My thoughts towards the overall the course was very interesting and enjoying. For instance, the majority of the topics that were covered were impressive only because they were related to social media. A platform that I’m constantly using on a daily basis and made it a habit to incorporate it into my overall life. Indeed learning more about this specific topic has made me more aware of all the small details us individuals tend to be distracted by, such as media literacy, niches, advertisements and so much more. In fact, made me realize how big of an influence it has over our lives as well as the time spent when being on social media when we were given as assignment to track our interactions on different platforms for twenty four hours. In addition, this course has expanded my knowledge towards not just social media but entertainment, news issues, advertising, mass media development and industries, perspective on audience and media literacy. All in which us individuals should take the time to be educated on these specific subjects. Furthermore, my thoughts towards blogging was pleasing since I was able to express my thoughts or opinions in a different kind of platform that I didn’t previously have an account with. Indeed, engaging in blogging could be useful when finding other individuals who share the same interest or understanding. Moreover, one thing that could be improved to make the course better is enabling for students to go back into their quizzes to review the questions they got incorrect or even missed. This way it can allow students to study their mistakes and prepare for future exams in order to prevent making the same error. Besides that the course was extremely helpful and successful in delivering its purpose.  As mentioned the majority of content that was taught was attractive and well explained. All in all, I was surprised by the online nature of this class, since this was my very first online class throughout my years. In fact It turned out even better than I expected. I would highly recommend this course to anyone.     

As social media is constantly growing, it leads to users taking many risks while accessing these platforms. Not only are these platforms widely used by billions of individuals from all across the world, the content people decide to post on their platforms are being presented to multiple viewers. As  human beings, it’s easy to make certain mistakes and forget about who’s watching or not. However being educated and knowledgeable towards privacy will reduce future complications. For example, one way we can protect our privacy is securing our passwords by not sharing it with other individuals even your friends, family and or partner. Also when using new software or technology that requests you to save passwords and personal information. Indeed, this is one of the very first steps to securing and protecting our privacy. Since that is one of the main information a person need to easily access your account. Furthermore, another way we can protect our privacy is when searching on the browser or websites ensure that the source is safe, protected and trusted before entering any personal information. In order to identify or analyze certain browsers and websites you look for a specific details such as URLs starting with “http://” and a lock symbol next to the URL as well. Moving forward another way we can ensure that our privacy is protected is creating pass codes, or even personalized fingerprint on our technologies and accounts. This way you are certain all your personal information is enclosed to only yourself. Not to mention when creating social media platforms users have the option to put their profiles private rather public. This technique would allow followers to send you a request before viewing any posts, comments or content you’ve posted on your account. In addition another idea that we can protect our privacy is disabling our current location whenever we make a post, comment, or any content related for other individuals to view. Given these useful techniques or ways to protect our privacy as individuals we need to be more aware and cautious of the things we share, expose or even want our followers to see, since we are the ones in control and held with most accountability. 

In the textbook the term Media Literacy refers to “a set of perspectives that we actively use to expose ourselves to the media and interpret the meaning of the messages we encounter, it is multidimensional and a continuum”. In other words Media Literacy is all the information that we intake from any social media platform, media content or even internet. For instance whenever people are on their technical devices surfing the internet or engaging in social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, SnapChat, Twitter and so much more. Individuals are being exposed to all the ads, advertisements, promotions, comments, messages, posts and pictures. All together human beings are interpreting all this information by filtering or evaluating what seems to be either good or bad based upon our own preferences. Also while gaining new information were being educated, informed as well as adapting to the new changes in our generation. For instance every year the Apple Company releases a new iPhone, with different features, details and new updates compared to the old phones, as individuals we are learning about new gadgets or technologies, in which people accept the change since they’re so quick to make a purchase. Furthermore having access to media literacy everywhere we go enables us human being to practice and enhance our skills, that may be useful in other areas in the further future. An example that best illustrates this point is in today’s generation some jobs require some people to have a special skill at using a desktop, laptop or any technology device, where they are able to send files, create a PowerPoint or document and navigate specific software. It’s easy for us individuals to apply these required skills when we are already practicing them without even noticing or being unaware of how much or amount of time we teach ourselves. Indeed those who are now just being introduced to these skills or changes are being adapted faster than compared to older individuals. All in all having the knowledge about media literacy has many positive advantages, though too much of it can unconsciously remove or take a person away from things that are more important and require more attention.

Growing up in a generation where technology is constantly revolving, encouraged individuals like myself to want to know the latest trends or updates. For instance, once social media platforms were developed and became well known, I remember everyone in my age group including myself that joined and created accounts despite what our parents might have thought. But in a way now, I am happy I was a bit defiant of my parents’ wishes because the practice of being involved in social media has enabled me to communicate or connect with others throughout the world and I can say although I was young and immature these were some of the best times of my life. Besides all the possible reasons or purposes towards social media usage, the majority of times I enjoy viewing content that allows me to feel inspired in some kind of way or from a particular person. Having this specific mindset or perspective could lead common individuals to automatically filter what they only want to detect. Doing so I will become in the habit of filtering in what I’d rather prefer to pay more attention to, compared to the messages I decide to filter out and ignore. In addition, regardless of the number of individuals or messages, we encounter through our environment or social media every day. Most of our attention is driven by physical, perceptual and psychological exposures. For example, being a full-time college student always on campus, I’m physically aware of all the different types of posters and flyers around every building I walk in, so are other students or visitors that attend this University. Also while being class, some teachers will even illustrate a video or clip that relates to our lecture from other sources such as YouTube, which allows me and my classmates to be perceptually exposed by the content we are watching and hearing all at the same time. Another scenario of being psychologically exposed is every time I or anyone who receives new information from a media message, our minds are set to either store the data in two different routes (central and peripheral). All in all, myself is a great example of how many people devote their time and effort into social media and connecting around the world without realizing how big of an influence it can be to our lives.

The main reason why I enrolled into this course is because I found myself short three credits and desperately needed to find a class so that I could graduate on time. I’d always heard great reviews about this course so I was excited and most importantly grateful,that I was added in at the last minute. I use the media very daily and I’d vouch that it makes it easier for every individual to be more aware of what’s happening all around the universe. For example news sources like Fox News, ABC 10 and so on are able to create a comment, post, tweet, upload pictures or even links on social media to notify users around the world. Regardless if I missed the news on television, or don’t have access to a TV it is now easily penetrated through our smart devices. Indeed relating to chapter two it mentions people become informed of the events that are going around through media they are able to apply their analysis skills. A personal experience would be while watching the news and hearing about a particular story. In order to gain a better understanding, I will likely break down the main message and find what’s meaningful about the story, followed by sharing with others. Moreover, gaining knowledge about platforms I’m constantly using such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Snap chat attracts my attention. In the process of creating my first blog for this course just increases the number of social media platforms I own. However, it will allow me to apply personal locus, by being driven in the direction towards things I find more interesting or appealing. This strategy will also help format and assist me on the road to finding other individuals who contribute common passions or goals. All and all, I’m excited to educate myself more about topics I enjoy and can relate to in my everyday life.