Reflective Essay on Media's Impact on Relationships and Identity

This reflective essay examines the multifaceted impact of media, particularly social media, on various aspects of life, including relationships, identity, and communication. Utilizing Gibbs' model of reflection, the essay delves into personal experiences and observations to analyze both the positive and negative consequences of media consumption. The author explores how media shapes perceptions, influences behavior, and affects interactions within society. The essay evaluates the role of media in education, politics, and business, highlighting the evolving nature of digital platforms and their influence on individuals. Furthermore, it analyzes the impact of social media on self-concept, face-to-face interactions, and the formation of online communities, drawing on research and articles to support its arguments. The conclusion summarizes the key findings, emphasizing the importance of critical engagement with media to mitigate its potential negative effects and maximize its benefits.

Reflective Essay

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Today's society is completely saturated by the media image and network by
communication technologies. Such that digital media provide with variety of countless hours
entertainment within media text and in the same way, by using Gibbs model of reflection, the
report helps to show my experience on how does the media shape up the life which includes
relationship, friendship and own identity as well.
MAIN BODY
Gibbs model of reflection is the best model of reflection because it can help people to
deal with them in better way so that they can easily reflect their experience. In the same way,
through the model, I can share my own experience regarding how social media shape up life.
Description: Media plays a crucial role and it has influence in virtually in every aspect of
lives. Though I also think that it is consider one of the best sources in order to know about the
happening of world, as it also affect the lives as well as our thoughts. In the same way, the
reflective shows that how media shape up life of an individual in both positive as well as
negative point of view. When I was researching on the particular topic I was so excited and want
to gain some knowledge regarding this.
Feeling: when I am researching on a particular topic, I feel so excited as, the article helps
me to examine the influence of social media among the college students and also affect the idea
of self- concept and communication with others. I also feel that with the age of new era, the
change that occur in a society are also fascinating such as fashion and lifestyle magazine also
influence how we dress and beauty ideals which might be difficult for many people to attain.
While I was research on this particular topic, I was so excited and on the other side, I am quite
nervous as well because it was my first topic of research. I also feel that social media not shape
people but it also shape the politics and also drive the change as well. On the other side, I also
feel that social media plays more positive role for shaping up an individual life. Moreover,i also
feel that this book help me to gain enough knowledge about social media.
Evaluation: At the time of research, I evaluated that due to high usage on social media
among teens, they lack face to face interaction in a community (Sponcil and Gitimu, 2013). This
shows that media creates negative impact upon the students and as a result, they lost their
identity in a society as well as with their family too. I also evaluated though the research I
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enhance my knowledge and also realized that Facebook is used primarily by the students in order
to maintain relationship with the individuals and this is the way that makes simple to
communicate with multiple people at single time. Even through this, I also come to know that
social networking sites are only help to fulfil the communication needs and wants.
On the other side, from the article of Excellent online friendship in which I also evaluated
that this book help me to collect enough information about a particular topic, such that the
author connect the theory in order to describe how friendship gradually deepens through social
media interaction and also creates good relationship without any face to face interaction. But I
realised that most of the offline friendship is completely based upon the pleasure rather than a
commitment (Elder, 2014). I evaluated positive output of media that is it educates people to
know about their basic rights and how to use them because it has been realized that it is a link
between a government and people because all the policies and activity are mostly conveyed
through media only, not only this, I also think that some of the education program also assist
people to learn many thing through an Internet, television and radio, so that children can develop
their skills and through audio or visual audio they can also understand it in better way.
On the other side, I evaluated these articles help me lot to gain enough knowledge about
a particular topic and also realized that the books and articles help me to enhance knowledge
and also my research skills as well but as I did not have enough research skills that also affect the
research as well (Buckingham, 2007).
Analysis: As per the above, I analysed that social media also crossed the boundaries of
academic, government and professional practice and through the article I also analysed that I
raise my current knowledge about social media and it do affect the individual and their identity
as well. Even though as per the growth of digital era, it has been analysed that Internet and social
network also creates another new method of learning so that it will help to contributing more
ideas into the global society. Therefore, the social media has an ability to build communities for
those who are living with some chronic illness, this also help an individual to live their life in
better way.
In addition to this, I also analysed from the article of Social Impact of Digital Media that
show the serious issue In society because of mass and digital media through Australian point of
view (Healey, 2011). Such that through this, I analysed that it has good and bad impact upon
children and teenagers such that it also provide awareness regarding the extra use of mass media
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and high use of video conferencing as well. Through this, I also analysed some online risk and
important facts that are related to my topic.
On the other side, as per the article of Shikati, I analysed that social media is definitely
change the society because through this, I come to realize the how much the current and future
generation is completely depended on the mass media and even the author also admit that his
need to use social media that creates positive impact related to expansion of his connection and
then he creates a new definition of new friend (Shikati, 2017). Not only this, I also lean different
terms which are used In social media such as cybercrime and the misuse of productive time
among students and working class. Apart from this,i also analysed that people also use social
media for their business purpose as it is stated that using social media as a promotional tool will
help a business for its success. Thus, I analyse that social media entertain people and help to gain
knowledge or collect variety of information as well.
Conclusion: from the above, it has been concluded that in this modern era, social media
has its own importance and significance in variety of ways such that it is use for entertainment
purpose, helps to gain knowledge about what happening around the world. As my overall
experience was quite good and interesting such that I concluded that social media has both
positive as well as negative impact upon an individual life. Further, I also realized that I learn
new things through out the research and also analyse my weaknesses as well. From this, I
realized that I increases my research skill and also gain knowledge that helps me in my future
project as well. Particularly, I chose specific article because I know that the media has definitely
influence my way of communication.
Thus, lastly it concluded that due to excessive use of the media, the life style of children
will affected in negative way and on the other side, it will also help to collect the information
regarding the whole world. While on the other side, I concluded that every theory have their own
limitation and it should be overcome by more research on a particular topic.
Action Plan: this is done in order to overcome the weaknesses which I feel while
researching on a particular topic, such that I am lacking of research skills and this should be
overcome by enhancing research skills. It is also realized that when I posses good and effective
research skills then it will be more beneficial for my future projects. Apart from this, In order to
minimize the negative effect of social media, start introducing some educational programs and
activities so that it will help the students to divert their mind.
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CONCLUSION
By summing up above report it has been concluded that media has both positive as well
as negative impact upon an individual and though it helps to shape up the life of a person as well
because through social media and other source of media, people generally aware with world but
on the other side, it may also leads to close the connection with the society as well. Therefore, it
is quite essential for the people to use the media for the purpose of entertaining, so that it will not
creates any wrong impact upon them.
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References
Books and Journals
Buckingham, D., 2008. Youth, identity, and digital media (John D. and Catherine t.
MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Media and Learning).
Elder, A., 2014. Excellent online friendships: An Aristotelian defense of social media. Ethics
and Information Technology.16(4). pp.287-297.
Healey, J., 2011. Social impacts of digital media. The Spinney Press.
Shikati, C. (2017, Nov 9). Ways social media has changed our society.
Sponcil, M. and Gitimu, P., 2013. Use of social media by college students: Relationship to
communication and self-concept. Journal of Technology Research. 4. p.1.
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