Content where genuine, credible sources are impersonated to deceive audiences.

What is "fabricated content"?

Completely false information designed entirely to deceive.

What is "false connection"?

When headlines, visuals, or captions do not support or match the actual content of the article.

What is "false context"?

When genuine content is shared with incorrect or misleading contextual information.

What is "manipulated content"?

When genuine information or imagery is altered or distorted to deceive.

Which type of misleading content is most dangerous and why?

Fabricated and disinformation content — because it is entirely invented with deliberate intent to deceive, making it hardest to trace back to legitimate sources.

How can you distinguish misinformation from disinformation?

Intent — misinformation is spread without knowing it's false; disinformation is spread knowing it is false.

What are the key steps to evaluate online information?

Verify the source, check the URL, look for credible references, verify quotes and links, check the writer's byline and profile, examine photos and videos, review the "About" page, use fact-checking sites, and identify possible agendas.

What does CR*P stand for?

Currency, Reliability, Authority, Purpose/Point of View.

Why was the CR*P test developed?

Because information is easy to find online but determining its credibility and trustworthiness is challenging.

What does "C" (Currency) check for?

Whether the page has a publish date, copyright notice, last update, and whether the links are current and unbroken.

Why does currency matter more in some subjects than others?

Fast-changing fields like medicine, science, or law require the most up-to-date information; historical topics may not.

What do broken links on a website suggest?

The site may be outdated, poorly maintained, or no longer actively monitored.

What does "R" (Reliability) check for?

Whether the information is accurate, error-free, well-cited, and can be cross-checked through other sources.

What does "A" (Authority) check for?

Whether there is an identified author with verifiable credentials or experience, and whether the organization behind the content is reputable.

What credentials might establish an author's authority?

Academic degrees (MD, PhD), professional experience, institutional affiliation, and peer recognition.

What does "P" (Purpose/POV) check for?

Whether the content aims to persuade, entertain, or inform — and whether advertising or emotional manipulation is present.

Why is purpose/POV the trickiest criterion?

The goals of an author or organization may not be clearly stated, and advertising is often disguised as objective content.

What are signs that content is designed to persuade emotionally rather than inform?

Heavy use of emotionally charged words, dramatic imagery, appeals to fear or anger, and one-sided presentation of facts.

What type of site is a ".com" domain?

A commercial or for-profit site.

What type of site is a ".net" domain?

Usually a commercial or personal site.

What type of site is a ".org" domain?

A non-profit site (though it may still promote opinions or ideas and may have biases).

What type of site is a ".edu" domain?

An educational institution, college, or university site.

What type of site is a ".gov" domain?

A government site.

Why can a ".org" site still be biased?

Non-profit organizations may still advocate for specific viewpoints, ideologies, or causes even though they are not for-profit.

Can a ".gov" site be considered reliable?

Generally yes, but government sites may reflect official policy positions and may not always present all sides of an issue.

What is the limitation of using domain type as the only credibility indicator?

Domain type only provides a clue about the site's general nature — it does not guarantee accuracy, currency, or objectivity.

How should the CR*P test be used in practice?

Apply all four criteria together — no single criterion is sufficient on its own to determine whether a source is trustworthy.

What is the overall purpose of the CR*P test?

To help individuals determine whether online information is credible, trustworthy, relevant, and appropriate to use.