Hands-On Assignment 2

On the surface, social media and social networking are simply computer- and internet-based technologies that facilitate creating global connections, sharing ideas and content, and spreading information through virtual communities and networks. However, social media really means much more. It allows users to interact with the world in ways that would have never previously been imagined. People can truthfully tell their individual life experiences and stories, spread awareness about topics they are passionate about, find communities of like-minded people to connect with, easily gain access to a wide variety of information, share their creative thoughts and ideas with the world, and so much more. With access to so many different perspectives and diverse people at the touch of their fingers, social media helps people discover and embrace their true selves.

I use many different social media platforms. My most-used accounts are Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Handshake. I use Instagram to share the highlights of my life and to see what other people that I don’t talk to very often (or at all) are up to. I typically try to make my image on Instagram a mixture of polished & put-together and exciting & fun. Snapchat is where I spontaneously share what is happening in my life in the moment. Less thought goes into what I post on Snapchat because the posts go away after 24 hours. My posts are often funnier, unfiltered, and casual. I also occasionally use Snapchat to make casual conversation with friends or people I don’t talk to very often by replying to their posts. 

Twitter and TikTok are for entertainment purposes only. I scroll through my feed on the apps but rarely post on them. I often look to TikTok for educational purposes as well– typically about current events, fitness, fashion, and nutrition. I use LinkedIn and Handshake to connect with people on a professional level and find potential career opportunities. My image on these two platforms is very professional– my personality is barely reflected on them. I search for jobs, post any job updates, message people that may be helpful in my professional endeavors, and very occasionally scroll through my feed. I also occasionally go through my account and make sure my bio sounds good and my experience, education, volunteering, and skills sections are up to date.

I use all of these platforms every day. I use TikTok and Twitter the most out of all the social media platforms I am active on, for around two hours a day each. I use Instagram and Snapchat for around one hour a day each, and LinkedIn and Handshake for around thirty minutes each. It is interesting that the apps that I don’t post or have a presence on are my most used. Aside from them simply being the most entertaining in my opinion, I believe there may be a deeper reason for this. Almost every time I casually scroll through Instagram, I go to my profile and scroll through my account and posts and usually end up scrutinizing certain things and seeing if there are ways in which I could make my account look better. The same happens with LinkedIn and Handshake but obviously in a more professional sense. I don’t have to worry about these things with Twitter or TikTok, because I barely have a presence myself and I can enjoy my time stress-free.

I have a love/hate relationship with social media. It has undoubtedly added much value to my life. I maintain connections with people I can’t see every day, have access to so much information, see different perspectives about various topics and life in general, learn about cultures and people that are different from what I am exposed to every day, have constant access to entertainment, learn about professional opportunities, market myself to recruiters, and the list goes on. However, some negatives come with my social media usage as well. I have become harder on myself about maintaining a certain image on social media. I recently have begun putting a conscious effort towards not comparing myself to others and not taking myself too seriously; these were always struggles for me. Additionally, I spend too much time on these platforms. I have been trying to figure out a way to limit my time online because I want to be more present in real life.