Is our identity, mainly online, defined by what we share?

Technology has made the act of sharing (others content)- to your community-ies (friends, followers, readers…) so easy, a click on “share” on Facebook, a click on RT on Twitter, a blog post mentioning another post, that it has become very easy to shine through others’ content.

But am I really the reflection of what I republish? The “re-publish” notion can be extended to pictures taken at an event, where the people I capture are the value rebounded indirectly on me, the same with quick videos.

At some extent, I would answer in a positive way. Yes. Yes, what I share to my community gives them a good picture of what I like, what I find of interest. Even of my skills. I offer them the value created by someone else. In doing so, it would be hypocritical not to recognize that a slight part of it will be redirected on my own image.

But in my opinion, this can be done in a very transparent way, giving credit to whom deserves it, linking to the source, quoting the original article, quoting the person who published it. Otherwise, it would become “robbing”, as states it Valeria Maltoni in her recent, striking article. Shining through someone else’s content/opinion is easy.

These last weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot on that issue. For 2 main reasons:
First, there’s been a lot of noise around some big event recently, bringing along tons of pictures, videos, tweets, RT’s, etc.. but empty of real meaning. Or there were a thousand of people gathered for a major event that had nothing new to bring to the crowds, or the noise was too big on social networks and the efforts of “translation”, of value- addition too light. Or maybe both !
Secondly, I’ve been recently challenged by a question that sounded like: ok, you share Mashable or Techcrunch articles, great, but this is easy. Implied: what is your real “value-addition”?

So, sharing makes sense when you add your own opinion, colour, take.
Or, better, when you create your own content. Which opens other questions, deserving interest (and another post :-))
This will turn into long-lasting trust into what you think, you share. And, yes, you’ll be a little bit what you share.
But not only.
And you? Did you notice what are the favorite people you follow and why? Do they give a special meaning to the information they share?
I would love to have your opinion!

Image credit to Alex King