Month: July 2023

CONFLICTS ON MEDIA LITERACY & FACTUAL INFORMATION – WHY?

Media literacy is the ability to critically analyze stories presented in mass media and determine their accuracy or credibility (Wikipedia contributors, 2023). As Julie Smith explained in the interview, so much information exists that it becomes challenging to figure out which information is true and meaningful (MILLER, 2021).

Conflicts often arise concerning media literacy and factual information due to various reasons. People have different perspectives, beliefs, experiences, backgrounds, cultures, and more. When examining the same topic, individuals will inevitably have different views and opinions. Interpretation primarily depends on personal thinking, which is influenced by one’s unique knowledge gained from experiences, education, and beliefs. Moreover, with social media being so powerful and information more accessible, people are easily exposed to different points of view, which can often result in cognitive biases and polarization. 

Here is news from KSAT 12 News in San Antonio, Texas, about Media Literacy.

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A PLN THAT VALUES MEDIA LITERACY?

The benefit of having a PLN that values media literacy is the supportive group of people it provides. A PLN with members from different professions helps individuals think critically by exchanging feedback and sharing experiences, enabling them to examine information more logically and critically. Moreover, a PLN opens up numerous opportunities to practice media literacy.

For instance, Julie shared her experience of using Twitter to connect with people interested in media literacy, emphasizing that such a reliable network of individuals cannot be assigned a dollar figure (MILLER, 2021). The support Julie received has immensely helped her, making her feel connected with like-minded people and constantly engaged with other educators. It is so crucial to gain perspectives from people outside your immediate circle, as their objective voices can provide rational guidance when emotions run high. 

References

How to become media literate, avoid misinformation [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgVPu8YNWKSAT 12. (2021, January 11). How to become media literate, avoid misinformation [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgVPu8YNWjQ

MILLER. (2021, June 6). EDCI 338 – MEDIA LITERACY with JULIE SMITH [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57r3-aEnci0

Strengthen media literacy to win the fight against Misinformation (SSIR). (n.d.). (C) 2005-2023. https://ssir.org/articles/entry/strengthen_media_literacy_to_win_the_fight_against_misinformation

Wikipedia contributors. (2023). Media literacy. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_literacy#:~:text=Media%20literacy%20is%20an%20expanded,a%20difference%20in%20the%20world.

WHICH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS ARE BENEFICIAL IN EDUCATION?

With the emergence of social media, there has been a huge emergence of social media platforms that are heavily used in educational settings. Some examples include Edmodo, Google Classroom, Schoology, TedEd, WordPress, Blogger, and YouTube (Chesser, 2022). These social media platforms facilitate collaboration, creativity, engagement, discussions, and more. While each social media platform may have slightly different main features or purposes, they all serve as great tools to connect students and educators who may be located thousands of miles apart.

According to Veletsianos (2016) in the academic paper ‘Emergence and Innovation in digital learning,’ several academic experiments have demonstrated strong tendencies toward collaboration, sharing, and openness in classroom activities and professional collaborations. Participants in these experiments identified themselves as part of a larger phenomenon known as “the open movement.”

In the EDCI338 course, students use WordPress and Mattermost as the main modes of communication, collaboration, and engagement!

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN EDUCATION?

Social media plays a significant role in education by providing useful information, facilitating connections, and enhancing learning methods. Social media platforms offer a wide range of benefits, including:

1. Accessible educational content: Online tutorials and courses help students gain knowledge in various fields of interest.
2. The ability to identify experts in different fields: Students can expand their knowledge, enhance their skills, or find new interests by connecting with experts.
3. Broadening perspectives: Students are exposed to broader perspectives as social media facilitates engagement with experts and enables communication between colleges and students.
4. Video content: Inspiring students and supporting their course subjects through engaging multimedia content.
5. Monitoring tools and surveys: Social media platforms provide valuable data for research and content creation through the use of monitoring tools and surveys (The Role of Social Media in Education – JBCN International School, n.d.).

