#cmich

[msebastian0831]

Introduction

Hello, my name is MaKenzie Sebastian and I am a fourth year student at Central Michigan University. I am currently working towards my Bachelors degree in Business Communications. I am still unsure of what exactly my future plans are,  but I hope to work somewhere in the project management field. With this blog I hope to further my communication skills by expressing my thoughts in a scholarly outlet; in addition to connecting with my fellow classmates through a new medium. 

A company I believe has a great use of their social platform is “Netflix”. The company knows its audience, and makes sure to target its campaigns to the people they know will receive it the best(Millenials and GenZ). This explains  their frequent memes and niche tweets on their twitter account. These tweets are meant for a group of individuals who enjoy the content then share it among their mutuals, thus providing free advertisement for Netflix as it is continually spread across the internet. This online presence also reaches broad audiences to get them hyped over new movies and shows coming out soon, offering a refreshing form of media to create buzz for upcoming projects. 

[ignitedonuts]

Buttercream flavored donuts??? Um yesss. Available at The Market! #donuts #buttercream #march #michigan #cmich #cmu (at Mount Pleasant, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CL903Njlz1Y/?igshid=fzayb1oouw9i

[ardentambition-blog1]

Building a Community

After reading the assigned chapters on online community building, it seems to me that those strategies are very similar to in-person community building. However, they are just executed in different ways online. 

The definition of a community is, “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.”

The definition of an online community is, “a group of people with common interests who use the Internet (web sites, email, instant messaging, etc) to communicate, work together and pursue their interests over time.”

As we can see, the definitions are incredibly similar; the ends are the same, but the means are different. Because the means are different, there are some specific strategies that can be beneficial when building an online community.

1. Give it some time.

Like any sort of relationship, it can take time to build and develop effectively. Something that many online contributors lack is patience: you need to let your users have a chance to get to know you online, and find those niches that the community has in common. The online community definition includes the words, “pursue...interests over time.” Nothing great is built overnight. 

2. Don’t be afraid to invite.

Many campaigns remain internal, and basically hidden from users that would fit very well into a community. Never be afraid to send out an email, advertise a little bit, and reach your market in an efficient way. Part of building community is the building part, and to do that, you can’t stray away from different methods of recruiting.

3. Decide and Commit.

If you decide to start building a community you need to commit to it. It takes a routine effort to create a community that users can depend on and look forward to checking out. The facilitator needs to use consistent posting strategies, integrating photos and other media to keep users engaged. If you’re going to decide to do it, decide to do it right.

[msebastian0831]

Week 5

Similar to algorithms many of these websites have been storing consumers information for years. Recently there have been multiple data breeches as well as companies selling their visitors information to other countries. Businesses can do their part to keep people safe by further securing the ares where data is stored, in addition to putting stricter security on their websites to avoid hacking and stolen information.

Consumers can keep themselves safe by being cautious of the websites they're visiting. They should also be selective with websites they put their personal information into, since they aren't 100% sure what the information will be used for, and who will have access to said info.

There are benefits to data being stored, since your information can easily be accessed anywhere you need it. Mentioned earlier, an additional benefit is algorithms and personalized ads. This is convenient so you have a personalized online experience with things you enjoy or that they can detect you may be in the market for.

There are many cons and benefits to data gathering. I think it's the responsibilities of the businesses to protect their websites and consumers. Then it's the general public's responsibility to be cautious with where they input their information, and what websites they allow to access their private profiles.

[msebastian0831]

Data & Algorithms

These tools are incredibly helpful when it comes to our daily internet usage. Nearly all the apps we’re on include algorithms and store data based on our searches and likes. This is beneficial for things such as ads, since we are given advertisements for things that are relevant to us, rather than anything random they decide to throw at us. It’s also helpful for apps like Tik Tok and Instagram where they use our data to determine what kind of posts they should broadcast on our timelines. This leaves all of our social medias to become personalized to our interest and hobbies, furthering just how addicting they are. 

With these benefits, also comes negatives. With all of this collected data and information, websites can hold our entire lives and personal information in their reserves. Such information can be hacked and leaked to anyone and everyone. The information can also be used for identity theft, opening fraudulent accounts, and many other incredibly harmful acts. 

I personally never put my information into sketchy websites, nor do I allow many websites to have access to my accounts when I’m browsing. I also keep spam and security blockers on my computer to fight off people who may be trying to seek any information or attempting to hack my computer. Society overall can implement safer programs that store everyone’s information, that will hopefully be strong enough to fight off any possible breaches. Same with businesses, they should ensure they have the proper equipment installed in their systems to protect employee and client information. 

[ignitedonuts]

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[ignitedonuts]

1st pic: Amazing photo done by a CMU student. 2nd pic: Amazing painting done by a CMU student. We LOVE working with Students! Thank you for being a piece of our journey! It truly makes a wonderful difference! #donuts #students #cmu #cmich #mtpleasant #paintings #art (at Mount Pleasant, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLkUoDkJQP-/?igshid=14185mp2k4ayv

[ignitedonuts]

You always gain by giving love. #donuts #mtpleasant #school #cmu #cmich #students (at Mount Pleasant, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKgyLlalcsh/?igshid=1jig3ose2zqh5