My Experience with LinkedIn: LJ 10 (Final)

I have been familiar with LinkedIn for a little over a year now. I don’t scroll through my feed on it very often, but I utilize its other features. I often search and apply for jobs on the platform. It is great about keeping me up to date on job openings. I also use it to expand my network; I can connect with professionals in my desired field of work, ask them questions, and inquire about potential opportunities. It’s also a great place to acquire new skills. They offer many different courses. It is a very useful social media platform, in my opinion. A good LinkedIn profile will attract employers to you, give you credibility, and showcase your strengths.

Though I already had an account created, the final project pushed me to clean up my account. I reworded some of the descriptions in the “Experience” and “Skills” sections. Additionally, prior to this project I had never joined a group on LinkedIn. I joined two marketing groups and two public relations groups. I am excited to see what I get out of joining these groups. Whether it be job opportunities, tips to succeed in the industry, or even just a few new connections, I’m interested to see where it takes me.

I would not say my experiences with social media changed much throughout the semester, but I do think I have become more aware of what my social media presence entails. The material in this course has taught me so much about social media and its behind-the-scenes. I have learned more about how algorithms shape our experiences, how detailed analytics platforms can be, how businesses are investing efforts toward social media innovation and development, our lack of privacy, how social media facilitates the spread of misinformation, how it has changed the entertainment industry, how it is changing the landscape of commerce, and so much more. 

In addition to learning deeply about the different aspects of social media, this course has made me critically think about my relationship with it. I have become more aware of just how reliant I am on social media and how integrated it is in my life. At the beginning of this course, I wrote about how I wanted to use social media less, and I think becoming self-aware will help me do so.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/neeharika-pothamsetty-27070419b/

Ecosystem and eWOM: LJ 9

Most people I know, myself included, heavily rely on EWOM in everyday life. For example, if my family and I want to try a new restaurant, we immediately do research on Google and Yelp. If my friends and I want to try out a new entertainment activity (i.e. bowling or mini-golf), we will do the same. If I want to buy new workout gear, I will look for recommendations on TikTok. If I want to watch a movie, I will look through suggestions on social media. I rarely try or buy anything new without referring to social media first. Considering how important it is, “any company engaging in social media marketing, both large and small, should first conceptualize and develop its own version of the social media ecosystem” (Hanna et al. 2011).

The increased use of EWOM makes sense because consumers trust other consumers; “research has shown that eWOM may have higher credibility, empathy and relevance to customers than marketer created sources of information on the Web” (Gruen et al. 2006). It is a natural and understandable tendency to be cautious about the information advertisements give you about a product. They want you to buy the product, so they obviously would not say anything bad about it. It is for this reason that influencer marketing is gaining in popularity. If companies get social media stars (seemingly “normal” people) to positively review their products, it would help increase sales. 

Though I do not follow or engage with many influencers or social media stars, I have been influenced by their content before. I have bought something because of a viral trend or video on TikTok on more occasions than I would like to admit. I do not get influenced much by celebrities because some part of me does not view them as a “common” or “normal” person. I would say I get the most influenced by my friends’ and family’s opinions. They are the “realest” to me, therefore the most trustworthy.

EWOM is vital to a company’s success, and “the combination of both traditional and social mediums allows companies to develop integrated communication strategies to reach consumers on a myriad of platforms, enabling a wide sphere of influence” (Hanna et al. 2011). Properly combining old and new marketing techniques is the key to prosperity.

Gruen, Osmonbekov, T., & Czaplewski, A. J. (2006). eWOM: The impact of customer-to-customer online know-how exchange on customer value and loyalty. Journal of Business Research, 59(4), 449–456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2005.10.004

Hanna, R., Rohm, A., & Crittenden, V. L. (2011, February 16). We're all connected: The power of the social media ecosystem. Business Horizons. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0007681311000243 

Social Media and The Entertainment Industry: LJ 8

I rarely use broadcast media anymore. I don’t have a need for it–I read news from online, use the weather app for weather, watch television and movies on Netflix and Hulu, and watch sports on Hulu or at a sports bar. I never had a huge interest in watching broadcasted events (such as the Oscars or Grammys), and I end up seeing the highlights on social media anyways. It was interesting to learn that even though the most recent Oscars had the most social media interactions in history, the TV viewership was actually less than before (Bauder 2022).

