Unit 2 Reflection

 

Reflection!

        For my Unit 2 project, I chose to focus on how social media shapes and distorts teenagers’ identities, with a specific emphasis on young performers. I chose this topic because it feels very relevant to my own life and experiences, especially as someone studying acting. Social media is something I’ve grown up with, and I’ve always been aware, even at a young age, that I was presenting a version of myself online that wasn’t fully real. Because of that, I wanted to explore this idea further and understand not just my own experience, but how it affects other people as well.

When thinking about my audience, I wanted to write something that would be interesting both to people in the entertainment industry and to people outside of it. I think this topic is relatable to almost everyone, but I made specific rhetorical choices to highlight how the pressure is even stronger for performers. For example, I wrote about how “for actors, social media becomes a form of self-marketing,” which helps connect my argument directly to my major and future career. At the same time, I included examples like my friend Kendra’s experience to show that this pressure exists even for people who are not performers. This balance allowed me to reach a wider audience while still keeping a clear focus.

One of the ways I challenged myself in this project was through research. In Unit 1, I mostly focused on understanding sources and summarizing them, but in this unit, I had to actually engage with what different sources were saying and use them to support my argument. I tried to look at both sides of the conversation. On one hand, research shows that social media comparison can lead to “lower self-concept clarity and increased identity distress,” which supports my argument that identity can be distorted. On the other hand, I also included the idea that social media can help people connect and express themselves. What I’ve noticed in “the conversation” about this topic is that most sources agree that social media has both positive and negative effects, but they differ in how much weight they give to each side. Personally, after doing this research, I believe that while there are benefits, the pressure and performative nature of social media have a stronger impact on identity.

I also challenged myself by incorporating primary research into my project. I interviewed two actors and one non-actor, and this became one of the most interesting parts of my paper. All three people I interviewed said that their social media does not reflect their true personality, which directly supported my argument. However, what stood out even more were the differences between actors and non-actors. The actors talked about the added pressure to maintain a certain image for their careers, while my non-actor friend spoke more about social pressure and making connections. This helped me add more depth to my argument and made my blog feel more personal and real, rather than just based on outside sources.

In terms of my pitch, I focused on making my topic feel relatable and relevant. Even if someone isn’t in the entertainment industry, almost everyone has experience with social media and understands the pressure that comes with it. I used a mix of personal examples and research to keep people engaged. 

  One thing I learned from this project is how important it is to connect your sources back to your own argument. At first, it was easy to just include quotes and information, but I had to push myself to explain why those sources mattered and how they supported my thesis. This is definitely something I can apply to other classes, especially in writing-based courses. I also learned how to think more about the audience and tone. Instead of just writing for my professor, I tried to write something that would feel engaging and interesting to a broader audience, like an article.

Overall, this project helped me better understand both my topic and my own writing process. It made me realize how much social media has shaped how I see myself and others, and pushed me to think more critically about that influence. Moving forward, I think I will be more aware of how I present myself online and more intentional about not letting social media define my identity, even when it does impact my career.