COMM 2311 Introduction to Social Media @comm2311-socialmedia - Tumblr Blog

Final Blog

Before signing up for Introduction of Social media, I thought I had an understanding ok what I thought about social media. Looking back at day one, I can definitely say that this has been an exciting yet a little challenging journey for me. When signing up for introduction of social media I really wasn’t expecting to much of it. But I was in a rule of waking because we went into depth on the ins and outs on how social media works. I also didn’t realize how huge of an impact on how social media plays a huge role in our day to day lives. Whether it’s from changing how we eat, sleep and diet or even how we view ourselves.

This is something that I feel that is important because social media can really take a toll on what is considered normal or acceptable. We don’t realize how this can really affect our mental health and self-esteem. For me personally, I tend to catch myself scrolling on either Instagram or TikTok for hours out my day without even realizing it. This can be an addictive habit to pick up and is more normal than we think.

As a communication major that eventually wants to start a career in sports broadcasting, one of my favorite class facilitations was the group that did sports in media. After seeing the breakdown on how sports play a major role in social media it made me a little more intrigued. As we all know how popular sports are in social media, I learned how it can bring different brand deals, and even different athletes can use their platforms to use their voices to advocate. There’s even different media sports betting platforms that are more common now.

Another assignment that I surprisingly enjoyed was the social etiquette project. The thought of spam posting comments of even spam posting post was terrifying to me. I didn’t even realize how much thought I put into each like, comment and mainly post. But, after actually doing so it wasn’t so bad after all and it definitely gave me all the answers I needed. We have some users online that are reckless and doesn’t think about the outcomes of their comments and we also have users that put a lot of thought and feelings into their comments.

One last assignment that I enjoyed doing and also listening to the “Micro Current Events”. Just hearing about the different events that are happening all around the world was very interesting to listen to.

Health Subject

- [ ] I decided to research the different resources that are available for mental health. Some resources that are available for such includes therapy whether it’s virtual or in person, medication or even both sometimes depending on how bad. Your primary care provider can offer you a mental health screening to pinpoint the problem or they can even refer you to a mental health professional specialist. Some other sources like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are offered by federal agencies to help identify the mental health issues. For students, through your schools you may have access to different mental health services support through the schools health center. Some resources that are missing is the lack of enough trained professionals such as therapists and psychiatrists, accessible care and also integration into primary care. After doing some research, I’ve found that most states in the U.S. have fewer than 40% of the mental health professionals needed. Some social media platforms do offer helpful resources like support groups and also help access resources. While also carries a risk like social comparison that we all seem to do and harmful content exposure that can lead to excessive increased depression and anxiety.

Media Crisis

- [ ] The crisis that I’ve decided to do some research over was the Dominos crisis. On April 13, 2009 at a Dominos in Conover, North Carolina two Dominos employees posted a YouTube video of themselves contaminating food, sparking massive backlash. The employee Michael Setzer, contaminated the food ingredients with his nostrils and buttocks. Another employee named Kristy Hammonds proceeds to still go out and deliver those contaminated food items to customers. The blog from Consumerist was the first to post about the disturbing video a few days later after. Less than a week after the video uploaded, more than a million viewers seen it and the international press got those employees fired. The two employees were also charged with a felony for food contamination. This incident negatively affected the consumer reputation of the Domino's brand. Days later, Dominos president Patrick Doyle posted apologies online. The employees eventually faced shorter prison sentences. Overall, this shows how quickly social media can either grow your company or completely tarnish it.

History of TikTok

- [ ] The social platform that I chose to do research on is TikTok. TikTok is owned by its parent company “ByteDanceLtd” which is a Chinese-global tech firm. The founder of TikTok is Zhang Yiming and sixty percent of the company is held by global investors that are Carlyle and General Atlantic. This is all with no government control. TikTok’s content moderation has a self-censorship meaning that you can control what you can and cannot see on your for you page. You pretty much can build your own algorithm and to what you enjoy watching. Some disproportionate censorship for topics like gender, sexuality, race, and mental health, forcing coded language causes users from marginalized communities to report it. From the reporters standpoint, they suggest that views on sensitive topics might promote less critical views on our algorithms. Overall, TikTok does have community guidelines but there isn’t any specific phrases or words that are banned from the platform.