Social media is essentially the only connection I have to broadcast media. Anything I learn about programs on television is through Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter. The most interaction I have with broadcast media through social media is engaging with posts about broadcast media programs if they come across my feed. The one exception, however, was back in 2019 when Game of Thrones season 8 came out. I was very active on social media as each episode was released, as was a large chunk of the population.

I do not interact with many social media stars or influencers. Some content has come across my feed, but I never seek it out. Most people in my direct circle are the same way, so I do not communicate with others about social media stars or influencers. I would not consider myself an influencer, nor do I want to be one. I do, however, think I will need to work with them in the future. I want to work in Marketing, and the popularity and usage of Influencer Marketing are rapidly increasing. 

The readings did not change my feelings, beliefs, or ideas about social media stars and influencers. However, some interesting points were made. I have pondered the new era of celebrities, and it is interesting to see that fame is gained through different channels than in the past. Social media has drastically changed the way celebrities are made, and many of these social media stars become even more famous by promoting products, getting brand deals, and influencing people to make purchases. Even the rise to success of musicians is changing: “Before the digital area, an artist had to release a single album each year. Next, they had to tour the world to promote it. This required a lot of money and time. Today, this top singer creates the album and promotes it on Spotify, Instagram, and YouTube to monetize its creative work” (Muriuki 2022).

The changing landscape of entertainment due to social media is a fascinating topic. I enjoyed reading about it and thinking about my relationship with it all.

Bauder, D. (2022, March 29). Social media explodes during Oscars; TV viewership doesn't. AP NEWS. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-oscars-will-smith-chris-rock-entertainment-dff89903b59e66c4dde57a31116b3ba3 

Muriuki, P. (2022, February 2). How is digital media affecting the entertainment industry? Startup Info. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://startup.info/how-is-digital-media-affecting-the-entertainment-industry/ 

Hands-On Assignment 4

After watching SXSW’s video “Maria Ressa & Peter Pomerantsev on the Battle for Truth” I decided to do this assignment on social media’s effects on politics. I thought this topic fit well with information we learned in past weeks, specifically social media propaganda and social media’s role in the spread of misinformation. Additionally, I personally struggled with my political identity in terms of social media– I unintentionally let it shape the way I think.

Social Media in the Work Environment: LJ 7

With the rise of social media came explosive growth in the world of marketing and advertising. The reach and impact that social media now has with recently developed technologies have become unfathomable. Social media is now arguably the most beneficial and influential marketing channel. Every company’s target audience is likely on social media, so it is vital for these companies to utilize these platforms and make the most out of consumers’ habits.

If done correctly, the reach is huge, and the cost is low relative to other channels: “You can grow as a page on social media networks by simply being consistent and posting interesting and relatable content for your audience” (Henderson 2020). By putting in work towards optimizing SEO and creating meaningful and engaging content, companies can grow their audience and increase visits to their social media profiles (therefore eventually their website) in a cost-effective, low-budget way. 

In addition to its measurable benefits, social media is great for building company-customer relationships. Companies are given the opportunity to tell their story and create a community. It gives existing and potential customers a place to have real, reliable conversations about a product. This provides companies with earned exposure, which is “when customers relay their positive experiences to others via social media sites for reviews and ratings…early research found that three-fourths of comments to retailer sites were positive” (Lipschultz 2020). 

Using proper analytics platforms, social media also allows you to target your desired audience, track their behavior, learn their buying patterns, and build custom audiences for different campaigns (Henderson 2020). Obtaining customer data is easier now more than ever. For example, a company can see which customers were interested in what content, who clicked which call-to-action, who ended up purchasing, what your different customers are interested in, and so much more. As stated before, the possibilities are truly endless. 

