Personal Learning Networks, Diversity, and Inclusion

My Personal Learning Network (PLN) and Social Media Use

Although I use social media to maintain connections, I would consider the majority of my connections to be from in-person interactions and relationships.I have lived in the same house, in the same city, for my whole life, so I have come to know my community very well. I went to a small school, so I know my former classmates and their families well. Additionally, I work at a nearby community centre where I am able to interact with new members of the community and young families. Because where I live tends to have a similar type of demographic, I lack some diversity in this part of my PLN.

The main social medias that I use to maintain my PLN are Instagram and LinkedIn. I use Instagram to consume content that I enjoy, but also to keep up with friends and acquaintances. I use LinkedIn for connections related to my chosen field, Education. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to participate in a month-long summer program where I met other students my age from across the country. I use both LinkedIn and Instagram to keep up with those connections. Through my online connections, I have access to a variety of perspectives that allow me to learn new things and consider new avenues for my professional development.

How does social media engage communications? How does social media challenge communications?

Social media engages us because it allows us to talk to people with similar points of view to us. People who may have a hard time finding peers and companions can find a safe place on a digital platform with people who understand their perspectives. Social media and digital platforms can also increase communication. In a professional setting, this means that a team can continue to communicate during extenuating circumstances, like a coworker needing to be away or not feeling well. In the context of teaching and education, digital platforms can help students by keeping them connected to class activities and new learning.

Social media also challenges communication because it can increase miscommunication between friends and acquaintances. It can be harder to understand someone’s intentions when they aren’t in the same room as you. In a professional setting, it is important to be on the same page and to communicate clearly. That can be difficult if you isolate a person’s words from their tone and facial expressions. Similarly, face-to-face interactions can be helpful to a student’s learning and social development.

Is it inclusive?

In the introduction to the book One Without the Other: Stories of Unity Through Diversity and Inclusion, Shelley Moore (2016) shares the story of how a student challenged her model of inclusion. Inclusion is not only when everybody is welcomed and respected, but it is also when we disregard the notion of an “other” (p. 8). While social media can be a place where all individuals can share their perspectives and ideas, it can never truly be inclusive until platforms are available to everyone, regardless of structural barriers. The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2025) explains that we must aim for equitable inclusion where everyone has “the same opportunities and that marginalized communities are not left behind.” As long as there are people in the world who do not have access to the same resources, social media or any PLN cannot be truly inclusive.

In their chapter “A New Vision for Public Media“, Clark and Aufderheide(2011) discuss how public media and democratic governance are mutually reinforcing(p. 61). Again, mentioning the idea that public media should be equally accessible to all members of a community or nation. In order for public media to support democratic governance, it must also support the fundamental right of equal access. In the context of Education, any digital or in-person learning network must be accessible to all students in order to provide a truly inclusive education.

Policies of employers and social media communication expectations

A person’s digital identity and social media communications can follow them into personal and professional interactions. Therefore, it is important to consider how you choose to communicate with friends and acquaintances. Unlike phone calls, messages on social media platforms can be kept and archived. Meaning that anything you say on a digital platform can be found. With that in mind, it’s important to always be respectful when communicating with others. As a future educator, I always think about how what I choose to present on my profiles and in my networks could potentially get back to an employer or a student’s parent: I want my future students and their parents to respect and trust me as an educator.

What are the benefits of a diverse and inclusive PLN in social media?

The benefit of a diverse and inclusive PLN is that you can gain new perspectives and ideas from your connections. Additionally, an inclusive PLN would welcome these ideas, which creates a safe space to share them. When your connections and acquaintances respect and welcome your thoughts, it also creates an atmosphere of growth and curiosity, which can greatly benefit your learning.

— Sofia

Clark, J., & Aufderheide, P. (2011). A new vision for public media. In S. C. Jansen, J. Pooley, & L. Taub-Pervizpour (Eds.), Media and Social Justice (pp. 55–67). Palgrave Macmillan. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230119796_5#citeas

Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2025). Digital Inclusion. United Nations. https://social.desa.un.org/issues/poverty-eradication/digital-inclusion

Moore, S. (2016). Introduction. In One without the Other: Stories of Unity through Diversity and Inclusion. Portage & Main Press. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uvic/reader.action?docID=4832579&ppg=8&c=RVBVQg