PROBLEMS WITH SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS

While social media communications in an educational setting offer a great range of benefits, several drawbacks lead educators, researchers, and parents to reconsider the usage of social media in educational settings. Some of the drawbacks are:

1. Social Media can be a Distraction: It diverts students’ attention away from what is happening in class and ultimately disrupt the whole learning process. I personally experienced this during my academic years. Students in the first row were consistently on their social media, even though the intention of the social media usage was to do some research on certain notable figures. This behaviour was very disruptive to students sitting behind them.
2. Discouraging Face-to-Face Communication: Many students lack important real-life social skills due to their heavy reliance on social media communications. This deficiency can put them at a disadvantage when it comes to college admissions or job interviews, where they need to capture attention and communicate clearly. Additionally, in social gatherings and personal relationships, students often feel uncomfortable expressing themselves effectively and forming meaningful connections with others.
3. Social media is flooded with vast amounts of information. Online information is often inaccurate or biased, making it challenging for students to distinguish accurate and trustworthy content from misleading or false information. 
4. Cyberbullying: One of the worst weaknesses of social media is its anonymity and distance. These features create a space for cyberbullying, harassment, and negative interactions among students.

VULNERABLE SECTOR – HOW DOES SOCIAL MEDIA FIT INTO PROFESSIONALISM AND REGULATIONS

Social media should be used carefully to ensure professionalism and compliance with regulations when working with the vulnerable sector. Here are some considerations and precautions you should take! 

1. Confidentiality and Privacy: Engage in respectful communications across all media platforms. Assume that all content you post on social media is public and widely accessible, regardless of privacy settings (Social Media and the Code of Ethics and Professionalism – the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Manitoba, n.d.). Even if a post is deleted, it can resurface through screenshots taken by another user. You never know which posts will resurface after 1, 5, or 10 years.

2. Boundaries and Relationships: Professionals need to exercise caution when establishing trusted relationships with clients or individuals in their sector. Connecting with clients on personal social media accounts can potentially blur professional boundaries and should be carefully evaluated before doing so. 
3. Ethical Considerations: The use of social media should align with professional codes of ethics and regulations. It is crucial for professionals to have a comprehensive understanding of the code of conduct and the potential consequences if regulations are not adhered to.

References

Benefits of Using YouTube For Your Online Education. (n.d.). Arizona State University. https://web.asu.edu/newblog/benefits-using-youtube-your-online-education#:~:text=You%20can%20also%20encourage%20your,improve%20listening%20and%20punctuation%20skills

Chesser, L. (2022, April 6). 25 Awesome social media tools for Education | InformED. InformED. https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/social-media-tools-for-education/

Cumberland, S. (2023, June 20). 5 pros and cons of social media in the classroom | SIE. School Is Easy Tutoring. https://www.schooliseasy.com/tutor/tutor-blog/social-media-in-the-classroom/

ETHRWorld & www.ETHRWorld.com. (2021, June 9). Setting up a personal learning network in an organisation. ETHRWorld.com. https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/workplace-4-0/learning-and-development/setting-up-a-personal-learning-network-in-an-organisation/83359981

Pros and Cons of social media in the classroom — Campus technology. (2012, January 19). Campus Technology. https://campustechnology.com/articles/2012/01/19/pros-and-cons-of-social-media-in-the-classroom.aspx

Social Media and the Code of Ethics and Professionalism – The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Manitoba. (n.d.). http://www.cpsm.mb.ca/news/social-media-and-the-code-of-ethics-and-professionalism#:~:text=Assume%20all%20content%20you%20post,patient%20images%20to%20social%20media.

The Role Of Social Media In Education – JBCN International School. (n.d.). JBCN International School. https://www.jbcnschool.edu.in/blog/social-media-in-education/#:~:text=The%20use%20of%20social%20media,opportunities%20to%20improve%20learning%20methods.

Veletsianos, G. (2016). Emergence and Innovation in Digital Learning: Foundations and applications. In Athabasca University Press eBooks. https://doi.org/10.15215/aupress/9781771991490.01

HOW DO NOTABLE INDIVIDUALS USE SOCIAL MEDIA?

With the emergence of social media, it has become easier for individuals to build their brand image and establish a digital identity, fame, and reputation. Different types of notable individuals use social media for different purposes and focus on different groups of people. Politicians often utilize social media platforms to express their thoughts and, at times, to influence and persuade people with their ideas. Experts might use social media to showcase their accomplishments, work, conclusions, and more. 