Pre-web Technology

Pre-Internet dating was very different years ago. Before the internet, if you had an interest in dating someone there wasn’t options to reach out online, you either had to write a love note or you literally had to wait to see that special someone in person to make your move. Now it’s much more convenient for a lot of people to just shoot a DM or even reach out through different dating apps. Online dating app platforms are more common than I realized. Especially Tinder, I’ve even met people who had met their wife or husband through a dating platform like so. Me personally, I would’ve never thought that dating platforms would be a big deal like it is today, but it definitely is. These different online dating apps have changed the dating game forever. Another pre-web technology that has changed the world is mobile gaming. Before mobile phones were released, who would’ve thought that gaming on them would be a thing. Different games such as Poker, Monopoly, Uno, Monopoly, Roblox and etc. , has been mobilized and has changed the gaming industry forever. I remember as a kid having to get to different arcades just to play games. Now there’s Play stations where you can play unlimited gaming and there’s mobile games that you can play online.

Online Community

One online site/community that I’ve joined is Ryan Maher’s Prayer Channel. This prayer channel is hosted on Instagram. Basically, Ryan created a “channel” on Instagram that’s really just a really huge group chat an he sends daily prayers for the day every single day in the morning. This is a channel that is open for anyone who is interested in joining. One reason on why I absolutely love this channel is because it helps me set the tone for my day. Having a prayers sent to you each and every morning really does help me get through the day with positivity and faith that everything is going to work out. Not only is this a channel/group for prayer of Jesus Christ, but its also is huge community with hundreds of thousands of people that are in it. Ryan also goes live every once in a while to speak the word of Jesus Christ or even just to spread some positivity and love. I’ve been apart of this community for going on 4 years now and I’m forever thankful for something like this because it tacky does help me keep faith when I’m feeling down or feeling like nothing is going right for me.

How do we surveil each other?

Other than the Facebook, other platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat and even TikTok are platforms that we tend to surveil each other on. We don’t even realize that we’re being watched and surveilled everyday all day by the government. Online tracking is probably the number one way forms of tracking us. Just think about it, on Snapchat people we have added as friends and whoever is over the platform has access to our whereabouts. Instagram has an option when you make a post you can pin your location and post it. Even TikTok, when you search a city that you’re in or near, you will start to see that specific location on your algorithm and for you page. Over time I feel like our privacy is being taken away from us. I honestly don’t see the point in having an option where the platforms to have access to our locations other than to be able to track our every move and keep tabs on us. This is really only beneficial for them and the government in my opinion.

What is social media?

I define social media as an online platform where people can communicate, promote their businesses, and share their different types of life content and milestones. In my opinion, I do consider YouTube as a social platform. In today’s society, YouTube is one of the most used platforms when it comes to sharing and posting consistent content. Over the years I’ve seen how much YouTube has grown over time and I definitely feel like it’s top three social media platforms especially for content creators. Another platform that I feel should be considered as social media is Pinterest. Pinterest has been an underground platform for years. I’ve been using this platform for as long as I’ve been using Instagram, TikTok and etc. I consider Pinterest social because it is a platform where users can save "Pins" (images or videos) to themed "boards" to organize their ideas, and the platform is also used for shopping, learning new skills, and for businesses to market their products. This is just as common as Instagram. On social media, excluding certain media sources ultimately influences how we perceive truth, community, and even our own views on politics and society.

Who really runs TikTok?

I looked up TikTok, and it’s owned by ByteDance, a company based in China. Because of that, the app has a reputation for being a little picky about what gets shown, especially around politics or “sensitive” topics. So yeah, the ownership definitely influences the vibe and what people feel okay posting.

