maryswrld4

[maryswrld4]

Entering the Dark Side

Welcome back to my blog post. For today’s blog, we are focusing on the dark side of social media.

Now don’t get me wrong, social media has brought us many benefits such as allowing people to connect with others from different parts of the world, and easily share information, as well as expanding one’s brand. However, social media also has its negatives.

Before I begin my thoughts on the negative aspects of social media, I would consider you all watching the documentary, The Social Dilemma on Netflix (If you haven’t done so already). It does a great job of exploring the negative impacts that social media platforms can have on individuals and society as a whole. 

Here are a couple of key takeaways from the documentary:

Social media platforms are designed to be very addictive

algorithms used by social media platforms are designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible, for example, by showing them content that reinforces their existing beliefs and interests.

Social media can have negative effects on one’s mental health

 social media platforms can contribute to mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and addiction, especially among younger users

Social media can manipulate the way we act and behave 

this sort of goes along with the first bullet - The same algorithms that keep users engaged can also be used to manipulate behavior, such as by influencing users' political opinions or buying habits.

One of the dark sides of social media is that there’s less in-person interaction which can lead to feelings of social isolation and loneliness since nowadays, many people spend more time interacting with others online than in person. It can also negatively impact one’s mental health and well-being. Social media can lead to negative things such as cyberbullying, harassment, and hate speech. 

Another dark side is that SOCIAL MEDIA IS ADDICTING. Many people have become dependent on social media for reasons such as entertainment or receiving validation from others. The algorithms on social media also make users addicted since users are only exposed to certain things that align with their own views which can lead to misinformation/fake news. 

Social media definitely has a dark side… so the question is, 

What can we as a society do to mitigate the negative impacts of social media?

Here are 3 important things that I think we can do...

Promote/encourage healthy social media use

Use social media in moderation

Take breaks from it regularly 

Educate people to use social media in a safe & responsible way to avoid cyberbullying and harassment 

Have social media platforms/companies take responsibility for the kinds of content that are on their platforms that might show harmful behavior 

By taking these steps into consideration, we can help create a healthier and more positive social media environment 

Thanks for reading :)

#social media #the social dilemma #mental health

[maryswrld4]

INSTAGRAM

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. In today’s blog, we are focusing on the social media platform “Instagram” which was one of the presentations done in class. 

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, ranking number 4 among the world’s most-used social platforms.

What is Instagram?

Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social networking platform where users can share photos and videos as well as connect with friends and family, and discover new content. 

Here are some of the strengths and weaknesses of the platform:

Strengths:

Visually appealing - Instagram is a great platform for sharing photos and videos in a visually appealing way 

User friendly - the platform is relatively easy to use and its basic features are easy to understand 

Advertising - it does a great job of targeting specific demographics and interests which can allow businesses to easily advertise their brand

Strong influencer community - the platform has a large community of influencers and brand ambassadors which makes it a great platform for businesses to leverage influencers to increase their brand exposure and reach newer audiences

Weaknesses:

Authenticity - the platform deals with a lot of fake accounts and bots which can make it difficult for users to determine an account/brand’s authenticity

Privacy concerns - users have raised concerns about how Instagram gathers user’s personal data and shares it with third parties 

Weak/limited engagement reach - the platform’s algorithm can make it difficult for users/brands to reach their target audiences 

Personally, I spend the majority of my time on Instagram than any of the other social media platforms that I use. Just last week, I spent about 10 hours on the platform. I remember being on Instagram since I was in middle school and the platform has definitely grown since then. I remember when I first made my account, you could only post pictures and not videos.

I like to use Instagram to see what my favorite celebrities are posting and explore food recipes. I usually like to post on my story whenever I am traveling or eating good food. I also post a lot on my “finsta” (which is a “fake Instagram”) where I post more private things to my close friends. 

What are your thoughts on Instagram?

Thanks for reading :)

#instagram #social media #branding

[maryswrld4]

Working in Social Media

Hi everyone! Welcome back to my blog. My post for today focuses on the Industry Qualifications in social media.

What is it like to work in social media? Well, in the world of social media, things are not universally the same because each company can have different expectations, distinct titles, and duties that they give to those in charge of social media. However, there are some key universal skills necessary that all social media professionals should have. 

SUCH AS:

Analytics

Content creation

Social listening 

Storytelling 

In my social media course, we also came up with a list as a class on marketable skills needed to work in social media (Here are some examples) 

Ability to stay up to date on current trends in social media

Creativity

Writing skills

Maintaining a strong personal brand (check out my last post on personal brand)

Now that you know some key skills necessary to work in social media, here are some key things that you should keep in mind when applying for a social media position. 

