How diverse is your PLN?

My PLN is currently not very diverse. I follow and interact with people who are like-minded that share the same or similar values to me. I think that a lot of the content I engage with is very personalized, and does not contain a diverse opinions or views on certain topics. For example, my Instagram explore page is filled with information that I engage and agree with, such as climate change (including preserving old-growth forests), and animal rights issues. Social media is a natural echo chamber, so it will tend to show you things that you want to see, which includes posts that support your own personal and political views. I engage with online news sources, such as CBC, which is a publicly funded news source so it may not represent all perspectives, and I don’t read from other sources. Being a student at UVic means that I’m constantly interacting with a similar demographic and similar mindsets, as universities tend to be forward thinking, socially active places.

Are you learning from a variety of diverse voices and are you expanding your understanding of the views of others?

Yes, I think I have had a lot of experience learning from a variety of diverse voices. For example, when I did an 8-month marine biology co-op at the Department of National Defense in Nanoose Bay in 2022, I met and worked with diverse people from various work backgrounds. For instance, more than half of the staff at my field unit were engineers, ex navy, air force, and army members. Additionally, 95% of the people I worked with had roles involving administration and acoustic work, and 5% came from a scientific and academic background, so I got to take in a lot of different perspectives. Also, I was the youngest employee there for the entire field unit. This experience really opened my mind to different perceptions and values that others had, and it helps me consider the perspectives of others even today. Working here, I found that people had very traditional values and have a very hierarchical approach with work. This was something I was not accustomed to. For example, I participated in a change of command ceremony, which involves the commanding officer (the highest up in our field unit) stepping down and someone else replaces them. This happens every few years in the military. This involved an entire day of ceremonies, where the US military, Canadian Mounties and people from other defense units attended. It was a completely unique experience to me, being someone who has no family or friends in the military. I had the opportunity to talk to these new people and share my perspectives about the work that I did there, as well as listen and gain new knowledge from these diverse opinions I had heard. It was an eye opening experience learning about the work system in a completely new way, and now I always keep an open mind to working with people who have a different background than mine, as it helps combine and solidify knowledge

What is the learning outcome of your PLN and how are you ensuring your exposure to diversity and inclusion?

The learning outcome that I expect from my PLN is one that represents diverse perspectives. I hope to engage with perspectives that challenge my own, since I know taking in different viewpoints helps me learn about others and how their values differ from mine. I think we have a responsibility to engage with a variety of perspectives as members of a society where everyone depends on one another. I have a duty to learn about others so that I know how my choices impact them.

I’m working to challenge myself by taking the time to use different news sources, research issues that I don’t have a good awareness of, and take the time to talk to those that have different opinions than my own.

How likely individuals are going to continue with their created content and their network?

It is very likely that individuals will continue with their created content and their network. We live in a world where new technologies and networks are constantly evolving, so people will likely want to continue to adapt and to these digital changes and learn new things, allowing them to stay current with the network. I know that I will probably continue creating content and engaging with others personally and professionally throughout my life, because it is an emerging way to communicate, network and stay in touch with others. Having a network of people and groups that you constantly interact with online and in person will probably motivate to you continue creating and sharing content. This is supported by Moore (2016), who mentioned that people are more open to sharing their opinions when they feel a sense of belonging in a community.

Are the skills that they developed applicable in professional practices?

Yes, I think that the developed skills that individuals gain from growing and continuing their network are definitely applicable in professional practices. Having a diverse PLN allows people to learn how to interact with people from a variety of backgrounds, who might have different preconceived notions, and perspectives from your own. Having this skill can directly translate to professional practice, since it allows one to take other’s opinions into consideration, and to maybe look at a solution from a different perspective.

Skills that someone gains from using a PLN can relate to professional practices, such as ensuring that you’re making the right decision by writing/posting/sharing the content you put out online. This skill is applicable in professional practice, as it helps individuals learn that they take responsibility for the work that they submit, and for the things they say, and that they are aware of the negative consequences of talking about inappropriate issues in the workplace.

How can social media play a role in helping you establish messaging and themes that are inclusive and diverse?

Social media is great place for anyone to share their thoughts, opinions, and perspectives, making it a diverse and inclusive space for people. It also exposes users to diverse content and information, and can help bring together like-minded businesses and users. Since social media is constantly changing and improving, it incorporates up-to-date changes that can be more inclusive for everyone using it. For example, Instagram recently released a new update where people can now put their pronouns on their account profile for others to see so that users can be messaged or referred to with their preferred pronouns.

References

Moore, Shelley. One Without the Other : Stories of Unity Through Diversity and Inclusion, Portage & Main Press, 2016. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uvic/detail.action?docID=4832579.