• What does it mean to the network using social media?

Social media is one of a personā€™s daily necessities. Many social media platforms are growing in popularity, and new ones are still emerging. The concept of ā€˜networkingā€™ implies enhancing the interaction with people in an effort to increase knowledge in specific areas and develop professional skills.

Vector illustration of Social Network

As Karla Gutierrez mentioned, ā€œIt is developed largely through social media, such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and blogs, helping us form connections, grow our knowledge base, and develop ourselves professionally through continual learningā€ (Gutierrez). Simply put, modern people should not only develop digital literacy, which is also considered important but also focus on creating personal learning networks to become ā€˜lifelong learners.

ā€¢ How are we motivated to participate in networked publics?

Some of the interests are mainly focused on environmental conservation, and others provide useful recommendations for future leaders and businessmen. Thus, people either want to put their ideas into practice or get ā€˜obsessedā€™ with their personal and professional growth. Following the previous study, ā€œpersonal professional networks are platforms in which conversations and dialogue can occur, thus allowing for individual learning; in this case, tacit knowledge is built through experience and reflection and shared through social interaction with othersā€ (Rajagopal et al.). Needless to say, an individualā€™s desire to grow professionally can be a great source of motivation to join the networked communities.

ā€¢ What are the risks & rewards of public communications? Besides, public communications can be associated with various risks and rewards. Regarding the risks, social networking may lead to privacy issues and reputation damage. For example, there were anonymous nude photo scandals that were exposed online. The famous TV star Kim Kardashian was affected by her sex tape several years ago. This intentionally leads to bad influence, discrimination and cyberbullying online, and several consequences to the individual’s mentality. Regarding the risks, social networking may lead to privacy issues and reputation damage. Simultaneously, public communications offer great benefits, such as cost-efficiency, convenience, and accessibility. Furthermore, social networking allows users to connect with people from different corners of the world, share their experiences, and get useful knowledge.

Gutierrez, Karla. “What Are Personal Learning Networks?”.Ā Shift: Disruptive Learning, 2016, https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/personal-learning-networks.

Rajagopal, Kamakshi et al. “Understanding Personal Learning Networks: Their Structure, Content, and the Networking Skills Needed to Optimally Use Them”.Ā First Monday, vol 17, no. 1, 2012, doi:10.5210/fm.v17i1.3559.