First Learning Journal Blog

 

I have many personal dos and don'ts when it comes to social media, since I find it to be a scary place. So, I am going to give you the top two things I stand by. First and foremost, I dislike disclosing too much personal information, such as my location or simply posting about my every move for all to see. I tend to see others put so much out there that I almost get nervous for them because I think some things should just get kept for themselves. I guess people just get too comfortable. The thing I do is reach out to family members that I don’t get to see all the time and communicate with them through their posts, messages, or pictures they may put out there. Social media can be used to one's advantage, but the one thing I love about it is that it allows me to keep everyone up to date on my life. I don't put my whole life out there, but if I get a huge job, graduate school, or something like that, I'll put it out there for my friends and family to see since that's the modern way of communicating and keeping up since I don't have the ability to see everyone all the time. For example, when I got a job with the Baltimore Orioles, I made a post about it since I was proud of myself and felt like it would be nice to let people know where I am in life.

When I first started using social media, I felt like it was in a way better place than it is now. Growing up, I only ever heard of Myspace, like one of the videos talked about. I had four older sisters, so it was something that was always talked about. I started using it regularly when I was about thirteen. There wasn't as much hatred, politics, or outright rage as there is now. I remember this was around the time Instagram and those other huge platforms were created, so I think everyone was more focused on trying to figure out how things worked than being ignorant. Now in 2023, everyone is far past the learning stage and just on it to have fun, it feels like. The one advantage of social media today is that breaking news and updates for sports, life, and everything else that gets released spread more quickly and efficiently than ever before. As a beginner, I posted so many things. Whether it was funny memes, pictures of me, or many pictures of my animals, I remember thinking I was so cool. Today, I keep things simple and just post what I think is necessary without giving too much information about myself. I am a huge sports fan, so I enjoy using Twitter. Twitter breaks sports news the fastest, and I am always on the search for new podcasts by the reporters or other sports fans I follow. Instagram was the first platform I ever used. I remember posting picture after picture and editing the pictures to make them look better, which I thought was cool. I didn’t really understand the app, but of course my profile has drastically changed since then, but I don’t regret the 13-year-old me experiencing social media for the first time and having fun. I never acted up on social media, and I still don’t to this day. I am quiet and like to just look. I guess you can call me a lurker, but I'm fine with that. Anything that can keep me from getting into trouble or arguments, I am all about.

I place a high value on social media. You can nitpick it all you want, but at the end of the day, it is very useful, and everything about it is unique. Like this chapter has talked about, social networking is one of my favorite things out there. It's all about connections these days, and if you use social media correctly, it can help you a lot if you use it correctly and don't abuse it. Of course, social media It has its flaws, but so does everything and everyone. It has its great moments, again, just like everything and everyone. I am all about videos and pictures when it comes to social media. I feel like it helps you tell your story in a visual way. Selfies are great. I remember when they first became popular and how it made people laugh, but now I find myself taking selfies with my mom, dad, girlfriend, or whoever. I was not a fan of the selfie sticks, so I’m happy that trend died quickly. Online image is huge. You’re responsible for everything once you hit that post or send button. One wrong move can ruin your whole life or make people think differently of you. That is why I choose to be quiet when it comes to involving myself in things online. My advice is to be careful.

     I stand by having rules for posting. It's straightforward for me. I have a job and a bright future ahead of me. Why would I ever put things out there that could put those things in jeopardy? Of course, there are no real rules for what to post, so you must be self-aware and think smart. Like I said, you're the one responsible if something comes back to bite you. Comparing yourself to others will only set you back and hurt you. Social media is known for people putting things out there that don’t tell the whole story. Never get caught up in someone's false life and have it bring you down because you may not have what that person has or want to be like them. We only have one life, so don’t waste your energy on those things. You will benefit more from focusing on yourself and taking care of yourself, believe me. I am not even going to lie when I say I thought about walking away from social media.  It can become overwhelming and put you in a deep hole, but once I taught myself to lay low on it, I don’t think I'll ever leave it now. Just be smart and don’t let things get to you. It's an evil world out there, but prove you're better than that. If you don’t think you can ever teach yourself to stay out of trouble with it, then I am on board with quitting. It's not a bad thing; it would help. Everyone is different, so do what best suits you.

Finally, I will always support social media and think it is a great place to share your thoughts and feelings. I know everyone has their own opinions on it, but I truly believe it brings more good to the table than bad.