This photo up here embodies the fear of any digital marketeer. No comments, no likes and no followers..?
“Whoopsy.”

Undeniably, we’re living in the digital era. No longer would we buy CDs (Hello Spotify!) and why would we even watch the TV with their pesky advertisements when we have… Well.. Torrent.

When we first discussed the concept of Digital Literacy, I was mind blown. Doesn’t everybody know how to use the internet..? Isn’t it one of the most basic skill of living..?

Then I realised how complacent we are regarding this concept.

Many of us consider ourselves “Digital Dinosaurs” because we are not active in social media. We aren’t familiar with a particular website that everybody’s using or we don’t have an Instagram account.

My mother, for example, often ask me questions about anything in general and if I don’t know the answer, I would in very typical Singaporean manner.

“Go google it lah.”

But my mother doesn’t know what’s Google. She belongs to the generation of Singaporeans who sees no need in understanding the world wide web. She was probably the person who taught me how to use Microsoft Word. But as I took off from that runway, she stood back and watched.

Our generation has advance to make Digital Literacy a necessary component in our resumes and in our social lives. Yes. It is important.

I used to intern in a market research company and my supervisor would request for weird information for projects such as, “give me the top telcos for every country in South East Asia”.

Imagine if I didn’t have the internet. Gosh I would go crazy trying to communicate with the language of such a diverse region!

Digital savviness has its complications. More often than not I hide behind a computer screen, neglecting the world outside for the sake of gaming or social media.

But it is convenient. Behind the computer, I don’t have to go out and pay transportation fee just to meet my friends when there’s Skype. Like Sheldon Cooper in the image above locked himself from the rest of the world to avoid viruses, I wouldn’t be exposed to viruses, but I’ll be very much aware of let’s say, Ebola.

Strengths

I consider myself to be relatively Digital Savvy. One thing I pride myself is the ability to pull out accurate and reliable information from the internet. It was all in a days work during my 1 year stint at the market research company. This had resulted in me being an extremely independent learner. After all, the digital world is my oyster whereby knowledge is in abundance and knowledge is king.

Weaknesses

I mentioned that I am an independent learner. But that is because of my over dependence on the internet. I vaguely recall a time that I left my phone at home while in secondary school. It was a depressing day.

The digital world is also my personal black hole. Being an avid gamer, I could spend hours at an end engrossed in Starcraft to the point where I forget that I have limitations. A great example would be this blog post. I’ve already hit the word limit and is still rapidly typing away.

In conclusion…

Digital literacy is, for our generation, one of the most essential skill of life. Really… If you’re dying just google “how to live longer.”

The digital world is a great place to live in. It is boundless. But too much of a good thing can be bad.

So this is where we part for the day, I hope you had fun reading my musing.

Hello everybody!

I’m Vanessa.

Before I embarked on this exciting journey in Southampton, I studied Advertising & Public Relations in Ngee Ann Polytechnic. It was an eye opening experience for a rookie looking to place her foot in this crazy, mind blowing industry.

A few little bits and bobs about myself…

I’m wild, crazy and wacky. Not many people could actually reign me in except a small pool of dear friends. These friends has inspired me and made me the person that I am.

I love animals, particularly dogs.

This lazy, little sloth right here is one of the greatest love of my life. Dogs are the siblings I’ve never had. They demand so much attention and time and yet, I never seem to be annoyed by them.

This is the part you say “Aww…”

I was taught the precious skill of cooking and baking by my granny and has honed it ever since. Because of that I took up a job as a kitchen helper and an occasional barista in a little cafe called Little Part 1.

One day soon, I hope to open my own little cafe along the infamous Thomson Road in Singapore and watch school children press their little faces against the window display, drooling over tantalising cupcakes and adults breathing in the aromas of a delightful espresso shot.

That, my dear friends, is the Dream.

So that’s me. I hope as the module goes on, everybody would be able to learn more about my perceptions and ideas as I would love to learn more about yours.

Till then! 😀