The content in module 3 provoked some interesting reflections about how I utilize social media to build my personal learning network (PLN), online privacy, and inclusivity and diversity on digital platforms. Below are my thoughts about these things in more detail!

Key definitions 🔑

  • Personal learning network (PLN): a group of connections (typically on social media) that support learning and professional growth.
  • TikTok: an online social media platform where people can post short-form videos.
  • Short-form videos: videos that are less than a few minutes long.
  • YouTube: an online platform where people can post videos.
  • Terms and conditions: contracts many companies require users to accept to use their digital platforms.
  • Cookies: files of data that track online activities. Many digital platforms require users to accept these before using the platform as well.
  • Universal Design for Learning (UDL): an educational framework with 3 main principles that outline ways to make learning more accessible.
  • Echo chambers: an environment (often online) where someone hears the same information or persepctive over and over again.
  • Closed captions: text at the bottom of a screen (typically when a video is being played) that transcribe spoken dialogue.

PLN Spaces Through Social Media 📱

TikTok and YouTube, in particular, are my favourite platforms to build my PLN because I find short-form videos to be very engaging, and there are a plethora of experts in the fields I am interested in (i.e., health, wellness, science, nutrition, and psychology) who use these platforms to share reputable information. Abbey Sharp, a registered dietician who posts videos about nutrition and health on TikTok and YouTube, contributes significantly to my PLN.

@abbeyskitchen

She often posts videos debunking common wellness and nutrition myths by referencing reputable resources and reminds viewers to be cautious of what information they believe online.

@abbeyskitchen

The wellness industry is so full of grifters that it’s easy to think you need reverse osmosis water, lemon water with vitality (??) and heavy metal detox smoothies. It’s all buzzwords, folks. #guthealth #guthealing #digestivehealth #guthealthtiktok #guttok #dietitiansoftiktok

♬ Autumn Leaves – Timothy Cole

Connecting with her content, resources, and community (i.e., her followers) has been extremely beneficial. It has allowed me to obtain reputable information from an educated professional I otherwise wouldn’t be able to connect with, as connecting with healthcare professionals (like registered dieticians) offline can be immensely challenging and expensive.

Privacy, Ethics, and Security in Digital Spaces đź”’

Some ways that I protect my personal information online and practice digital privacy and security are by:

Photo by FlyD on Unsplash
  1. Reading through terms and conditions in full before agreeing to them.
    • I didn’t start doing this until relatively recently when I learned that many digital platforms deliberately make their terms and conditions lengthy and challenging to understand so people will agree to them without reading, thereby often giving companies access to more data than they would otherwise be comfortable with (Yerby & Vaughn, 2022).
  2. Being selective with what information I share online.
    • For example, although I often post pictures in Victoria (where I live) on my personal social media accounts, I will never post pictures within a few blocks of where my house is to protect my privacy. 
  3. Only accepting necessary cookies on digital platforms.
    • Even though combing through the cookies settings can be time-consuming, I do this to ensure I share only data I am comfortable sharing.
    • Click here for a link to a YouTube video explaining what cookies are!
  4. Having unique passwords for all my accounts.

All these practices help me to create a safe digital environment I feel comfortable spending time in!

Photo by Mourizal Zativa on Unsplash

Additionally, I try to be an ethical digital media user by being authentic in my online interactions. I typically only have one account on each social media platform, and each account’s username contains my first and last name. This holds me accountable to only posting and interacting with content I am comfortable with being attached to my name and, therefore, my offline identity.

Inclusivity and UDL in PLNs 🌍

To ensure my PLN is inclusive, I ensure that I gather my information from a wide range of sources. For example, my PLN is very health-focused, but the majority of the information I see on my social media is from Western perspectives. Because of this, I make it a priority to actively source health information from other cultures to broaden my ideas of health.

The UDL’s 3 principles can support inclusivity in digital learning spaces in the following ways:

  1. Multiple Means of Engagement:
    • Allow unique perspectives and ideas to be amplified.
    • Can encourage people that novel ways of motivation and learning may work better than traditional ways.
  2. Multiple Means of Representation:
    • Allow people to learn more easily (e.g., having closed captions for those who are deaf or hard of hearing) or in a way that sets them up for success (e.g., I prefer short-form videos, so I retain information better when information is presented that way).
  3. Multiple Means of Action and Expression:
    • Allow people the freedom to present information in a way they are passionate about, which improves the quality of the information being presented.

All of these contribute to learners’ diverse needs being amplified and supported, therefore improving inclusivity!

Challenges and Importance of Diversity in Digital Learning đź“ť

Diversity in digital learning is essential, as it helps avoid echo chambers and the spread of misinformation. It ensures that we hear a wide variety of perspectives and information, which help us become more well-rounded, informed digital users who can form educated opinions.

To promote a more inclusive digital environment, I can continue to ensure I interact with a wide variety of resources (e.g., health resources from a variety of cultures). I can also ensure I engage with and support digital media that has inclusive features (e.g., closed captioning), to increase the popularity of digital platforms that are doing good work to be inclusive.

References đź“–

Why unique passwords are so important. (2023). Get Cyber Safe – Government of Canada. https://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/en/blogs/why-unique-passwords-important

Yerby, J., & Vaughn, I. (2022). Deliberately confusing language in terms of service and privacy policy agreements. Issues in Information Systems, 23(2), 138-149. https://doi.org/10.48009/2_iis_2022_112