How Important is Digital Literacy?
One thing from the Rheingold reading I found interesting and relevant was the part on “Calibrating Your Crap Detector: What you pay attention to after you pay attention to attention”. I especially think this is relevant due to the overwhelming amount of information you can find on a specific topic, when searching for it on the web. For example, we can ask Google a question, and we might find a plethora of different answers. It’s important to obtain the digital knowledge behind making accurate decisions on the Internet and social media. Like said in the reading, “the real difficulty kicks in when you click down into your search results.” (Rheingold, 16) It’s a beautiful thing to have any type of information or answers at the tip of your fingers, but it can also be reckless without the proper guidance and knowledge. Our “crap detector” needs to be active when online. This can include analyzing authors of the information you’re reading, comparing and contrasting other articles of the same criteria, and using your critical knowledge on digital literacy to decipher what’s fact from fiction.
Overall, what has stuck with me most in this class is… to continue to use and utilize social media intelligently, humanely, and mindfully. This knowledge gained is a constant reminder to myself that I can’t necessarily dictate what other people do on social media and the Internet, but I can be aware of what I do on it. Therefore, taking what I know regarding social media and digital literacy, I can contribute to making online environments a safe, intelligent, creative, and knowledgeable place to be. Also, we have the opportunity to develop our identity online in any way possible, so I believe it’s important to consume the right information that correlate to our personal, and positive values.
I feel like I tend to have a negative view in regard to social media, although I love it, am addicted to it, etc. This class is a reminder that this never has to be the case when you’re using social media to GROW in creativity, knowledge, or relationships. I believe what I’ve learned in this class has influenced my outlook on what social media has to offer when used “correctly”. Implementing digital literacy skills and focusing on key aspects of how to contribute to social media in an intelligent, humane, and mindful manner will and do help these thoughts of dislike towards social media going away.
After the course ends, I can continue to build on and refine my digital literacy knowledge and skills by being a better person online! Not that I’m a bad person online, but I would like to contribute more in positive manners such as growing with other people, sharing knowledge with others and learning new things in exchange. I will never be able to look at an article or something on the Internet providing information without validating its source and the authenticity of what’s being said, as I’ve now learned tools to assist in verifying what I have questions on. I’ve learned that learning the proper digital literacy skills is what makes the wheels spin on social media in the most positive flowing manner. I hope to help others with what I’ve learned in order to make social media and the Internet a more well-rounded, accurate, and positive place.