Clear your internet history

Humans are intricate beings. We are constantly contemplating our social behaviours to craft the most ideal version of ourselves. Having a body that is lived in means having an identity that embodies you.

The environment in which you were raised, the people you surround yourself with, and your dynamic genetics are all apart of building this identity. It’s what makes us act in certain ways and feel certain things. Most of us showcase these parts of ourselves daily as normal human behaviour.

Though, It is difficult to be the most genuine you when there are seemingly endless platforms available to brand yourself as someone more desirable.

Not only is it tempting- it is preferable.

Being a Journalist in a digital age means that the most human parts of you, like your hidden biases and blatant opinions, are strategically tucked away from the public eye. They only reside in the crevices of your mind and in conversations with close friends. The places where you are the most inherently you.

We live in a world where you are being analyzed through the articles you share and the posts you like- but is this what accounts a journalist as credible?

There is no denying that we all have something to hide, and it is likely that it is appropriate to hide those things from being at the forefront of our public image. It only makes sense that we all jump at the opportunity to rid ourselves of the things we don’t particularly like when creating profiles online that are supposed to represent ourselves.

But how much hiding is too much?

There may be a point where we have too much freedom as public figures because of how simple it is to manipulate your image. How can we be sure the fellow journalists we look up too as credible are actually that if we only know these people on account of their social media and how they choose to present themselves online?

The truth behind the people that illustrate their identities through online platforms is definitely questionable. It is important to consider the human behind the screen when making decisions about trusting people who are accountable for your news.