Please Don't Show This To My Therapist

          No one likes reading a textbook. Every year students log on to buy codes and books that will most likely just sit on a shelf and collect dust until it’s time to return them at the end of the semester. That’s exactly how I felt buying this book. I couldn’t understand how you put information about social media in a textbook, something just seemed off. And on top of that, it was an online textbook, something I’ve never been fond of. Staring at a screen, losing my place while reading, and forgetting my login information is just so frustrating. To me, there’s just something about having the actual book in front of me that helps me comprehend the information. Although I will say, my back did thank me for having one less book in my bag.       For my principles of social media class, we used Stukent’s “Essentials of Social Media Marketing” textbook and simulation. I had never used Stukent before so trying to figure out how to use the o...

     Let's talk about the elephant in the virtual room: the hidden risks and perils of our constant use of social media. In a digital world where connectivity reigns supreme, it's crucial to acknowledge the shadow side of our beloved social media platforms. In “The Social Dilemma,” a film released in 2020, the veil over our beloved social media platforms is lifted, leaving no room for doubt. The film alternates between tech experts sharing their experiences at numerous well-known companies and a fictional family encountering the very harsh realities the experts are discussing. While the whole film is kind of disturbing, there are some points I found interesting and want to highlight.       I want to start by sharing a quote that appears about 30 minutes into the film. Since it appeared on the screen I haven't been able to shake it. It’s from Yale University professor Edward Tufte and it goes, “There are only two industries that call their customers ‘us...

        It’s interesting to think about LinkedIn as a social platform used for advertising or even a social platform. For people in my generation, LinkedIn is for professional use only, to shout out friends who got jobs or to post about professional conferences we attended. To us, LinkedIn is far from the fun, creative likes of Instagram or Snapchat and more of an online resume used for our future. It’s the ultimate personal branding tool. But if you take a step back and look at it from a business point of view, it’s not that much different from other social networking platforms.       Like other platforms such as Instagram, X (formally known as Twitter) and Facebook, LinkedIn has content strategies that businesses should be aware of when they’re creating and publishing content. A survey showed that the top two reasons people follow a business on LinkedIn were to stay up-to-date on the latest news with the company and to stay informed about t...

          Last Friday, March 22, I had the opportunity to attend the Ohio Northern University Public Relations Student Society of America’s (PRSSA) sixth annual social media workshop. As a student looking to pursue a career in marketing or communications, this workshop proved valuable. Throughout the day, I shared insights and key takeaways from the sessions I attended via live-tweeting. Here is a quick recap of my day.  The day began with a compelling keynote speaker, Amy Hertsenberg, who talked about AI-powered digital mastery. It was an amazing presentation illustrating how AI can do the smallest tasks that humans either don’t have time for or dread doing. Hertsenberg had me captivated the entire time.   Following the keynote, I delved into my first session on brand engagement. Presenter Sally Stearns talked about what she calls the three C’s of brand engagement: Connecting, Converting and Cultivating. Stearns did a deep dive into each top...

     As the number one social media platform, advertising with Facebook seems like a no-brainer. The app reaches an audience of 1.98 billion people with a worldwide advertising revenue that has continuously grown year after year. However, with recent controversies and changes in algorithms, will Facebook be able to keep its top dog status for much longer?      For the most part, everyone knows the story of Facebook's humble beginnings in the Harvard dorm room of student Mark Zuckerberg back in 2004. And if you don’t, you need to watch “The Social Network” starring the gorgeous Andrew Garfield, Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake. While the film is loosely based on true events, it’s good enough for a quick run down.  Anyway, for years now Facebook has been growing like wildfire, becoming more and more popular by the day and making key investments along the way. In 2012 the company bought another highly used platform, Instagram and in 2019 they acquir...