Visitor & Resident Map and Digital Identity

baowenliu
3 Comments

Screenshot

Visitor & Resident Map created by Baowen Liu

By creating visitor and resident maps, I gained a clear understanding of my online distribution. First, in the professional section, I categorized Google and Zoom as visitors because I use Google for research and Zoom for classes. However, I rarely actively participate in these platforms—I mostly browse. I categorized Gmail and Mattermost (required for this course) as resident apps. Within these platforms, I maintain my professional identity as a UVic undergraduate student. Furthermore, I actively engage and contribute to these apps to sustain my academic progress.
In the personal section, Snapchat, Instagram, and WeChat are my resident applications. I use these three platforms daily to communicate with friends and family, frequently sharing updates and moments from my life. For example, I post Instagram Stories almost every day. Additionally, I placed YouTube and Spotify in the Visitor section because I don’t create profiles on these platforms; I only use them to search for videos I want to watch and songs I want to listen to.

Social media platforms are the fastest way to understand someone, which inevitably makes me reflect on my past behavior on these apps. I post entertainment content daily on apps like Instagram, covering travel, food, sports, and selfies. My Instagram profile uses my online alias—a reflection of my personal identity that’s unrestricted, casual, and somewhat unreal. It’s like my self-created utopia, constantly showcasing the version of myself I most want others to see.

But when it comes to my professional identity, I realize I’ve been lacking. Future employers will undoubtedly explore my online professional presence to understand me. I believe a professional identity demands seriousness and authenticity—unlike my personal one. For instance, my professional name must be my real name, and I need to consider the value I can contribute to society. Reviewing the applications in my V and R Map’s professional section, none seem to offer a suitable platform for introducing who I am. I plan to use applications like LinkedIn to create my own professional profile, thoughtfully crafting and demonstrating my social value. To broaden my professional network and attract employers, I need to gradually shift my focus from personal identity to professional identity. This means consistently building my presence on professional platforms over time, rather than creating a profile only when a professional identity is urgently needed.

3 Comments

  1. hey ! I really liked your use of hand drawn mapping and logos, it adds a personal element that you wouldn’t get otherwise. I think its interesting how your mail is exclusively in your institutional quadrant, compared to my map where it was in between personal and insititutional. I reflected on my own map that I should have separate emails for professional and private purposes. I also think that in your personal reflection it is funny and relatable that you’ve been “lacking” in regard to your online presence. Hopefully we both can lock in and make sure our digital presence is better moving forward!

  2. Hi,
    I really liked how clearly you explained your Visitor and Resident map: it makes a lot of sense, especially how you separated professional and personal spaces. Your distinction between using platforms like Google and Zoom versus actively contributing on Gmail and Mattermost was a strong example of what being a “resident” actually means in an academic context.

    I also found your reflection on personal identity really thoughtful. The way you described Instagram as a “self-created utopia” felt very honest and relatable, since many of us curate a version of ourselves online that’s more casual and idealized. At the same time, your awareness that this doesn’t translate well into a professional identity shows a lot of self-reflection.

    Thanks for sharing!

  3. Hi, I appreciated how openly you acknowledged the imbalance between your personal and professional digital identities. Your reflection felt very genuine, especially in recognizing how personal platforms can dominate online presence without much intention. Thanks for sharing!

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