Prompts:

  • What does it mean to network using social media?
  • How are we motivated to participate in networked publics?
  • What are the risks & rewards of public communications?

Leveraging Social Media

To me, using social media to network means that an individual utilizes social media to connect with others for the purpose of learning. Using social media we are able to connect with an increasingly large group of learners through a variety of virtual means. From virtual meetings to messaging, social media allows for learners to connect with peers from a physically distant location which is great for those who are learning remotely or physically in a different location. Other ways to use social media to network include reaching out to individuals who you would like to seek advice from. There is boundless potential for what social media is able to provide for individuals in the future.

Motivating Participation

In networked publics we are motivated to learn by seeing the benefits of having a network. Such benefits are peer to peer interactions, ability to craft lifelong connections, support development and growth, active collaboration, and new sources of knowledge and information (Rajagopal et al., 2011). Beyond these benefits, the social aspect to networks is also a highly motivating factor to take part in the learning networks. Socializing within a network is greatly beneficial to individuals as they gain a sense of belonging and the ability to gather information from new sources of knowledge.

Risks and Rewards

RisksRewards
potential to lose individual privacy gain more knowledge through connecting with others
we may compare ourselves to others both weak and strong connections bring benefits to the individual
our data is also being shared across the internet and sometimes without consent can build a community of individuals who can share their experiences with each other
its hard to gain control of our information learning new skills and technologies
negative environmental concerns
Information in this table is an amalgamation from all the required readings from this week and my own thoughts.

References:

Boyd, D. (2012). Networked Privacy. Surveillance & Society, 10(3), 348-350. https://doi.org/10.24908/ss.v10i3/4.4529

FutureLearn. (2022). Updates, Insights, and News from FutureLearn | Online Learning for You. FutureLearn. https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/learning-network-age/0/steps/24644

Rajagopal, K., Joosten-ten Brinke, D., Van Bruggen, J., & Sloep, P. B. (2011). Understanding personal learning networks: Their structure, content and the networking skills needed to optimally use them. First Monday, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v17i1.3559