Self Promotion on the Internet
“Promoting and branding the self has become a normalized, accepted phenomenon in ordinary people’s lives.” — Jose van Dijck
On the internet we have several identities and utilize social networking to display our identities on the internet. We use these sites for self-expression into the digital world. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram’s functions for most people is to self express themselves. What about LinkedIn? Is it self expression or is it self promotion? Whats the difference?
Self expression is the intentional presentation of self or personality and individuality. Self expression is what some of us do on social platforms everyday. Tweeting, sharing, taking pictures of yourself, and posting on Facebook can all be example of self expression. If we are constantly posting or tweeting about our lives and daily life moments, why wouldn't this be considered self promotion? I like to argue that there is a substantial difference between self expression and self promotion.
LinkedIn was created in 2003 and it’s sole purpose is to let others know in the professional world who you are. I personally have a LinkedIn and know several others of all ages that use this website to connect with potential employers or to recruit potential employees. I use the website for primarily self promotion. On LinkedIn I can add several skills that I have developed in the professional world, including effective communicator and research. I am promoting my experiences to impress future employers. Most of us are selling ourselves on these professional networking sites to others that we are connected to. On Facebook most people would add their job history, but probably wont add their skills and have other’s endorse their skills that they have developed over the years.
On LinkedIn most people would not post a selfie or another picture that represents their individuality. That is for Facebook. Self expression is different than self promotion. Self promotion can also be equivalent to selling our selves on the internet, when we commit self expression we are not selling our selves, we are displaying our personalities.
