Social Media: My "final" look

Hi, my name is Rylie O'Connor and I am a junior Communication/Media major with a concentration in Digital Media Marketing at Roberts Wesleyan College. Over the semester in Social Media Theory and Practice, as well as my time at Roberts thus far, I feel as thought I have a lot that I can "bring to the digital table." The video present below is an explanation of my understanding of social media today.

I remember when I got my first iPhone. I was thirteen years old and saved up all my birthday money to purchase it and since then, social media has been my world. Throughout these years, including various college courses, I have gain incredible knowledge of social media as well as a skill set:

• Social Media was a part of my development. I created my first ever account in 2011 on Facebook. Throughout the past 9 years, I got to watch the internet grow as I grow. I grew up with the internet and was able to take the time to have a vast knowledge in these platforms.

• For the past 2 years, I have been the student body Public Relations Director, managing the content that is distributed for the students throughout our platforms, creating several marketing plans and brand awareness for rwc_students.

• I had the experience of being “social media certified,” an online simulation called Mimic Social that has trained me in creating social media plans, budgeting, understanding analytics, and what consumers are engaging in.

• MDA 312: Social Media Theory and Practice. This course has defined social media for not only the everyday user, but on the larger scales of company perspectives. Through this course, I have a better understanding of my target audiences, ROI, creating a social media calendar, the Internet of Things and learning of the different “sections” or “worlds” on social media.

What this coffee blog has taught me is my personal interests in social media and what I am looking for. Light-hearted content with instant results/understanding. I originally created this blog as an excuse to try every local coffee shop (and justify my purchases,) but what I have learned is my voice and the type of content I am looking for and would like to demonstrate to others. Wix in particular has taught me the importance of formatting and expressing these ideas. I have been able to interconnect all of my social media and centralize it to my blog.

Twitter is the most "serious" of the platforms:

Before this course, I believe I was the one of the few in my class that actively used Twitter. For me, Twitter use was for two reason:

• Live Tweeting political/news worthy events

• Funny/Inspirational quotes tweets

Twitter to me has always been more "serious content" (in comparison to other SNS.) However, watching what my classmates tweeted was a very interesting perspective and I believe that it reiterates my point of “social media is our world.” It can be both serious and humorous.

Trevor's tweet is a prime example of my "worlds colliding" of humorous, yet serious. On one hand, we have TikTok, an important rising SNS that is taking the world by storm (more than ever currently) and creating actual celebrities who have been featured in serval commercials. For example Charli D'Amelio was in a Super Bowl ad and was a guest on Jimmy Fallon. Another "TikToker" was featured in a music video for the popular song "Say So" by Doja Cat. Other SNS have created influencers, TikTok is creating instant celebrities.

As a follow up to what I mentioned in the previous tweet, TikTok creates "instant fame." I have friends who have received millions of views and a couple of a hundred thousand likes. It seems that it is "easier" to have your content blow up. This is no diss to Michael, that's a cute idea and I will go like your TikTok. This is interesting in comparison to YouTube where many argue the front page is "ridge" and some content creators are "more promoted than others" where as the For You Page on TikTok is specifically designed to your likes. Compare mine and my friends, we may have similar taste, but a completely different page.

The interesting part of this story is the fact of what this pandemic has taught us, the power of social media. We are learning the easy use of ordering food, online shopping, online doctor appointments, connecting to others through a screen. Those who are protesting are learning the power of advocacy on SNS and where it will lead them. I agree with Emily, we are allowed to voice our opinions. However I believe this article has a deeper meaning, how are we going to continue to help others navigate our world throughout this pandemic? It is not going away anytime soon and even if it the virus was gone tomorrow, we still have the repercussions to handle. This is why I believe everyone should take the time to understand social media, even if it's "not your thing" because it is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Moving on to my tweets, I have found the trend that I tend to lean towards humor and if I am to talk on "controversial issues," I open with humor.

I remember when I read the original tweet I laughed. Maybe this is because I attend a Liberal Arts college where I hear the complaints from the nursing majors (who get the most funding I may add). I used to get in arguments with fellow STEM majors on why I think it is just as important for them to take Intro to Media as it is for me to take any science of my choosing with a lab. To have a well rounded education and maybe to find interest in something you didn't know you liked. Or to be a vital player in Trivial Pursuit.

When times are tough, I think a little bit of fun is what we need. I tweeted this out just before I knew that it was going to be my last shift in our schools library for a while. It did very well and I think it brought us together in a sense, something to laugh about in these tough times. At this time, Covid-19 was hard to picture to be real. When they include this in future textbooks and kid goes to do their research, I hope my tweet comes up as a primary source.

Another example of humor meets seriousness, plus a splash of TikTok. The impeachment trials were obviously a huge deal (not so much anymore now, we've got "bigger fish to fry") and what I loved about this TikTok is that is a fun light way to get the younger generation engaged in our world. Of course these Disney characters aren't actually a certain political cal party and it's all fun and games, but it gets the conversation going. Since this TikTok I have seen plenty of others that have involved a political discussion from both major parties. Social media has created a bigger platform for political discourse in our world.

A major trend that has been present throughout our tweets and Twitter as a whole is this combination of serious humor. I have done this, my fellow classmates, as well as various companies. The most well-know company for it's Twitter account is Wendy's with their sassy, quick-witted responses.

Not everything is perfect:

There are two major issues with social media:

1. Privacy

2. Activism

This traits share two common underlying issues:

1. Cancel culture

2. Control

Since social media is understood that the “consumer is in control of it’s content,” in no way shape or form would we want the consumer to feel violated by the platform. Privacy is an issue because companies with issues in this ruin the trust from a consumer. They are the ones that want to be (or at least feel) to be in control and if other companies are noticeably not allowing them, it becomes a problem.

Activism is a problem because it is often that a certain agenda is pushed and if a company gets involved in a certain issue, there is potential to lose customers and be “canceled” by others. Most “activists” on social media sometimes don’t even know what they are activists for. It is important for a company to recognize the world around us, but try to not engage controversial political issues unless it is important to the values of the company.

Goodbye, for now:

I don't know if I will revisit this blog, maybe in more of a style of a vlog. It has taught me the importance of understanding social media and strengthening my skills amongst serval SNS platforms. I had a lot of fun and has inspired me fo the future of my digital world.