Interactions with Social Media Pre-EME6414

 Interactions with Social Media Pre-EME6414

For my first post, it felt appropriate to think about the ways I already utilize social media. Currently, I have accounts on the following platforms:

• Instagram (since high school)
• Facebook (since high school)
• Threads (for about a year)
• BeReal (about two years)
• Snapchat (since high school) 
• Pinterest (since high school)
• Reddit (since high school)

Logically, I know social media can be used professionally. It is a great way to form larger and more diverse learning communities for a variety of skills. Social media is a huge part of advertising and influencer as a career is at an all-time high. This is even reflected in our other cultural media. For example, the reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives exists because a group of women made a career out of TikTok, referring to it as "MomTok." However, I have very mixed feelings about the use of social media and do not use it to the extent that many people do. For me, doom scrolling on the internet is one of my least favorite but most often done virtual activities. I use most social media as a kind of memory journal: I have had my Instagram page since high school, and have kept the posts because I see them as sweet memories to look back on. My Insta is not what would be considered aesthetically pleasing, in influencer terms, but its purpose is not to influence. I have zero desire to push products and ways of living on people: I simply want a way to keep in touch with people I know and share my life with them. I do not interact with strangers on the internet, generally. I think arguing in the comments is a waste of time and mental energy. I have an issue with reading negative comments too often, generally ones that attack my profession (teaching) and talk about how teachers are lazy and deserve less than what they get. This is a habit I am trying to be better about, to the point that I have taken the Facebook app off my home screen to spend less time on it. I am even considering a "timer" on my phone to keep me from scrolling endlessly because I can feel how bad it is for my brain. If I am seeking the guidance of strangers on the internet, I generally turn to Reddit. I like that it is a more blog-esque setup and does not have the frills and extras of Instagram or Facebook. Generally, I do not see the same negativity on Reddit that I do other platforms. 

I am hoping this course changes how I see and interact with social media. I would love to learn how to interact with SM in a more positive and productive manner, without overloading my brain with the negativity of the comments.