Social Media as a Tool

I was going to spend some time diving more into how to talk to students about racial equity, but with just a short time left in my day, I thought I’d reflect on my new epiphany on how I use social media.

I have used social media (mostly Facebook and Instagram) primarily as a way to connect with my friends and groups I am part of and share pieces of my life. Until relatively recently, I only followed my friends/family and really kept the social media bubble to my inner circle. I had an epiphany though (which seems so dumb to have not realized it before, but that’s what learning is all about I suppose): social media can be used not just for my personal life, but as TOOL - for gaining new perspectives, learning new things, strategically following people who broaden your perspectives. I once had a biology professor in my undergrad who encouraged us to follow scientists on twitter to keep up with new research, but I never really thought much of that until now.

I would say that overall, I am a reflective, intentional person, but the way I was using social media was not at all intentional. The circles I was connected with were largely homogeneous, with perspectives similar to my own. I realized that the folks I was following were largely white/middle-class people with backgrounds very similar to my own, and ways of thinking and being that reflected mine. In education, we talk about providing mirrors and windows for students - mirrors reflect student’s cultures/perspectives and windows provide opportunities for students to experience cultures/perspectives that differ from their own. My social media was all mirrors, and I am now I am being intentional about adding windows as well! I know that the people you choose to spend the most time with influence who you are, and I suppose that is also true on social media.

I think I’ll try regularly to share social media accounts I choose to follow. Today, I was STOKED to add a bunch of Instagram accounts of Black readers/bookworms!! For the past few years, I have been trying to read more widely and diversely (mostly fiction - sometimes more difficult to do in small towns with small libraries, although I think the best library for highlighting diverse authors has been the Wenatchee library - my favorite library in Washington so far!! I would say it’s even tied with the Central Library in Seattle, but probably because it was my second home in Wenatchee). I have been having library withdrawals since the start of the pandemic, and I am SO EXCITED to be able to add more books/authors on my “to read” list to check out when libraries re-open!

These accounts include:

@diversereads

@beingabookwyrm

@booksnboooze

@never_withouta_book

@smileitsjoy

@blackgirlreading

I’m sure there are other ways I can be using social media more strategically, like adding resources and amplifying non-dominant voices, but for now, following new perspectives is where I am starting.