For this blog post, I will be reflecting on the TED Talk: Revaluate, rethink, release by Jesse Miller.
What is this video about?
In this TED talk, Jesse Miller talks about how we engage with technology, and how our children engage with technology.
We as adults need to teach digital citizenship to our children, because they need to understand that they have an online voice that isn’t just limited to their personal device. Children may not understand just how powerful the reach of their online voice is.
Jesse doesn’t want to create a negative image around social media use, but instead, he wants to share a positive take on smart social media use by following communication ethics.
He also highlights that while parents frequently educate their children about online predators to promote safe social media use, they often overlook the crucial aspect of maintaining one’s online image.
What really stuck with me?
One thing that Jesse mentioned that really stuck with me is:
“It’s just a picture, what’s the big deal? I can just delete it. Well, in my work, I hear ‘it didn’t delete,’ way too often” (9:30-9:36).
Jesse miller
For me, this sentence really highlights the importance of being aware of the pictures and messages one is posting on the internet, because once you post something, even if you delete it, it never goes away.
As a future educator, this video helped me realize that I need to be advocating to students the benefits of media literacy and the importance having a safe, appropriate social media presence.
Being media literate means:
- Learning when to record an event, and when to put the phone down!
- Posting online to make the world a better place, not just for likes.
We need to re-evaluate how we immerse in technology, and rethink how we approach awareness of social media use, so that students can find release away from their phones. We can do this by demonstrating a positive use approach to communications online.
Connections and my digital footprint:
While watching this video, I thought a lot about my digital footprint. I was lucky enough to have been taught media literacy from a young age, which I am very thankful for.
When I search myself up on the internet, not much comes up. I knew from a young age that I wanted to become a teacher, and knowing this has always sparked safe social media use practises. I have always tried to be cautious about what I post and do online.
This video has taught me how important it is to advocate and demonstrate having a safe social media presence, because this is often not stressed enough to youth’s before it’s too late.
Take a look at this article by Allstate Identity Protection that explains what a digital footprint is, and why it matters. They also talk about how you can check your own digital footprint!