As an aspiring professional in marketing or advertising, I feel as though my relationship with social media can make or break my career. Staying on top of the latest trends, learning how to use different social media and social media analytics platforms, and keeping myself updated on ever-developing technologies will all prove to help my career greatly. However, if I do the opposite and lose touch with my knowledge of social media, I will soon become expendable and unnecessary to whichever organization I end up working for. Additionally, my personal social media presence is important in my career journey. My profiles need to be appropriate and relatively professional. My social media pages are the first things any employer will see, therefore they need to reflect positively on me.

Henderson, G. (2020, July 2). The importance of social media marketing. The Importance Of Social Media Marketing. Retrieved May 3, 2022, from https://www.digitalmarketing.org/blog/the-importance-of-social-media-marketing 

Lipschultz, J. H. (2020). Social Media Communication (3rd ed.). Routledge.

Social Media Lies: LJ 6

The first part of this week’s readings taught me a lot about social media regulations, laws, and ethics. It discussed internet and social media laws present in the United States, as well as in other countries such as China and the U.K. It was interesting to think about the presence of different social media platforms in different countries, and how laws and regulations affect user activity based on geography. This discussion is all the more relevant in recent years, as social media’s capabilities are rapidly advancing: “concern over illegal online behavior in cyberspace is nothing new, but the openness of social media publishing generates many more cases and concerns” (Lipschultz 2020).

In addition to the laws, the ethics behind the ever-changing and developing social media landscape was discussed. Ideas about what is or isn’t allowed and what should or should not be allowed were presented. I enjoyed learning about the ways lawmakers, governments, and social media conglomerates companies such as Facebook and Twitter navigated the rapid technological advancement in terms of laws and ethics. I thought this material was very insightful and interesting. We are all active on social media, so knowing and understanding its laws and considering the ethics behind them is important. 

Reading this material also reinforced some privacy concerns that have always been in the back of my mind. Facebook specifically has been in the news about some data or privacy scandals more than it should have been. “Facebook, or Meta, doesn’t hold a credible stance for data privacy. So, what’s troubling for the existing (and future) Meta users is how the company aims to protect their privacy” (Hashim 2022). Though I am not very active on Facebook, I am active on WhatsApp and Instagram, so the numerous privacy breaches are concerning.

Even with privacy concerns in mind, I never took the time to go out of my way to learn how to be safer online. Nothing bad in terms of cybersecurity has ever happened to me, so I always had a lax mentality toward the subject. However, I am aware that this wasn’t the smartest way of thinking and acting. I am glad the readings not only made internet security a higher priority in my mind, but they also taught me tips on how to have a safer online presence. The National Security Alliance shared how you should “learn about and use the privacy and security settings on social networks…Protect your reputation on social networks…Be cautious about how much personal information you provide on social networking sites…Use tools to manage the information you share with friends in different groups or even have multiple online pages… Keep security software current” and more suggestions (“Social Media” 2022).

The second part of this week’s readings heavily considered the state of lies, misinformation, and propaganda in relation to social media. Throughout history, there has been an issue with unethical media practice of spreading inaccurate information for personal, organizational, or political gain. Unfortunately, the rise of social media has severely enabled this practice. In fact, according to an MIT study, “false rumors spread faster and wider than true information… falsehoods are 70% more likely to be retweeted on Twitter than the truth, and reach their first 1,500 people six times faster” (Brown 2020). It is worryingly easy to spread conspiracy theories and false information, especially since rumors are more likely to elicit a reaction from the reader because it is likely novel and unusual.

Misinformation is additionally more likely to be spread when it is about politics: “A study of Twitter users that rated their political leanings found that both liberals and conservatives end up sharing information from sites that repeatedly post news of low credibility” (Menczer and Hills 2020). Because rumors often go viral, they are often the more accessible pieces of “news,” and they end up being what people believe, discuss, and pay attention to. This unfortunately feeds into the already intense political polarization that exists in our country.

