Month: October 2023

How do notable individuals use social media?

When I think of “notable individuals” I think of the influencers, politicians, and celebrities. When looking at the way they use social media I think it greatly depends on the audience you are trying to reach and if you are promoting brands etc. Influencers commonly use social media to promote brands that might be sponsoring them or host live streams of them going about their days. Right now, I see a lot of “Gym influencers” promoting different clothing brands, selling workouts, or promoting different proteins they take to look the way they look. Celebrities (movie stars, singer/songwriters) also might post content that promotes their brand or posts content that raises awareness of various issues.  Reflecting on what was discussed in the chat, one of my group members highlighted in the reading for the week about fake news gaining prominence during the 2016 US Presidential election and how Donald Trump weaponized the term to criticize media outlets. This shows how different people with high public following can influence others using their social platforms.

What are the benefits of being in the public eye and having a PLN?

Being in the public eye allows you to get brand deals, make money from posting content, and allows you to continue to expand your online network. One of the biggests examples I can think of is the D’amelio family. The youngest daughter started dancing on TikTok and now they go to big celebrity events, have a bunch of brand deals, and their own TV show, similar to the Kardashians as well. With a high following, starting your own brand business and promoting that business is also something I feel like I see happening a lot with celebrities nowadays. Having a PLN in generals is a great way to connect with like-minded individuals and learn new things from others. It is also a great way to connect with employers and explore job opportunities. 

Building a community with online tools provided by the employer can be limiting, what are the perceived restrictions and benefits?

Employer related online tools can be limiting in the sense that it only applies to the work that you might do in that position. Possible benefits of using employer online tools can include online training to help you further your skills or collaboration between teams through online company chats. Tools used by your company might also provide one access to contact information for other companies that you could collaborate and partner with on projects. Depending on your company, you can also get the opportunity to go to conventions or conferences, where you can connect with other employers or collaborate with other businesses.

Delivering information in a connected society requires verifiable resources, how do you build a PLN to rely on? How do those, who are veteran storytellers, minimize the risk of sharing misinformation?

Misinformation will come your way no matter what. With so many different online platforms sharing information, it is easy to get overwhelmed and confused on which to listen to. In my personal experience, as a Biology student we have been taught to go through Google Scholar or look at online articles that have been peer reviewed for credible information. When it comes to online news sources, I always like to look at a variety of online News platforms and pay less attention to what’s posted on social media from just general/ individual users. If you do look on social media for News, always look for the blue check mark showing that the account has been verified. When sharing information with others, or when your friends share stories or information with you, it is always best to check those facts using resources and online credible tools. All your friends might have different opinions on different topics, and that’s okay! To best understand certain topics yourself, always do your own research! 

How to best address negative replies and reviews which reflect your personal values? Identify the risks and benefits of engaging with a public audience in a media space – What are the risks for a public figure or person in a position of trust (educator, lawyer, and government official)?

Reflecting on the podcast we listened to this week, the person being interviewed had told a story about how they would get physical “hate mail” letters mailed to them and phone calls to complain about what they looked like or what they said on the air/ TV that day. It is always a risk nowadays no matter who you are, or what platform you have, that there will be “haters” and scammers that might post rude or unwelcoming comments. A lot of celebrities speak about the different ways that they cope with these online “hate” comments, and a lot of them say the same thing. That it is best to ignore them as much as possible, and change settings on your social platform to limit the amount of comments or to filter the unwanted comments. Other risks or more extreme risks that people with a big online presence or politicians and lawyers may face are possible death threats or threats against their families.

When it comes to educators, one of the more recent things that I’ve noticed a lot on social platforms is teachers filming themselves in the classroom asking their students questions or talking to their students. A lot of these content creators do a ‘day in the life as a teacher’, or film videos of their students’ reactions to lessons. The students are obviously off camera in these videos, but a lot of the comments under these videos are towards the educators and how they might be communicating with their students and are being criticized online. 

References:

Lui, Sophie. “Sophie Lui- EDCI 338”. YouTube. Uploaded June 6th 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfcXgKLzOVM

How does social media engage communications?

