Did you notice something the author didn't or offer a question to help them see something differently. Does your post add to theirs, or lead somewhere different?

Peers= I have used social media my whole teens and most of my adult life. I use all the leading platforms, but I have never considered the stereotypes or negative impacts someone or something could hold. I usually post pictures of distant family of my family. However, since I started this program, I have been more aware of what is posted, what is viral, and how that influences others, including myself. Nevertheless, many people lie and use their platforms to get famous and viral fast, not caring about the cost. For example, we know what is going on in Israel and Palestine. Regardless, many people use their platforms as pros or cons to the movement, but most need to learn the facts and use their platforms wisely. I would not use my platform to talk about it because I, number one, need to have all the facts. All I see and know is what news platforms project to us, even though they can also get biased. Platforms like to portray and stereotype certain groups and organizations, but I know when stereotypes happen. The culture and backgrounds that are stereotyped as something or portrayed as something else due to social media have not changed, but as I mentioned, I have become more aware because of classes such as these.

MINE= I've been more conscious of the preconceptions and biases in my social media, particularly those related to gender, ethnicity, and class. These essential problems should be critically explored since they may influence how I view myself and others and interact with the world. For example, I've observed that many advertisements and posts on Instagram promote an unattainable and exclusive ideal of beauty and success. They frequently depict skinny, white, rich, and conventionally beautiful individuals with flawless lives. These ads and postings include those that promote products or services that claim to improve one's look, such as cosmetics, apparel, fitness programs, and so on. They often use edited or filtered models or influencers to appear immaculate and attractive. This might cause me to feel insecure and dissatisfied as if I am not good enough or need to improve.

I've also observed that some memes and jokes I see on Twitter are based on damaging and disrespectful stereotypes and prejudices. They frequently insult or humiliate members of various groups or cultures, such as women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, etc. They perpetuate negative preconceptions and foster an environment of intolerance and contempt. An example of this joke that employs stereotypes or generalizations to make assumptions or judgments about individuals from other cultures or nations, such as "Americans are dumb," "Asians are good at math," "Africans are poor," and so on. They frequently neglect the richness and complexity of these people or places, reducing them to simplistic or erroneous stereotypes.

When I observe these issues, I bring them out by commenting on the postings or providing other viewpoints. It is critical to confront the assumptions and biases present in my social media and educate myself and others about the diversity and complexities of human lives. This will help me have a more critical and empathic view of the world and recognize individual similarities and differences.