The amount of Americans that get their news online is on a rapid rise– it has actually doubled since 2013 (Stecula and Pickup 2021). I am included in this population. It is the easiest, most convenient way to learn about current events. We are already online and present on social media, so it easily fits into our routines without extra steps or effort. I have always been aware of the rapid spread of misinformation, the exposure to conspiracy theories, echo chambers, confirmation bias, politicians’ manipulative roles and intentions in all of this, and many related topics, and this week’s readings reinforced my knowledge and concerns on the topics. I always fact-check what I read, and take any “breaking” headline with a grain of salt. I have strong political beliefs, but I try not to only read what supports my beliefs or get swayed too easily by information I learn online. It is certainly difficult because my algorithm knows what I believe, but I will always try and maintain neutral in the ways I obtain news.

Brown, S. (2020, October 5). MIT Sloan Research about social media, misinformation, and elections. MIT Sloan. Retrieved May 3, 2022, from https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/mit-sloan-research-about-social-media-misinformation-and-elections 

Hashim, A. (2022, February 16). Will 'meta' resolve data and privacy issues with 'facebook'? PrivacySavvy. Retrieved May 3, 2022, from https://privacysavvy.com/security/social/will-meta-resolve-facebook-data-privacy-issues/ 

Lipschultz, J. H. (2020). Social Media Communication (3rd ed.). Routledge.

Menczer, F., & Hills, T. (2020, December 1). Information overload helps fake news spread, and social media knows it. Scientific American. Retrieved May 3, 2022, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/information-overload-helps-fake-news-spread-and-social-media-knows-it/ 

Social Media. Stay Safe Online. (2021, June 30). Retrieved May 3, 2022, from https://staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online/securing-key-accounts-devices/social-media/ 

Stecula, D. A., & Pickup, M. (1AD, January 1). Social Media, cognitive reflection, and conspiracy beliefs. Frontiers. Retrieved May 3, 2022, from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpos.2021.647957/full 

My Experience with Flickr: LJ 5

With social media usage rapidly increasing and smartphone camera quality constantly improving, it has “never been easier or, quite frankly, more fun to take photos” (Phungglan, 2021). It is now common to have tens of thousands of photos on your camera roll. Along with capturing and storing the photos, sharing them with family, friends, and the public has also become popularized. This fittingly led to a surge in demand for ways to organize and share a high volume of photos, and photo-sharing channels have thus become increasingly important. The readings for week 7 discussed photo-sharing platforms, techniques, benefits, and functions.

I thought it was interesting to learn about the various photo-sharing platforms and their different aspects. Sharing photos is something almost everyone does, and knowing the proper ways to do so is important. You may want to share some photos with specific people, keep some photos private and limit their access, or have them shared publicly for anyone to see. Different platforms fulfill different photo sharing needs. Google Photos, Amazon Photos, Dropbox, and iCloud Photos are some of the commonly mentioned private sharing platforms, while Flickr, SmugMug, and PhotoBlog were some of the public and online photo-sharing sites (Phungglan, 2021). 

I normally use iCloud Photos and Google Photos for my photo sharing needs. Additionally, I got the opportunity to familiarize myself with Flickr for this week’s assignment. I have always been aware of the platform and infrequently used it in the past to look at photos, but I had never posted on it myself.  I created an album with photos of my dog and embedded it onto my blog. Flickr was very easy to navigate, and it is a great place to share many photos online at once. You can share any albums or photos with specific people while also having them present on your public page. You can also edit photos within Flickr, share straight to other social media platforms, and like and comment on the platform itself.

I enjoyed using Flickr and think it is a great platform, but I honestly do not see myself being very active on it in the future. My accounts are already integrated with Google Photos and iCloud Photos, and there is no need for me to bring in another platform into my photo-sharing usage. I have no need for a public/online platform because that is what I use social media for. I also do not know of many people who use Flickr, making the likelihood of my frequent usage of it even less. 

