What does it mean to network using social media?

With social media playing such a large role throughout my teenage years and adolescent, I have no doubt done a lot of social networking with others over the years. By being on numerous social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc, I have built a networking profile that is there for the public to see. Building a social profile for lots of people is very important as it allows them to express themselves on levels that are unlike any other. With there being various platforms and ways of expressing yourself, people can network by making videos, or various sorts of blog posts. By doing this, people can get a real sense of who you are, what you are passionate about and what your interests are.

How are we motivated to participate in networked publics?

With social media being used by almost everyone in today’s society, it is almost abnormal to not have a social profile. In my opinion, it is now the norm for everyone to have at least a Facebook profile as that is a very basic social media platform used by almost everyone. With that being said, we are all finding the need to be seen by the public for who we are (or who we want to be). Everyone finds the need to be seen for who they want to be and I see it on a daily basis on Instagram when I see girls post clearly edited photos of them looking as perfect as can be. Another motivation to participate in social media is being able to communicate with others on numerous platforms. I know that everyone in my family at least has a Facebook profile to communicate with each other from around the world. These are among the top motivators to have a social profile in today’s society.

What are the risks and rewards of public communications?

Public communications provide us with numerous positive aspects, but it is important to realize that there is a large rist to them also. Some of the positives to them include raising your self esteem, getting your voice heard, communicating with others and many others. Using social media is a very positive thing and it can be used for the greater good a lot of the time!

On the contrary, the negative aspects/risks to public communications need to be kept in mind when using them all the time. Over the past decade, it has been proven that social media has in fact worsened the mental state of individuals. With people always being in contact with each other, they will always see their peers are doing. When they feel left out, they will get FOMO which is the fear of missing out. Consistently seeing others doing things they wish they could be doing will make them feel left out. This can lead to mental issues such as depression, anxiety and many other issues, so it is important to limit social media usage. On top of worsening mental state, social media needs to be used carefully by everyone. Sometimes speaking your voice can be seen as offensive to others and can backfire on them. In a time where people are so touchy on certain topics, it is important to know aht the impact of what you are saying will be to the public.