cmtoye

[cmtoye]

How would YOU define social media?

According to the text, social media is defined to provide a personalized, online networked hub of information, dialog, and relationship management. I believe that was the original idea and intention behind it, to have a place to go and catch up with family and friends that you really do not see on a regular basis. Or that have moved away. Anymore, it has become a place that political views are forced upon you, and if you don't agree with them, it becomes a full-blown argument. It has become a place to conduct business instead of in person and worse of all has become a place where "dirty laundry" is being aired instead of talking to the individual to solve the problem. I don't have a great definition for social media that can be read in a text. How I define social media is a relationship killer.

How would you characterize yourself as a social media user?

The best way to characterize me as a social media user is visual. I mainly use Facebook to post pictures of my children and events that we have enjoyed for friends and family back home to enjoy also. I really dislike the arguments that happen all too often, I don't get involved with them nor do I really read when people complain about another person. I scroll through to see pictures of loved ones and see how much my nieces and nephews have grown, as well as my granddaughter. Belly aching about whatever or whomever seems petty if you are not going to take real action about it. I really don't have time as a full-time student, mom, grandma, employee, wife and home maker to try and understand what people get out of whining. Don't get me wrong, I am a strong believer that everyone has a right to their own opinion. I do not agree with people saying another is wrong because they have different views. Very rarely is there a clear cut right or wrong answer for things.

What do you consider to be your strengths in understanding social media? What are your challenges?

My strengths....hmmmm I have no real strengths in understanding social media. I try not to really stand out on my social media account. If for some reason I make a long post about something, I make it my own personal story. I don't push my religious political or life views on anyone. The main strength that I do have is I am able to silence people that I do not wish to see on my news feed, and I do know how to look up people I'm friends with. My challenges...just about everything. I'm not a fan of social media in general. When I first got involved with it, I loved it. But now, I don't really know how to "fact check" anything properly, I don't know how to blog, tweet, FaceTime, or really use Instagram. I have no clue what people use now for their main use of communication with family and friends. And I definitely don't know which news source is true or not. It really has become such a headache that I stopped trying. I have figured out how to video call through Facebook, but nothing else. Understanding social media, I would say that in itself is a challenge I have. Personally, I have a big problem with wanting to comment telling people to get over themselves and the world is an imperfect place and to stop blaming everyone else for their problems. Many, many times it takes more out of me to keep my mouth shut, and I'm just truly exhausted at the end of it.

What is that YOU want to get out of this class and beyond (related to social media)?

I would like to get a more understanding of other platforms out of this class. Facebook, the main platform that I use, has become something that I'm not interested in seeing anymore. It has become harder and harder to see what I originally set it up for and become more and more what I dislike in this world. I would like to know how to "fact check" correctly so when I present a valid point on anything I have the resources behind what I am saying. I love learning new things and keeping up with technology has become quite a challenge for me. It is forever changing and sometimes too quickly for this old timer. Learning more about other platforms, I think, will help me after I graduate from college. I am fully aware that so many companies have websites, social media links, or even conduct business online that anymore it's essential to know and understand about technology.