1. Community communications go beyond blogs and social media shares, how does a PLN help and hinder the development of thoughts and ideas in public discourse – especially when addressing our differences?

A PLN can help develop the thoughts and ideas in public discourse by allowing for every voice in the room to be heard. Online users have the comfort of sharing their ideas, beliefs, thoughts where they feel safe online. This also allows for other members of the online community to engage and interact and share their testimonials/experiences with others. This can further allow for the development of new ideas, relationships and communities which inherently reduces exclusivity and exclusion. A PLN can hinder our development of thoughts and ideas by having users who discourage creativity. Social media even though a great platform to share ideas, can also be blamed for online bullying and harassment. Platforms of this nature are known for having certain individuals (trolls) who scour the internet and comment either insensitive or rude things on other’s posts merely for amusement.

  1. How can a PLN be curated to minimize bias and expand knowledge of the lives of others?

A PLN can minimize bias by allowing for diversity and opposition. By allowing discourse from people with differing backgrounds, beliefs, ideas, races, genders and ages we can ensure knowledge is shared as true and raw as the testimonials that surround it. Allowing for a conversation with the opposition is a good way to reduce negligent information within one’s field. Inherently humans want to be correct, by listening to opposing voices and beliefs we can try to reduce our own bias. In addition, having a PLN that is diverse can allow users to interact and share new ideas with one another allowing for the development of critical thinking. Therefore, the community has smarter individuals who are more well-rounded and contribute more to society.

  1. How does the identity of who you are, fit into your PLN?

My identity of who I am fits into my PLN very appropriately. My professional PLN ties in with my professional and educated side- What I mean by that is, my professional PLNs only share accomplishments, achievements, interactions, experiences I’ve had in regard to employment and education (anything a future employer would look for in a potential hire) . I also interact with people on my professional PLN who share the same interests and aspirations. Therefore, we are able to communicate, interact and teach others on our PLN’s.

In addition, my social day-day PLN addresses my identity very true to who I am. The reason why I can’t say it accurately depicts who I am is that social media really only portrays an image or a moment in time. Social media doesn’t see the struggle, and because of that reason, my PLN cannot truly express my identity. Because I am who I am on my happy days, as well as on my dark days.