Phungglan, J. (2021, September 22). The 20 best photo sharing sites and apps in 2021. Backlight. Retrieved May 3, 2022, from https://backlightblog.com/photo-sharing-websites-apps 

Innovation and Investment: LJ 4

This week’s materials focused on emerging social media trends and technologies and how businesses are investing efforts toward their innovation and development. It was interesting to read about the evolution of social media and how it tied into opportunities for companies. Social media innovation attracts entrepreneurs, forward-thinking minds looking to build startups and/or products, and already established businesses wanting to advance. When looking at the past, “the same open approach to development that was seen during the personal computer and Internet revolution seems present with social and mobile media” (Lipschultz 2020). Evidently, social media innovation has been revolutionary, and its future looks bright.

Social media is taking over the advertising world. TikTok is becoming huge for businesses’ marketing efforts, Instagram and Twitter are predicted to remain as primary platforms for advertising, influencer marketing will increase in importance, smaller networks (such as Pintrest and Snapchat) are increasing in popularity for advertising, and more (Geyser 2021). I think that in the coming year, the aforementioned social media platforms will continue to be on the rise in terms of advertising, number of users, ways to utilize them in business, and overall technological development. These factors have all exponentially increased in the past two decades and will continue to do so.

Along with changing the world as a whole, social media and technological innovation will also affect my life. This is especially true in the professional sense. I want to work in marketing, and staying on top of the latest technological developments in terms of social media and advertising will be of the utmost importance. Regardless of what field of marketing I end up in, I will definitely need to develop competencies in various technical skills such as Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, SocialInsider, SEO, SEM, CRM, and many more. I will need to know how to properly create and implement ads on social media, because “social e-commerce trends will boom in 2022…social ads will develop to help brands offer more personalized services…and learning paid advertisement is critical” (“10 Social Media Trends of 2022,” 2021). It will be necessary for me to take extra time outside of school and/or work to keep up with the latest trends and technologies. This may be challenging, but it will certainly be worth it in the end.

Geyser, W. (2021, December 14). 17 social media trends for 2022 and beyond. Influencer Marketing Hub. Retrieved May 2, 2022, from https://influencermarketinghub.com/social-media-trends/#toc-2 

Lipschultz, J. H. (2020). Social Media Communication (3rd ed.). Routledge.

10 social media trends to know in 2022. Techfunnel. (2021, December 22). Retrieved May 2, 2022, from https://www.techfunnel.com/martech/social-media-trends/ 

Metrics and Analytics: LJ 3

Chapter 6 of Social Media Communication: Concepts, Practices, Data, Law and Ethics dove into the details of social media metrics and analytics. It discussed how marketers utilize social media for their business goals and the overall development of social media as a tool. Though I was aware of the general ideas shared by the chapter, I never really pondered the nitty-gritty details of social media’s behind-the-scenes. After taking the time to learn how much really goes into social media– the exponential growth in users, the numerous analytics measurement platforms, the various tactics, the countless metrics to be observed, and more– I was honestly mind-blown. 

Everyone has a general idea of what social media measures. Location, hobbies, interests, and demographics are just a few examples of traditional data that is constantly measured by analytics tools. However, recorded and measured data has become so much more than we can even imagine. Social media technologies have gotten so advanced in what types of data they can measure. Lipschultz quotes Savage on how “researchers are finding that they can measure public sentiment, follow political activity, even spot earthquakes and flu outbreaks, just by running the chatter through algorithms that search for particular words and pinpoint message origins” (2001). The possibilities for what data social media can measure and utilize are truly endless.

Another interesting, though obvious, point made is that advanced as all of this is, it is all still relatively new. Businesses using social media as a major part of their marketing efforts only became popularized in approximately the last 20 years. New platforms, tactics, integrations, and more are developing every day, and “this will push marketers to develop more complex social media measurement tools and techniques” (Lipschultz 2020). Social media is a powerful tool with endless possibilities, and reading this chapter has peaked my interest in what social media’s future holds. 

