PLN – Inclusion & Community Engagement.

Regarding the diversity of my PLN (Personal Learning Network), I feel it lacks compared to others I’ve observed. However, I enjoy learning about diversity in the present moment. Therefore, I like to hear different voices on social media to understand how this colorful world changes every day. I am constantly learning and updating my worldview and PLN.

In my personal PLN, I’ve learned about the experiences and risks associated with different professions and hobbies. For example, I’ve recently become very interested in diving. Through learning and exposure, I believe I have acquired the relevant amateur knowledge and awareness, laying the foundation for future systematic learning. In addition, I am very concerned about environmental protection and world affairs. I also obtained accreditation from Learn e-course through a free course and exam provided by the United Nations. I will continuously follow current events and trending topics on various social media platforms to ensure I stay informed about the world as it unfolds and try not to fall behind.

In summary, I believe that social media is suitable for the vast majority of young people, at least those around me. Social media has greatly facilitated communication. A simple example is the comment section for every video and post. Furthermore, social media breaks away from conventional chat software, allowing you to make new friends no matter what you’re doing. For instance, on platforms like TikTok, you can follow your favorite bloggers, join fan groups, and so on. On this highly inclusive platform, self-media bloggers and every participating user are flourishing.

Currently, I lack professional expertise. Although I enjoy sharing, compared to other professional bloggers or sharers, my PLN (Personal Network) can hardly amplify other users’ viewpoints. However, I believe there is communication between us; we influence and support each other, amplifying each other’s opinions and stances in the process. But even making friends or communicating on social media platforms today requires caution, because deception is still prevalent on platforms where fabrication is possible. The explosive development of technologies like AI has provided an excellent backdrop for deception, including creating false professional information to monetize, particularly in finance, travel, and outdoor adventure. The existence of such individuals, in the context of social media and the rise of AI, exacerbates the unfamiliarity and aversion most people have towards them, leading to avoidance or distrust and thus damaging the positive environment for communication.

I have deep feelings about employer communication. There are numerous cases of large companies failing in public relations on Douyin (TikTok), and these all started with a seemingly insignificant post or comment. Even though these companies and employers conducted risk assessments, they still couldn’t completely prevent such situations from occurring. I can only say that in today’s ever-changing world, everyone, including employers and companies, is learning and improving. However, I believe these situations will no longer occur in the future, as company policies will become increasingly sophisticated, minimizing the negative risks posed by the media. For example, my current guidelines include: respecting diversity and all groups; prioritizing user privacy when providing services; verifying everything before expressing opinions; and other policies that regulate employee behavior on social media to mitigate risks.

In today’s rapidly changing world, many of us are being pushed along, but we will choose what we believe in. With the development of social media, our communication and exchange are becoming more sophisticated. I look forward to the future media environment and to the impact my improved personal PLN (Public Relations Network) will have on others.

Reference

Jesse Miller. (2026, January 29). EDCI 338 2026 Week 4 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doJgDjA3QPo

Five Moore Minutes. (2025, February 8). Inclusion is not Assimilation: Understanding communities of identity and diversity [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IOGOE_qQfM

Ng, K. (2024, May 9). China: Baidu PR boss sorry for glorifying work-till-you-drop. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz4x5nnpe80o