Overview
Authenticity is one of the trickiest concepts in both self and commodity branding, especially in a world dominated by social media. To be authentic, you have to present as being genuine, unmanaged, and non-performative--but at the same time, it takes quite a bit of thought, strategy, and calibration to present this way.
Please write 100-150 words in response to the following question:
In the reading "You Are Your Brand" by Jennifer Whitmer, she explores the rise of the idea that individuals need to present themselves according to the same logics that companies use to solidify a brand reputation. This idea is highly normalized, and one of the earliest things we get told about being online and on social media is to be mindful of how your activity would look to future employers. However, as she explains in the reading, "research on worker's self-branding practices has found that the ideal self-brand--consistent, always "on," authentic and marketable--is incompatible with the experience of presenting public selves" (p. 7). This means, in essence, that our authentic human experiences do not fit neatly into the streamlined form of brand images, and that presenting a self-brand requires a certain kind of self-censorship.
Drawing from the reading and your own experiences/opinions, what are the benefits and drawbacks to self-branding?