Unit 2 Reflection

 Unit 2 Reflection

    Working on this project was incredibly impactful for me. The topic of technology is so broad and can cover so many issues. I was interested in focusing on social media because of the impact it has had on me and my friends. There has been so many of my friends that have felt horribly based on what they've seen on social media and using the platforms have become addictive for so many users. It was shocking to research and learn how dangerous these sites can be and the impact they have had on so many. 

In my own experience, social media has been such fostered a lot of negativity in my feelings towards myself and in my relationships. I can recognize my own issues within myself based on my usage, and while doing this project I monitored my own usage and the way I felt. On the days where my screen time was higher, I generally felt worse about myself and felt overall unproductive. 

Social media needs to change. It was appalling to read the issues the platforms create, particularly when the companies know their role in this issue and choose to neglect any change. My own experiences with an eating disorder helped me understand the significance of this issue and made me recognize the role social media may have played in influencing this. Comparison is really hard. It is so easy to feel negative about your appearance when unrealistic standards appear everywhere. One thing I wish I had a better opportunity to touch on was the alteration of images on social media. 

Filters and editing apps play a significant role in pushing unrealistic body standards. Changing imagery and posting influences users to try to live up to standards that don't exist. It is impossible to live up to the standards of beauty portrayed on social media and it is so destructive for so many young people. 

I believe it needs to be a priority in the future to protect people from the harm of social media and to make the sites a positive experience for all users. More research needs to be done on the long term effects and laws/protections need to be created as guidelines for social media companies. Change can be easy if it is fully recognized how harmful these platforms can be.