This week we had a guest speaker join us via Zoom. Jesse Miller joined us and talked about online social media platforms, keeping youth safe/protected online and how these platforms also can be used as a benefit. One of his main points was how to keep our social networks separated. He covered a topic on ‘online safety’ where he told us examples of our possible online profile and how that could be cause for problems.

I really liked the topic where he discussed online gaming. He ran us through an example where maybe we are great in a professional setting, but possibly on the weekends we may be playing something like halo. while on this game we might be using cuss words, or calling people rude things, but we never know who that might be. Could be a future student, sibling of a current student, students parents. I found this a good example to help put perspective on “Hey, we never know who is listening or viewing what we put out there”. this definitely made me think about things a little more when I am online.

Another topic I enjoyed that Jesse went over was the possible good outcomes of being online. He talked about how video games like Fortnite, or Minecraft and how the social time talking and bonding with friends while trying to strategize and problem solve can be very beneficial. Jesse also covered talking with kids about how the adults around them use social media/phones, he gave examples of how maybe a students parent drives scary due to them being on the phone. or, how a father might play too many video games and this makes things around the house difficult because mom gets mad at it.

All in all I really enjoyed Jesse’s presentation, I can tell he is very knowledgeable and has done a ton of research. I will definitely will see things online in a different way and will keep his points in mind going forward in my career.