I enjoyed learning more about what metrics Facebook, Google, Twitter, and Instagram measure and the intricacies behind their analytics platforms– it definitely gave me insights into my own social media usage. It is strange that the majority of us are fully aware that social media and big companies take our data, use it for themselves, and essentially violate our privacy (even though it may be legal) and that we are all okay with it. We still use the platforms, we still scroll through social media, and we still agree to the terms & conditions without a second thought. Because I was aware of most of what was discussed, I don’t think my usage of the platforms will change.

Lipschultz, J. H. (2020). Social Media Communication (3rd ed.). Routledge.

Assignment 3

Snapchat is very versatile and one of my most used social media apps. This is why I chose to analyze my Snapchat usage for the time diary assignment. Over a four-day period from April 25-28, I recorded the amount of time I spent on the app, took note of when I would typically use it, and observed my behavior on the app and what I would use it for. I spent 2 hours and 27 minutes on the app on Monday, 1 hour and 24 minutes on Tuesday, 2 hours 46 minutes on Wednesday, and 1 hour 37 minutes on Thursday.

I primarily use Snapchat as a casual way to communicate with my friends. We send photos, videos, and messages back and forth throughout the day. I usually talk to the same twenty people on the app every day. It’s an easy way to connect with a lot of people at once. I also often use it to post Snapchat Stories. I like this feature of Snapchat because they get taken down after 24 hours, so it’s easier to be casual about it. Along with posting them myself, I watch other people’s Snapchat Stories to see what they’re up to. Lastly, I often scroll through the “Discover” page– this feature is essentially a feed of content (news, comedy, pop culture, etc.) that is tailored to your interests and updated daily.

Evidently, there is a lot to do on Snapchat– it is very easy to lose track of time on the app. Even with time limits set on the app and notifications turned off, I still use it way more often than I would like to. I noticed that I use it most when I wake up in the morning, before I go to sleep at night, and when I am bored. This could include when I’m waiting in line, trying to pass time before I have to leave or do something, or just simply procrastinating. 

I usually have a lot going on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I don’t have as much time to go on Snapchat and other social media platforms. I spent a significantly higher amount of time on Snapchat on Monday and Wednesday. This makes sense because I usually work less hours on these days, and I don’t have any live classes. These are the days that I use to both relax and to do my schoolwork. When I’m doing my schoolwork and notice myself hitting a wall, I noticed that I always stop what I’m doing and immediately go to Snapchat or some other form of social media. This also happens when I start to get worried about what I’m doing and/or what I have to do. I realized that Snapchat, although fun and beneficial, is definitely a mechanism I use to temporarily distract myself from the stressful parts of life.

I would not say my social media usage depends on the time of the semester. I think it’s steady throughout. My usage on social media is obviously less on days that I have much to do, but I feel as though from the start of the semester to the end there are always days that I am very busy and days that I am not. 

I am glad I had the opportunity to critically think and observe my Snapchat behavior. I am working on using the platform (and all other platforms) less, and recording my usage is definitely a step in the right direction.

Social Media, Data, and Us: LJ 2

On a surface level, I was always aware that algorithms shape our online experience, that we produce impressive amounts of data every day, and that big companies use this data for profit. However, I never really thought about what all of this really means. The We Are Data readings made me think deeper into what goes on behind the scenes of web surfing, social media usage, and my overall online presence.

We have been forced into a system where companies like Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo have all 

taken our privacy rights and can observe and control us, but it was all “voluntary” on our part, so they technically can’t be to blame. We knowingly log onto their servers every day, sign terms & conditions without any thought, and surf the web every day (Cheney-Lippold, 2019). However, saying these actions are “voluntary” is a huge stretch. You can’t check your email (a necessity for most jobs) without logging onto the Google, Microsoft, or Yahoo server, you can’t own an iPhone without agreeing to terms & conditions, and you can’t perform everyday activities without surfing the web (learning new information, connecting with friends, shopping, etc.). We involuntarily voluntarily give away our privacy rights.