Social media platforms such as Instagram allow us to live stream, message each other, and comment on each other’s posts! This real-time communication allows us to connect with each other instantly. Social media provides a platform for not just individuals but for businesses and organizations, where they can promote their business and projects to a wide audience. Platforms like twitter can engage discussions between users and provide up to date quick info posts on News stories, or my main use for twitter – seeing if there is a snow day that day or not. As mentioned in the article by Jessica Clark and Patricia Aufderheide “Publics are fed by the flow of communication”.  Through the sharing of videos and images, social media can engage all types of learners and allow us to connect with those with similar interests. 

How does social media challenge communications? Is it inclusive?

Social media can challenge communications through the spread of possible misinformation. This question got me thinking back to how during COVID everyone seemed to be a pandemic and vaccine expert, and a lot of the information that was being spread on social media sites was misinformation. Another one of the big things we have all learned to be careful of when being online are possible “hackers”, accounts pretending to be people they are not, and online cyberbullying. As many users can “hide behind the screen” we can see a lot of ugly comments under public figures’ posts and just flat out cyberbullying happening in online spaces. 

Social media communications can be both inclusive and exclusive. If users have similar interests they can join groups on Facebook where you can connect with others and share content with each other. Online social networks can also diversify our views on matters, allow us to meet new people, and anyone can have a social media account! Social platforms can also be somewhat exclusive as there are not always captions on videos, you need internet access to view social platforms, and as discussed before- cyberbullying can deter many away from participating in online discussion or posting media. As mentioned in the reading by Jessica Clark and Patricia Aufderheide “In order to function well, public media projects and platforms designed to engage stakeholders around issues must be both accessible to and representative of the entire population….”. Further proving that to have a successful inclusive space online it needs to be accessible and engaging for everyone!

Does your personal learning network amplify the views of others?

Looking at my own PLN, I don’t feel that it amplifies the views of others. Just looking at my social media, the main things I post are pictures of friends, and I only use Facebook to connect with UVic club social groups and because most of my relatives only use Facebook. On these platforms I haven’t re-posted or commented on political matters and have kept views on public matters somewhat private from my PLN. I do however sometimes re-post projects or like organizations and companies posts that I follow on Instagram/ Linkedin! Diversifying your PLN is always a good idea, so you can explore different views and opinions. If you keep to a very limited PLN, you won’t learn new things and your current views will only be reinforced. 

The policies of employer social media communication expectations.

When considering how to professionally communicate on social media as an employee, I believe it is best to keep your social media unbiased and somewhat professional. When I say “professional” I don’t believe you need headshots and quotes from your organization, but to be aware of what you post on your social media as if employers can view it. Another policy that could be put in place is to keep knowledge of your work confidential and to maintain respect for others in your social network. 

How to better use social media to build PLN? Influencers & Commentators.

Using social media to build your PLN allows you to make diverse and new connections with others. Social media platforms such as Instagram and Tiktok have “for your pages” and give suggestions under the explore tabs with suggested content that you might like! This allows you to view new content creators and connect with others that might have different views, further diversifying your PLN. A lot of influencers use hashtags and have public accounts, allowing their content to reach more people or connect to a specific audience that might view the hashtags. As mentioned by Amirael in our discussion groups, in the podcast for the week “the interviewee talked about how hashtags can be as a call to action or change..”. Along with making a statement or call for action, hashtags can also connect content creators with brands and other companies who might be looking for creators to help promote their brand! 

Commenting on others posts or discussions gets you participating in online networks. Any comments you make on post can build your PLN by showing that creator support for their content. Participating in online discussions through platforms such as Facebook groups or Twitter, also allow you to connect with other like-minded individuals and also build your PLN by showing that you support that content creator/ what they had posted. 

References: 

Clark, J., & Aufderheide, P. (2011). A New Vision for Public Media. In S. C. Jansen, J. Pooley, & L. Taub-Pervizpour (Eds.), Media and Social Justice (pp. 55–67). New York: Palgrave Macmillan US. Retrieved 23 October 2023 from https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230119796_5