Creating a Positive Digital Footprint

Personal/Social Competency Reflection

Some of my preferred strategies for maintaining a healthy, balanced online presence include taking breaks from social media, and trying now to minimize my unnecessary screen time. Over the past few years, I had given myself unlimited screen time to explore different social media apps, or watch random videos on YouTube, but now I realize that perhaps by doing that, I have missed out on going on adventures, seeing different places, and living life in the moment. Travelling is something that is extremely important to me, and I don’t want to feel as if I have missed out on opportunities to do so because I was on my phone.

My values about screen time inform my decisions about social media. I have read from multiple sources that social media can lead to severe anxiety and even depression. I don’t feel as though I have been impacted by the media in that way, but I can certainly see how some people could be. Before I was allowed any social media apps, I only wanted them because everyone else had them. Looking back, I can see that I was influenced by my peers and by society. I thought that if I did not have any social media apps I wouldn’t have any friends. I can now see that this is not true. I am friends with people who have no social media apps, and I think that they are all amazing, wonderful people. I think it is unfortunate the way society makes people feel.

Some of the ways I work to build and maintain online relationships are not keeping them strictly online. All of the friends I talk to online I know in real life too. This way, I will offer to meet up for a walk where we can talk face to face. I personally find it extremely difficult to connect with people online. I thought that it was an issue that I struggled with, but in reality I just can’t seem to connect with words on a screen, no matter who sent them. That is just the way my brain works, and it can sometimes even break down my online relationships, especially if they are with people who I haven’t seen face to face for years. I think the only way for me to truly connect with someone who I talk to online is to meet up in person.

Works Cited

Cyber Security Resource Center for Threats & Tips | Kaspersky. https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center. Accessed 26 Apr. 2022. Sheikh, Sumbul. “5 Steps to Protect Your Digital Footprint Online.”

Starthub Post, 21 Oct. 2020, https://www.starthubpost.com/steps-to-protect-your-digital-footprint-online/. “Teenagers: Why You Should Care About Your Digital Footprint.”

Social Media Club, 22 May 2013, https://socialmediaclub.org/blog/from-the-clubhouse/teenagers-why-you-should-care-about-your-digital-footprint/.