Also from the readings, the notion that we mainly exist in this world as what our data says we are is an eye-opening perspective. Our data makes up an algorithmic identity for us– one we have no control over. Google assigns us an identity based on our internet activity, and our experience on the internet is subsequently constructed around it. My activity on Google could resemble that of what Google thinks a man’s internet activity would be, and Google will think I am a man and treat my search results and advertisements as such. “Google’s gender is a gender of profitable convenience. It’s a category for marketing that cares little whether you really are a certain gender, so long as you surf/purchase/act like that gender” (Cheney-Lippold, 2019, p. 7). Our online identities are decided by marketers, governments, and advertisers, are fueled by money and power, and are unconcerned with who we really are.

The idea that we don’t exist in this world as humans, rather as a compilation of data, is an eerie one. Our value to the world is essentially in our data, and our data decides a large portion of our status in the world. Our gender, ethnicity, age, likelihood of criminal activity, terrorist status, and more are essentially decided by algorithms based on the data we produce. We essentially have no say in who we are. The term datafication, or “the transformation of part, if not most, of our lives into computable data,” describes this phenomenon (Cheney-Lippold, 2019).

Datafication can be problematic because it ignores previous discriminatory social and economic structures that were present throughout history. Classifications that algorithms make of people are done so with these problematic systems in mind and can perpetuate stereotypes or cause certain groups of people to be treated unfairly. This can be seen in HP’s facial recognition software which could not detect a black man’s skin; there was an unintentional presumption of whiteness to be the norm in the software, exemplifying structural white privilege (Cheney-Lippold, 2019). Another example can be seen in the Chicago PD’s usage of data to create a “heat map” of people that are at risk of engaging in criminal activity. It is impossible to separate the police department’s history of racist practices from the development of this heat map. Consequently, certain groups are more likely to face the wrath of law enforcement to a more severe degree than others (Cheney-Lippold, 2019).

Even though I learned a lot from these readings, I don’t think my personal or professional use of social media will change. This is the way the world is– big companies know and use my information, my online identity is shaped by my everyday actions, and I have no control over whom the internet thinks I am or assigns me to be. The ethics of this can be debated heavily, and I agree that many aspects of how data is used are unethical. For example, as previously discussed, we have no choice but to give up our privacy rights, and discriminatory practices are perpetuated through the usage of data to define people. However, things will not change any time soon. We heavily rely on technology, and its necessity in society is only rapidly increasing.

Cheney-Lippold, J. (2019). Introduction. In We are data algorithms and the making of our Digital Selves (pp. 3–36). essay, New York University Press. 

Hands-On Assignment 2

On the surface, social media and social networking are simply computer- and internet-based technologies that facilitate creating global connections, sharing ideas and content, and spreading information through virtual communities and networks. However, social media really means much more. It allows users to interact with the world in ways that would have never previously been imagined. People can truthfully tell their individual life experiences and stories, spread awareness about topics they are passionate about, find communities of like-minded people to connect with, easily gain access to a wide variety of information, share their creative thoughts and ideas with the world, and so much more. With access to so many different perspectives and diverse people at the touch of their fingers, social media helps people discover and embrace their true selves.

I use many different social media platforms. My most-used accounts are Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Handshake. I use Instagram to share the highlights of my life and to see what other people that I don’t talk to very often (or at all) are up to. I typically try to make my image on Instagram a mixture of polished & put-together and exciting & fun. Snapchat is where I spontaneously share what is happening in my life in the moment. Less thought goes into what I post on Snapchat because the posts go away after 24 hours. My posts are often funnier, unfiltered, and casual. I also occasionally use Snapchat to make casual conversation with friends or people I don’t talk to very often by replying to their posts. 

Twitter and TikTok are for entertainment purposes only. I scroll through my feed on the apps but rarely post on them. I often look to TikTok for educational purposes as well– typically about current events, fitness, fashion, and nutrition. I use LinkedIn and Handshake to connect with people on a professional level and find potential career opportunities. My image on these two platforms is very professional– my personality is barely reflected on them. I search for jobs, post any job updates, message people that may be helpful in my professional endeavors, and very occasionally scroll through my feed. I also occasionally go through my account and make sure my bio sounds good and my experience, education, volunteering, and skills sections are up to date.