TikTok does censor things like hate speech and dangerous stuff, but sometimes it also takes down harmless content for no clear reason. And honestly, there’s some junk they don’t censor — like scams or misinformation — that probably should get filtered more.

Another thing is that the algorithm is super powerful, so even without direct censorship, it can quietly boost or bury whatever it wants. That means the company can shape the whole mood of the app just by deciding what gets pushed onto everyone’s For You Page. So even if users technically “can” post something, it doesn’t always mean people will ever see it.

Redefining Platforms: understanding why Discord doesn't fit the social media model

There are so many apps that have categories. We have social media, games, entertainment, shopping, etc. There are many apps that get confused as to what category it can go to. For example, discord. I believe there are people that call it social media because you connect with others but personally, that’s a statement I would disagree with.

Discord is an app where you connect with people all around the world. Comparing Discord to our beloved Instagram, they have things in common but of course there differences. On Instagram, you can talk to others, post yourself, find inspiration and learn about what is going on around you or in another continent. Discord, you can communicate yes, but you can’t post yourself or whatever you would want to. It is built for communication, collaboration, and to create community, whereas Instagram is built for content sharing and designed to showcase identity, lifestyle, and aesthetics. While Instagram is mostly public based, with discord, it is more so private servers/chat rooms. A main thing we have to consider is that in discord, there is no such thing as algorithms being pushed, no likes, no trends where on Instagram, its all its about!

After all these points being shown, I believe that if you believe discord is considered social media, you now believe otherwise.

Week 10: FaZe Clan as a sports organization

For this post I went with an unorthodox choice of sports team, an esports organization: FaZe Clan is a unique choice because they started out with an online presence long before they ever became a “real” franchise. Their social media strategy currently leans heavily on lifestyle branding and hype-building to curate an image that feels more like a culture collective rather than a traditional team. Through collaborative videos with content creators, online personalities, and cross-platform engagement, their strategy is effective at blurring the line between athlete and influencer. Their esports players aren’t just professional competitors, they’re content creators whose individual accounts constantly reinforce FaZe’s main feed. Synchronized announcements, coordinated merchandise pushes, and shared highlight reels all help keep the brand consistent across their multiple creators/members.

This variety in personalities across the team while being its biggest strength is also its biggest risk. Because FaZe relies so heavily on individuals to promote their organization as a whole, one controversial tweet or livestream fail from a member can immediately spill over onto the organization’s reputation. Unlike traditional sports teams where the franchise’s legacy outweighs any single player, FaZe’s brand has always been directly tied to whoever is wearing the tag at the moment. Their emphasis on authenticity and constant posting online means there’s little in between the brand and its fans.

Final Blog Post

Before taking this class I mainly thought of social media as entertainment and nothing else. I didn’t look too much into it and never thought about it too deep. I just saw it as a way to communicate and have fun. Now I see social media as a powerful communication medium shaped by algorithms, marketing, identity-building, and intentional messaging. I am more aware of how social platforms influence behavior, create digital communities, and share information to the public.

One of the most significant takeaways I took was the true significance of thoughtful social media communication and usage. Even though posts appear simple, a lot of work goes into them, including what is ur targeted audience, tone, timing, design, hashtags, and graphic designs. Every little detail effects the message and reason for the post, and if not done correctly it can hurt your image. Effective online communication requires preparation and a strong grasp of the target audience. This caused me to focus more on the engagement tactics used by the brands and creators I follow.

Another important takeaway was learning more about algorithms and how they work. I knew platforms used algorithms, and had experience with my for you pages on my platforms, but I had no idea how much control they have over what we view or how long we spend online. Learning about data collecting, personalization, and how applications favor content made me more aware of my scrolling patterns. I now recognize that it reflects the platform's purpose and what the algorithm believes will keep me interested so I stay longer on the app. This has impacted the way I use social media because I now consider why I am seeing specific information, and notice how when I look something up I will then get bombarded with content about that same topic.

