The presentation by Jesse Miller was very engaging and informative. There were three parts that really resonated with me. They were the use of social media as educators (pros and cons), internet safety, and the mental health aspect of social media.
For starters, educators can use social media to help keep students engaged; however, it can have negative implications if used incorrectly. There have been many instances where teachers have received criticism from parents, public, staff, and students for misusing social media. For example, when staff share pictures or information of students on social media platforms without their consent. This mistake could be avoided if the educator asked; “Am I crossing any lines?”, or “Did I ask for permission?”. Technology should be used in a way to better students’ learning and make it more interesting, rather than used on personal social media accounts.
Second, is internet safety. Ever since middle school, parents, teachers and some presenters have expressed concern over internet safety. Jesse’s presentation mentioned “Erased BC”, a program he has helped develop to keep students safe online. Often the purpose of these websites is to teach students to be cautious of scammers and hackers. For example, Jesse mentioned that all images sent on Snapchat are saved in their database forever. The app takes the picture and scans the background to see if there is anything that businesses can use for sales or even leverage. Unfortunately, because Snapchat is free to use, the creators are able to adjust the terms and conditions so that the app is not as safe.
Finally, are the effects social media has on mental health. There are many positives to social media. For instance, being able to see what friends, family, and significant others have been doing; shopping; and following celebrities. However, it can be very mentally challenging. Having social media can lead people to compare themselves to others, be influenced by negative comments and posts, and have a poor self-esteem when they feel the validation of “likes” they seek from others is not achieved.Â
Overall, social media can be good, but in moderation!
