This Class Completely Ruined How I Use Social Media: Here’s What Happened.

I walked into the Introduction to New Media class thinking I was already a digital expert. After all, I post, scroll, create content, and survive online daily. This class didn’t just teach me; it humbled me, exposed me, and completely destroyed everything I thought I knew. By Week 2, I was sitting there realizing I had been using digital platforms like a civilian, not a media student. This course forced me to rethink not only social media, but the entire digital world I’m constantly interacting with. What I assumed was basic knowledge turned out to be a tiny fraction of what “New Media” actually is.

Here are my top three highlights from the class:

1. Learning About Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication

One of the things that genuinely surprised me in class was learning about synchronous and asynchronous communication. Before this course, I didn’t even know these terms existed. Mrs. Belinda Dentaa explained it in the simplest way. For synchronous communication, she used WhatsApp as an example, saying that if you send a message to someone (by default settings) you can see if the person has viewed it using the Samini and Sarkodie incident as a reference  and you can also tell when the person is online, which encourages instant replies.

As for asynchronous communication, she compared it to email. You can send an email but have no idea when the person will see it, and it also gives room to respond thoughtfully  especially if the message is heartbreaking (job-wise)  so you reply professionally rather than with emotions. I genuinely didn’t know there were technical names for this, and learning it made me understand how different platforms shape the way we interact. Something as ordinary as messaging suddenly made sense on a deeper level.

2. The Peace sign ✌️ 

Another thing that really stayed with me from our recent class was when my lecturer explained how hackers can extract our fingerprints from photos, especially when we pose with the peace ✌️ sign. I honestly didn’t know this was even possible. We always think cyber risks are far away from us, but hearing that something as innocent as a selfie could reveal our fingerprint shocked me. It made me more aware of the privacy risks that exist in the digital space and how much New Media has changed daily life including the things we don’t think twice about. This lesson opened my eyes to the fact that New Media isn’t just fun and convenience; it also comes with responsibilities and dangers we need to be conscious of.

3. A Personal Lesson From My Lecturer’s Communication Style

This is off-topic, but it’s something the class taught me in a very unexpected way. I realized that the calmness and sweetness in my lecturer’s voice actually influenced how I communicate. The way she spoke soft, clear, patient, and intentional  made me understand that communication isn’t just about what you say, but how you say it. Her tone made the class feel safe and engaging, and it taught me that even in media, calm communication can be powerful. It made me want to adopt that same calm, controlled way of speaking in my own life, especially as a student journalist, model, media personality, and content creator.

What I learned in class didn’t just add facts to my head, it changed how I live online.

 Here’s how those lessons shifted me, in a real, practical way:

1. I pick the right way to communicate.

Knowing the difference between synchronous and asynchronous made me deliberate: When I need a real-time chat I’d WhatsApp, and email when I am dealing with work related stuff so I get to be thoughtful or professional in my responses to avoid emotional replies and present myself better in job-related conversations.

2. I use platforms with purpose now.

I no longer post just to post. Every photo, caption or video is part of a story I’m telling about myself  whether it’s for my modeling, other businesses, or just trying to build a following. I think about the message and the goal before I hit publish.

3. I create to engage, not just to ‘step on their necks’. 

New Media taught me that audiences want interaction. So I focus on content that invites conversation, not just likes replies, polls, and authentic captions are now part of my routine.

4. I communicate more calmly and intentionally.

Watching my lecturer’s tone changed how I speak and present myself. I try to be clearer, softer, and more patient whether I’m doing voice-over work, speaking to clients, or a live session.

5. I treat my online presence like a long-term project.

Instead of short-term viral moments, I’m thinking about consistency, branding, and how each post builds toward opportunities in media and modeling.

In summary,

 New Media stopped being just entertainment and became a toolbox for safety, for storytelling, and for building a career. I use it now with more care, strategy, and confidence.