For my first reflection, I’ll be discussing my experience with social media. I started using social media when I was in Grade 4, which, looking back, was quite young to be accessing the internet. At that time, I was so excited to have Instagram because everyone my age had it. However, I realize now that I didn’t know the safety precautions that are crucial for protecting personal information online.
I’ve grown up alongside the development of TVs, computers, and smartphones, so I feel very comfortable using social media. For the most part, I use it to stay updated on what my friends and family are up to. The platforms I’ve used for personal purposes include Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, VSCO, and YouTube.
Out of all of them, Pinterest is my favourite because it allows me to organize and create ideas, whether for educational purposes or day-to-day life. In our recent classes, we’ve discussed which platform we would most likely use professionally, and for me, it would definitely be Pinterest. I love how I can take ideas from others, adapt them for my future classroom, and modify them to meet the needs of my students. Throughout my schooling and practicums, I plan to gradually build a Pinterest board filled with ideas for student engagement and educational content.
I’ve had a lot of personal experiences with social media, so I understand why so many people are drawn to it. It connects us with friends and family, provides a form of communication, and can even be used for educational purposes. In my case, social media has also helped me confirm that teaching is the right profession for me, as I’ve gained inspiration from teacher content creators on TikTok and Instagram. That said, I recognize that many people, including creators, often post to show the world how they want to be perceived.
While I’ve had positive experiences with social media, I’ve also faced some challenges, particularly with time management. Social media is so easily accessible that I often find myself procrastinating, spending 20 minutes on my phone when a task might only take five minutes to complete. To address this, I’ve set time limits on each app to help minimize my screen time.