I also reflected on identity and how much social media can affect our wellbeing. Mental health and body image are a big part of this. I became more aware of the expectations to be flawless due to the posts we see on social media, and how they impact self-esteem especially in teens. This made me more deliberate in my own posts. Instead of attempting to keep up with trends or posting for attention, I focus on what I want to say and how it represents me.

I also learned how much if an impact social media can have in businesses, especially small family owned ones. Studying branding, analytics, PR, and marketing strategies showed me the importance of social platforms in today's business landscape. Small businesses are able to share and expand their brand to thousands of people, without having to spend a huge amount of money in marketing. This makes it so easy and simple for anyone to start a business.

Overall, this class helped me become a more aware and responsible social media user. I now have a better understanding of content strategy, the algorithm, and how social media affects communication. In addition to helping me develop as a student, this course helped me become a more confident and smart social media user.

Final Blog Post

I will start off by saying, this class was not what I expected. It was better. Registering for this class, I though that I would be learning about data when it comes to social media like the ways to reach more audiences and to check and figure out how to work with that. For example, when you look at Instagram, in you have your account public and personal, your able to look at “Insights”. In that, you are able to look at the activity across your page, posts, and any interaction you’re getting. I thought we would be talking about analytics within apps. But thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

Starting off the class, I knew I would have a familiar face. It made me feel better coming into the class. But I kept an open mind. I was very hopeful because it was a comm class, and usually from what I’ve heard and experienced, the students tend to get close for the fact being that they make us talk to others. Its literally in the name… communications. But anyways, everything I learned in this class was so unexpected but so entertaining. After almost each lesson, or even during, I would be so amazed and would have never thought these topics were real because of how much of a small imagination I had about these things. I always took things as they were and dint think too deep into them. But after each class, each topic, each slide, another layer was peeled back, revealing something new.

One of my personal favorite class activities we had is the presentations we would do. I feel like after each presentation we’ve had, I learned something new to get better at for the next one. I went from being unorganized in my presentation and “winging it” to going to the speaking center, having a dialogue set for each member, and knowing how to transition to the next member. I have personally grown so much into an organized person, being more accountable and taking time serious by planning ahead.

One thing I found interested from a topic we touched was about deepfakes. I never knew about what that was until we talked about it in class. I would hear the word a couple of times in some videos but never payed attention so I never understood it or even cared to understand it. It is crazy how intelligent artificial intelligence has gotten as well as improved that there are videos now where we can’t even tell if it’s a deep fake anymore. Back then it was easy since it was still new and it would have its glitches but now its gotten so much more advanced that we cant tell what’s real and what isn’t.

This class reminded me why I love being a communications student. The professors (from my experience) are amazing, can be energetic as well as fun with their assignments. I love meeting new people and communication classes help me do just that and help me be more confident in myself. I will take what I learned into my personal life with social media but will also use the skills I gained.

Week 9: Bluesky

For this entry I decided to look into the twitter alternative created shortly after Elon Musk’s acquisition and rebranding into X: Bluesky was originally started as a project inside twitter by the ex-CEO Jack Dorsey, but has since become its own independent company, Bluesky Social, now led by CEO Jay Graber. It does not have a parent company and is owned by “Jay Graber and the Bluesky team” entirely. It’s built on something called the “AT Protocol” which is setup as a decentralized protocol to give users more control over their data, feed, and moderation preferences. Because the site isn’t owned by a big tech corporation, the vibe feels looser and more community drive, which definitely shapes how people communicate with each other on there. There is definitely moderation and censorship, things like automated filter, manual actions, and community labels. Users can define or subscribe to specific label sets for content or accounts, essentially giving more agency over what they see or avoid compared to other alternatives. While I do think Bluesky’s strategy towards content moderation and overall community-enforced take on social media, I can’t get around to using it personally due to it’s niche yet growing status as a major media outlet.

