My Domain Name
My domain name is not my full name but my nickname. This is so I can still have my work recognized for assignments but it will not be the first thing to pop-up when my full name is searched on the internet.
Why am I not using my full name?
I am a senior this year, so I am taking a class on how to build my online portfolio for when I graduate. In this class we have focused on how we will be perceived on the internet, especially by future employers. Because of this when my name is searched on the internet, I want to prioritize things employers would want to see like my LinkedIn or research. Keeping a domain under my nickname helps from muddling those searches with unnecessary information about me.
As I work on building my online portfolio in a more professional setting, I think it is important to differentiate ones name from anything too unprofessional. This is not to say erase your name on the internet because that too deters future employers but rather being aware of what people can find about you especially if that is attached to your full name.
My Future on the Web
While in person, I am a very open book as I can choose who I am talking to. On the internet, we don’t always have that luxury. Once you put something on the internet, it is out there for anyone to see. Because of this my future on the web will be more quiet than it may have been in the past. I am more intentional about account names, keeping accounts private, and the content that I both interact with and post.
Internet Safety/Identity
As you create an online identity, it is important that you are in control of it. As you become more aware of what can be accessed on the internet, it is important to see what can be linked back to you. I think all people should search themselves on the internet to see what comes up as you may find things that you forgot about or didn’t know were public. I highly encourage, especially in college, planning for your future and that includes how you put yourself out there on the internet. Below I’ve attached a youtube video that goes over how to build a positive online identity.
Digital Footprint – How To Build a Positive Online Identity