Todays class was lead by guest speaker Jesse Miller who discussed the cautionary tale of social media. Although I was not in class today due to illness, I was still able to gather plenty of useful information after reviewing Jesse’s slides about the use of social media. After viewing and reflecting on the slides, I think it is very important to realize boundaries when it comes to social media. First, there is the importance of realizing that the things we post on social media are often visible to the public. It is crucial that we make sure the things we are sharing online are appropriate and professional. It is a good idea to keep your personal and professional social media platforms separate and make sure your privacy settings are set to adequate levels. Another boundary worth considering is adding students on social media. This is not something to consider but a boundary that should be followed for the safety and integrity of you and your students.
Although it is important to be cautious when using social media, social media does have many benefits. For example, some teachers use their platforms to share activities, ideas, educational resources, and more. In addition, social media can be a way to easily access information and knowledge. When used right, social media, and media in general, have its place in the classroom and as a tool for individuals to use responsibility.
Lastly is the idea of our personal social media footprint. For the most part what I expected to see was what I saw however there was one or two things that surprised me that I plan on looking into. One of these being a LinkedIn account of me that I never created. Overall, I think social media is a tool that should be used carefully and that means ensuring your privacy setting are set and that you are promoting yourself appropriately.
Photo credits: Header photo by Merakist on Unsplash