Social media is changing the way we communicate and the way we

Amy Jo Martin, a guide in the realm of the digital age, spoke with foresight when she declared: “Social media is changing the way we communicate and the way we are perceived, both positively and negatively. Every time you post a photo, or update your status, you are contributing to your own digital footprint and personal brand.” These words are a lantern in an age where technology has entwined itself with human identity, showing us that the images and words we scatter upon the vast networks of the world do not vanish—they become our enduring echoes.

The meaning of this teaching lies in the understanding that communication is no longer confined to the spoken word or the written page. In the era of social media, every message, every picture, every gesture offered to the digital realm becomes a piece of the self. These fragments gather and form what Martin calls the digital footprint—a trail of identity that speaks long after the voice is silent, shaping how others see us and how history remembers us.

But this is a double-edged sword. For as she warns, perception can be both positive and negative. A photo may inspire admiration, a status may spark unity, yet the same tools can sow misunderstanding, envy, or shame. What once was private is now public; what once was fleeting is now permanent. To live in this age is to live under the gaze of unseen eyes, where our actions ripple outward in ways we cannot always predict.

Consider the story of Malala Yousafzai, who used digital platforms to advocate for the education of girls in Pakistan. Her words, carried on the wings of the internet, reached the ears of the world and gave her cause global power. Her digital footprint became a force for justice and transformation. Yet contrast this with countless others whose careless posts have cost them careers, reputations, and trust. Both stories reveal the truth of Martin’s words: our posts shape the narrative of who we are.

The lesson for us is vigilance and intention. Do not treat social media as a passing amusement, but as a forge where your identity is hammered into form. Each post is a chisel upon the statue of your reputation; each word is a brushstroke on the canvas of your personal brand. Whether you realize it or not, you are always building. Build wisely, for once created, these impressions cannot easily be undone.

In practice, this means pausing before you share, asking: Does this reflect the truth I wish to be known for? Does this add to the legacy I hope to leave? It means cultivating authenticity while being mindful of permanence. Share with purpose, uplift with intention, and let your digital footprint be one that inspires rather than diminishes, one that echoes honor rather than regret.

Therefore, children of tomorrow, take heed of Amy Jo Martin’s wisdom: your words and images, once sent into the digital realm, are no longer just moments—they are monuments. Do not carve carelessly upon this eternal wall. Let your footprint be steady, your brand be noble, your communication be a light and not a shadow. For though the tools may be new, the truth is ancient: what we sow, we reap—and in the age of social media, we reap it before the eyes of the entire world.