There is another type of notable individual, the ‘Internet Celebrity.’ Numerous notable influencers have achieved fame solely through their presence on social media. These individuals have gained their fame and notability primarily through online platforms. The rise of social media has greatly expanded people’s ability to reach a global audience, providing them with many opportunities for recognition. Social media plays a significant role in connecting with fans, receiving feedback, and gaining insight into public preferences. Platforms such as LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and more allow individuals to showcase their work, express their thoughts, connect with people, and build their personal brand.

BENEFITS OF BEING IN THE PUBLIC EYE AND HAVING A PLN

The benefits of being in the public eye and having a PLN are numerous. As human beings, we all have the desire to be loved, noticed, praised, and recognized by others. Social media plays a pivotal role in increasing visibility and expanding reach. The more individuals are in the public eye and possess a well-established PLN, the larger and wider their audience becomes. 

Notable figures on social media possess the power to influence and impact individuals, society, and the world on a larger scale. They have the ability to shape public opinion, initiate conversations, and share important messages, advocating for causes and effecting positive or negative changes. According to a post written by Nitish Birla on LinkedIn, social media has significantly contributed to democratizing conversations, shaping public opinion on political issues, and transforming the way political campaigns are conducted (Birla, 2023). 

Having a PLN is the initial step toward being in the public eye. As discussed in many of my previous posts, it revolves around knowing notable individuals and the size of your PLN. A PLN helps establish your digital identity, engage in public conversations, build trust, express your thoughts, get public support, and much more. 

RISKS OF BEING IN THE PUBLIC EYE – A PUBLIC FIGURE IN A POSITION OF TRUST

Public figures in positions of trust have to be extremely cautious on social media as they are significantly influencial and are constantly under public’s eyes. They face various risks, including reputation damage, misinterpretation or misrepresentation, privacy invasion, online harassment, and more. Considering that they are watched 24/7, it becomes significantly challenging to separate their personal and professional lives, resulting in less protection of their privacy. Messages communicated in a media space can easily be taken out of context or misinterpreted by the audience, leading to misunderstandings and misinformation, potentially damaging the public figure’s image significantly. Even if unintended, public figures may face overwhelming backlash, online harassment, and even cancellation. The more trusted public figures are, the easier it is for them to lose trust. Reputation, trust, and fame come with risks, responsibilities, and pressure to uphold.

BUILDING A COMMUNITY WITH ONLINE TOOLS PROVIDED BY THE EMPLOYER

Companies utilize various tools, software, and social media platforms to facilitate communication, foster team culture, and enhance bonding among employees. These tools are specifically intended for internal use and often come with certain restrictions. 

The benefits of using these provided tools to build a community include establishing stronger and deeper relationships, minimizing exposure to negativity, and facilitating knowledge sharing, which further supports the development of your PLN. 

However, as I mentioned earlier, there are also some limitations. Reach may be restricted, as the audience is your colleagues – limited perspectives. Additionally, privacy issues may arise. According to an article written by Mark Johnson, employees should assume that any activity performed using work-owned and issued equipment, including written communications or websites visited, is subject to review (Johnson, 2022).

ADDRESS NEGATIVE REPLIES AND CRITIQUES THAT REFLECT YOUR PERSONAL VALUES AND EMPLOYER’S SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

The best approach is to separate your personal and professional social media accounts. With a digital identity and online presence, exercising caution regarding what you post, share, say, and comment on is vital. As social media continues to gain influence, it is natural for employers to establish policies and rules to ensure that employees’ online presence does not negatively impact the company’s brand image.

When maintaining an online presence, it is important to avoid being easily influenced by fake news or misinformation and to consider the information you share carefully. Conduct thorough research and gather sufficient information before expressing your perspectives, particularly on sensitive topics. When addressing negative replies and critiques that reflect your personal values, individuals should remain calm and professional.

Respond logically and positively! – demonstrating you are open to diverse perspectives. This will further help you receive support in the long run and build an allyship with the public. 

References

Johanson, M. (2022, February 25). Are your work messages as private as you think? BBC Worklife. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210813-are-your-work-messages-as-private-as-you-think

Solutions, E. T. (2017, July 21). Using Social Media To Build Your Personal Learning Network. Education Technology Solutions. https://educationtechnologysolutions.com/2017/07/using-social-media-build-personal-learning-network/

Birla, N. (2023). The Role of social media in shaping public opinion and political discourse. www.linkedin.com. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/role-social-media-shaping-public-opinion-political-discourse-birla