Throughout high school and university, I have leveraged social media platforms to enhance connections and engagement with friends and classmates. Primarily, I have utilized Instagram for communication on group projects with classmates. While Instagram serves as a convenient and my favorite means of communication, I find it to also be a double-edged sword. At the end of a long day, I often find myself unintentionally spending excessive time scrolling through Reels. Or after initially using the platform to connect with friends and classmates I’ll catch myself scrolling reels. While Instagram has been the bridge of communion for many group tasks at the end of the day it is a social media platform made for entertainment as many social media platforms are. A world of endless entertainment is easy to get lost in and have minutes or even hours fly away. 

On the subject of social media and Instagram I would like to share how I manage my digital identity, online presence and how I use social media ethically. Instagram is the only social media platform I use. I keep 2 smallish accounts. One consists of close friends and people I want to stay in touch with. The other is a lifting account where I have documented my fitness journey, and share tips on form and dieting. 

I primarily use Instagram to socialize, make plans, and post recent photos of what I’ve been up to. Even though my account is private I understand that any post, message, and comment will be on the internet forever. Ever since I had Instagram which has been about 7 years now, I’ve always been cautious about what becomes part of my digital identity. In the back of my mind before any transaction on the ol’ IG I do think about how does this reflect upon myself. If my grandmother wouldn’t approve, then a future employer likely wouldn’t either. While I’m not sure exactly what career path I plan on heading down, whether it being a therapist or living out dreams of being a IFBB natural pro sponsored athlete, what I do on Instagram or any future social media platforms I engage with does matter.