Final Blog Post

My expectations on the first day of class were that I would learn about what social media is and how people use it. I did learn about those, but also learned about why people use it and the variety of ways that they do so. It was interesting hearing other people’s perspectives during discussions, and hearing the differences between their thoughts and mine.

I don’t actually post anything on social media myself, and I don’t text very often either. So, I thought it was interesting to hear about everyone else’s experiences on social media platforms and how or why they use them. I was surprised to hear about how often people use social media to message their friends, and how big of a role posting things plays in their lives. I was also surprised by how much people cared about how they presented themselves there, and how much they looked at their friends’ posts as well.

I enjoyed learning about the benefits of social media, since that is a more positive subject with a lot of material to it. I think my favorite part of that topic was how normal people generate content on social media. Anyone is free to post about whatever they’d like on social media, whether those posts are well-intentioned or not. Also, users indirectly become marketing for any product they post about, so they act as both advertisement and consumer. It was also interesting to hear about how social media has become such an important source of information. Information is easy to gather on these platforms, though not entirely reliable. It is a popular source though, because of the ease of access and easily accessible large sample sizes.

I also enjoyed our assignment on social-cultural issues on social media. There were so many potential options on what to look into, and I liked seeing what everyone else chose as their topic. I thought it was fun to study too, since our group got to choose our own subject to learn about.

I kind of struggled with the netiquette presentation though, since I didn’t really want to break any social media rules. As I already mentioned, I already don’t post on social media, so I really didn’t want to make any weird posts and anything related to messaging friends wasn’t an option for me. I ended up choosing something simple and easy for me to do though, so it worked out in the end. I didn’t exactly enjoy that, though.

Overall, I think I gained a better understanding of how the average person views social media, and how or why they use it the way they do. It’s an important part of daily life, and people use it to connect with others, share parts of their lives, pass the time, or to learn more about current events. I think that I learned more about social media through this class than I originally thought I might, and it gave me a better idea of how people interact online every day.

Final Blog Post

Prior to starting this class, I thought I had already understood social media pretty well. I use it every day, I scroll without thinking, I keep up with trends (or at least try to), and I communicate with friends online more than I do in person due to us all being in different places in our lives. But as the class went on, I realized how much I had been looking at social media only on the surface level. This class has pushed me to slow down and actually analyze what I was seeing, how I was communicating, how I was consuming and how social media was shaping not only my habits but also my identity and the way that I interact with others. Learning about social media became one of the most personal and eye opening experiences of the semester.

One of the biggest lessons I learned was how much social media influences the way I present myself. I never realized how much pressure I felt to seem “put together” online until we discussed curated identities, performances, and the concept of the digital self. It made me reflect on my own posts and interactions and how I sometimes feel the need to hide certain things or only show the positive moments that society has deemed “instagram-able”. This has helped me understand that a lot of us feel this way, and that social media often encourages people to compare themselves to images that aren’t even fully realistic and with that awareness alone changed the way I approach posting and even the way I scroll.

Another important insight I gained was realizing how easily miscommunication can happen online. Without tone, facial expressions, or body language, people fill in the blanks using their own emotions. I noticed how this has happened in my own life; in group chats, on Instagram stories, or even through simple text messages. Through this course, I learned how important it is to be intentional with digital communication. Now, before responding quickly, I take a moment to think about how my message might be interpreted. That small habit has already helped prevent confusion and conflict.

This class also made me reflect on the role social media plays in my relationships. It’s so easy to think that liking posts or reacting to someone’s story counts as staying connected, but those interactions don’t always build real connections. Learning about the differences between online and in-person communication helped me recognize when I’m relying too much on digital interaction instead of having deeper, more meaningful conversations. I’m now more aware of when I need to step back from my phone and engage with people face to face.

Academically, this course strengthened my ability to analyze the messages I see online. I’ve become more aware of how influencers, brands, celebrities, and even regular users shape narratives through the content they create. This helps me think critically in my other classes, especially when studying trends, media, or public communication. Professionally, these skills will definitely matter because social media is connected to almost every field now. Knowing how to communicate thoughtfully and responsibly online will help me in any career I pursue.

