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In this post, I want to share my journey with social media—how it all started for me as a curious teenager, how it has shaped both my personal and professional life, and how I continue to grow with it as an educator and learner.

My First Encounters with Social Media

My relationship with social media began in 2007 or 2008 when I was in the 10th grade. My first platform was Orkut, and with slow 2G internet, I was a curious and naïve teenager. I remember the excitement of connecting with people from other states—it felt like a healthy kind of “stalking” that was simply fun at that age.                                              

Soon after, Facebook took over, offering more privacy and features. Orkut eventually shut down, but Facebook stayed. To this day, many of my school friends—people I studied with almost 20 years ago—are still connected with me there. Social media not only gave me friendships that lasted but also raised awareness about the wider world.

Personal Milestones Through Social Media

Some of my most personal memories are tied to social media. I used Skype for the very first time to connect with my better half, who was in Australia back then and I was India. Despite the slow connection and blurry calls, seeing each other online during our courtship days felt magical♥♥.

Later, during my master’s, I discovered the power of Google Search. I had been unaware of its potential until I began using it for my chemistry research projects. Over time, new apps entered my life—WhatsApp with its regular updates, Instagram, and Snapchat—each one marking a phase of my life.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, social media and online platforms became even more meaningful. As a teacher, I relied on Zoom to stay connected with my students. How can I forget to mention about YouTube, it has been a life saviour for me during pandemic- I learned a lot of different cuisines while staying at home, sending interesting educational videos to my students. I surfed tools like Kahoot and Liveworksheets to make online learning engaging. Also, when I was preparing for coming to Canada; to know about UoR and Regina city, I explored so much using YouTube.  As well, shopping online become very handy for me, I am not such a shopaholic and does not like to go out much for shopping, so started shopping via Myntra, Amazon etc. (A big sigh of relief!!). Now, while pursuing my M.Ed, I use ©anva to design creative presentations.

Another highlight of my M.Ed journey was this January, when I learned about blogging for the very first time with Doctor Katia in one of my courses. It was a completely new and exciting experience that opened my eyes to expressing ideas in a digital space. I also explored H5P, an interactive tool that can make classes highly engaging. Discovering these new tools has deepened my appreciation of how social media and online education can work hand in hand.

Positive Impacts of Social Media

On My Personal Life

Social media has helped me stay connected to my family and friends across the world. At present, I live in Canada while my parents are in India, yet WhatsApp video calls make the distance feel smaller. Social apps have also made daily life easier, from sharing memories instantly to transferring money in emergencies.

On My Professional Life

Professionally, I feel grateful to be a teacher in the era of social media. It has expanded my potential, making it easier to communicate with students outside the classroom. During online learning, it gave me tools to teach creatively and keep students engaged. Even now, platforms like Canva, blogging, and H5P continue to add value to my teaching practice.

Negative Impacts of Social Media

Despite its many benefits, I have to admit that social media can be addictive for me. Whenever I have free time, my instinct is to open Instagram or Facebook and scroll endlessly. I have made resolutions to cut down, but they rarely last. I know that I could use this time more productively—to learn, to grow, or simply to rest—but my reflex often takes over. This is something I am consciously trying to work on.

Conclusion

Looking back, from Orkut days to Zoom classrooms, social media has been a constant companion in my life. It has brought me closer to loved ones, enriched my teaching, and opened doors to endless learning. At the same time, it has tested my self-discipline and often distracted me. My relationship with social media is, therefore, a mix of gratitude and caution—a journey that continues to evolve as I discover new tools like blogging and H5P.

Social Media Apps kept coming and going with new advancements and features and now it feels pivotal to learn everything to stay with the era that’s going on.  As a millennial who started out with Orkut and now embraces tools popular with Gen Z, I feel like I am walking the bridge between two generations—carrying nostalgia from the past while adapting to the innovations of the present.

Refined my writing with AI's help, ideas and experiences are purely mine.