EXPERIENCE, this is the first thing employers want to see (how many internships, projects, work experiences, & clients you may have had in the past)

Portfolio of work: you want to see what potential employers have already done

Colleagues work: see what professionals in your prospective organization have done in the past & what they are continuing to do

Culture: this is the most important thing to take into account. You want to make sure that you are in an environment where you can do your best work and have the opportunity to learn and grow. AVOID toxic working environments!

Organizational structure for social media: consider the organizational structure of an organization when you're looking at prospective positions

Thanks for reading :)

#social media #working in social media

[maryswrld4]

BE THE NEXT YOU

Welcome back to my blog everyone! Today’s blog is all about personal and professional branding.

First lets define what a “brand” is… according to Freberg, “A brand is more than just having a logo, platform, aesthetic, or color palate. It’s about having a long-term, strategic, and creative approach in telling your story, showing your knowledge, and navigating the field effortlessly to build connections” 

Now… 

What is a personal brand? 

This is all about YOU. A personal brand is how you promote yourself to others by showing your story, personality, experiences, and expertise. It is what you want everyone else to see about you - a specific image of yourself both online and offline.

This could be things such as your…

Looks/Appearance 

Personality traits

Beliefs & values

3 COMPONENTS OF A PERSONAL BRAND:

A personality that is unique and memorable

Consistency with your personality

Expertise

Freberg mentions how Dwayne Johnson (“The Rock”) is a good example of someone with a strong personal brand on social media because he balances his content where he shows authentic videos of himself working out or on set, puts out promotional updates and visuals for upcoming collaborations, movies, or throwback pictures with family and friends. 

Another celebrity who I think displays a strong personal brand is Justin Bieber. His most recent content consists of videos and pictures of him on tour and his travels, pictures of his dogs, friends, and wife, and promotes things such as social issues, music, collaborations, and his own clothing brand.

#social media #personal branding

[maryswrld4]

Let's Be Real

Hello everyone! This week's blog is about ethical and legal considerations in social media. I want to begin by first defining the term ethics. According to Freberg, “Ethics are a set of moral guidelines and principles that influence our behaviors and interactions” (Freberg 79). Having a set of ethical code of conduct is essential and important when working in social media because having these guidelines will help us in knowing what is considered right and what is considered wrong.

Personally for me, my moral code in using social media: Try to stay authentic to who you are as a person. Don’t act like a completely different person on social media when you know that that’s not truly you. If you show others on social media, who you are in an honest and open manner, people will come to respect you more. 

Things to also keep in mind when posting on social media (that I practice):

Be mindful about what you post - Freberg mentions, “A post that may be viewed as inappropriate, insensitive, or egregious can also result in firings and other long-term consequences” (Freberg 87). 

Treat others how you would like to be treated (this is something that we have learned at an early age)

Sharing too much - “You don’t want to appear to be spamming everyone” (Freberg 82). Not everyone wants to know everything about your life and I think it’s good to keep most things private 

[maryswrld4]

BLOG 1

Hello everyone! My name is Mary and I am a Psychology major and a Senior at Mount St. Marys. I enjoy spending my time with my friends, going shopping, eating and exploring different cuisines, and going on nature walks.

Reflecting on the first week’s content in class, I believe Social Media can be defined as a platform that allows people to interact with one another through creating or sharing information and or ideas virtually which also allows for virtual communities and networks to form. There are many types of social media, just to name a few: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Tiktok, and Youtube. Facebook is still the currently most used Social Media platform to this day with Youtube being the second most. However, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tiktok are commonly used among young adults. Me, personally, I spend the majority of my time on Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok than any other social media platforms.

I feel like social media can be both good and bad. Social Media has allowed us to become easily more connected to people, especially our friends and family who live far from us. Majority of my family lives in the Philippines and having social media like Facebook has allowed my mom and I to really connect with them from afar. Social media has also allowed businesses to expand their brand and easily connect and interact with customers. However, I think that social media can be negative in ways in which it can affect one's mental health, especially in teens. It can be so addicting, constantly scrolling through your feed that it can really affect one's sleep. I find myself sometimes scrolling on Tiktok for hours late at night, disrupting my sleep. Also, I think that social media can portray a lot of unrealistic views of people’s lives and appearances and that social media allows for more cyberbullying because people are able to be anonymous online.

Freberg mentions that social media is both an art and a science because through social media users are able to express themselves through forms of creativity and storytelling. Social media is also a science because it requires research and analysis to help users/content creators/businesses to know when and how to reach their audiences. Social media can provide data to creators to understand their audience better and figure out ways to ensure high engagement of followers and audiences.