Through all of this, I gained a clearer sense of my strengths and weaknesses as a communicator. One strength is my ability to connect with people authentically. I communicate in a real, relatable way. But one weakness is that I sometimes feel pressured to keep up with social media norms. My plan is to keep practicing intentional communication and to remind myself that authenticity always matters more than perfection. Overall, this class changed the way I look at social media and the way I look at myself online. I’m leaving with more awareness, and a deeperrelationship with my digital identity.

Intro to Social Media…..

Final Reflection

In today's digital age, social media has become an integral part of daily existence, serving as a virtual extension of our identities. Platforms like Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn allow us to share thoughts, experiences, and images with the world instantaneously. From exploring social media's dynamics is that every post we make carries significant weight. What we share online doesn't just vanish into the ether it can profoundly influence our personal lives, shape our career trajectories, and even alter how we perceive things.

The content we post on social media can have far reaching effects on our personal lives. In an era where information spreads rapidly, a single ill considered photo or comment can lead to unintended consequences. Sharing details about personal relationships or family matters might seem harmless in the moment, but it can invite scrutiny from acquaintances, strangers, or even potential adversaries. Privacy breaches are common, where old posts resurface during conflicts or life transitions, straining friendships or romantic partnerships. The permanence of digital footprints means that what we post today could affect future opportunities in unexpected ways, such as during background checks for housing or insurance.

This ripple effect extends to mental health constant exposure to curated lives of others can foster feelings of inadequacy, but our own posts contribute to this cycle. By posting idealized versions of our lives, we inadvertently set unrealistic standards for ourselves and others, potentially leading to isolation or anxiety when reality doesn't match the online facade. Recognizing this, I've come to appreciate how mindful posting can preserve personal boundaries and foster genuine connections offline.

Social media posts play a pivotal role in influencing career choices and professional paths. Employers increasingly scour online profiles to gauge candidates character and compatibility. A post that reveals controversial opinions, unprofessional behavior, or even casual partying can deter job offers, as companies prioritize reputations that align with their values. In fields like marketing or tech, a strong online presence can open doors, but a negative one can close them permanently.

LinkedIn, in particular, blurs the line between personal and professional, where endorsements and shared content directly impact networking. What we post can also steer our career aspirations seeing success stories online might inspire us to pursue certain industries, but it can also create pressure to conform to trends rather than following authentic interests. Posts showcasing portfolios can attract collaborations, yet inconsistent or offensive content might alienate potential mentors. This awareness has highlighted the importance of curating a professional digital persona that reflects ambition and integrity, ultimately guiding more informed decisions about education, internships, and job applications.

Perhaps most introspectively, social media posts shape how we view ourselves, often in subtle yet powerful ways. The act of posting involves self presentation, where we select filters, captions, and angles to project an image. This can lead to a distorted self image, as we internalize likes and comments as measures of worth. Positive feedback boosts confidence, but criticism or low engagement can erode self esteem, fostering a dependency on external validation. Comparison is rampant scrolling through feeds filled with achievements can make our own lives seem lackluster, prompting us to post more aggressively to keep up.

This cycle influences identity formation, especially among young adults, where online personas might overshadow real self discovery. Posts about body image, can perpetuate harmful standards, affecting mental well being and leading to issues like body dysmorphia. Intentional posting such as sharing vulnerabilities or growth stories can promote self acceptance and resilience. This has encouraged a more balanced approach, where social media serves as a tool for self expression rather than a mirror defining my value.

It's clear that social media's influence extends far beyond entertainment. Our posts are not isolated actions they weave into the fabric of our lives, careers, and inner worlds. By being deliberate about what we share, we can mitigate risks and harness the positive potential of these platforms. This knowledge empowers us to navigate the digital landscape with greater awareness, ensuring that our online presence enhances rather than hinders our journeys.

#socialmedia #end of semester

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COMM 2311 Introduction to Social Media