I use all of these platforms every day. I use TikTok and Twitter the most out of all the social media platforms I am active on, for around two hours a day each. I use Instagram and Snapchat for around one hour a day each, and LinkedIn and Handshake for around thirty minutes each. It is interesting that the apps that I don’t post or have a presence on are my most used. Aside from them simply being the most entertaining in my opinion, I believe there may be a deeper reason for this. Almost every time I casually scroll through Instagram, I go to my profile and scroll through my account and posts and usually end up scrutinizing certain things and seeing if there are ways in which I could make my account look better. The same happens with LinkedIn and Handshake but obviously in a more professional sense. I don’t have to worry about these things with Twitter or TikTok, because I barely have a presence myself and I can enjoy my time stress-free.

I have a love/hate relationship with social media. It has undoubtedly added much value to my life. I maintain connections with people I can’t see every day, have access to so much information, see different perspectives about various topics and life in general, learn about cultures and people that are different from what I am exposed to every day, have constant access to entertainment, learn about professional opportunities, market myself to recruiters, and the list goes on. However, some negatives come with my social media usage as well. I have become harder on myself about maintaining a certain image on social media. I recently have begun putting a conscious effort towards not comparing myself to others and not taking myself too seriously; these were always struggles for me. Additionally, I spend too much time on these platforms. I have been trying to figure out a way to limit my time online because I want to be more present in real life.

My Relationship with Social Media: LJ1

I started using social media in sixth grade and have been using it more than I would like to admit ever since. The first platforms I used were Instagram and Twitter, then Facebook, then Snapchat a few years after, then TikTok only a couple of years ago. I still used all these platforms, besides Facebook. 

Most of my social media behaviors have drastically changed since I started to use it, which is to be expected. My Instagram and Twitter behaviors changed the most. When I first started using Instagram, I would post almost any funny posts or memes that I found online. I would rarely post pictures of myself, besides the occasional goofy group selfie or group picture with my friends. All of these were spontaneous, unedited posts. As I grew older and used the app more, I started to post less and think about what I post more. I don’t post nearly as often now, and when I do, there is deliberation behind which pictures I should post and how to edit them. I also typically only post pictures of myself or with one or two friends. On Twitter, I would retweet almost anything I found relatable or entertaining and Tweet random things multiple times a day. Now, similar to Instagram, I don’t Tweet or retweet as often, and  I think more about what I post before I post it.

I would say the biggest change in my social media behavior from when I started to use it is that I am much less spontaneous now. I consider what other people would think about my posts much more now than I did back then. I post less, try and make my posts more aesthetically pleasing and/or funny, and typically always ask my friends before I post anything. I always want my posts to shine a good light on me, so I avoid posting foul language, anything controversial, and anything generally inappropriate. I also avoid posting too much. I want to have fun with social media, so I keep my posts fun and light-hearted. Even though I still enjoy using social media and taking & posting pictures, it is definitely less carefree and slightly more nerve-wracking now. 

I think this change is both for the good and for the bad. As I grow older, I do need to maintain a good presence online. This is important for making new friends, finding a potential roommate, searching for a life partner, and getting a job. Social media is the first step to vetting someone and/or getting to know them. As important as this is, I do feel as though oftentimes I let social media get to my head and take my online image a bit too seriously. There have been too many instances that I liked a picture of myself and wanted to post it, but after staring at it for too long I found a few things wrong with it and decided against it. Other times I would be ready to post something, but then I would decide not to after seeing someone else’s post and comparing myself to them. Posting selfies is a great way to boost self-confidence, but when it comes to social media it is way too easy to compare yourself to others and find things wrong with yourself. Comparing yourself to that “perfect” person on social media is a dangerous game, and it is unfortunately one most of us have probably gone through at one point or another.

I don’t exactly remember when this shift from carefree to overthinker happened. If I could go back and tell myself one thing, it would probably be “take your online self seriously, but not too seriously.” I definitely struggle with separating real life from online now, and I would like to work towards living more in the present. The idea of quitting social media for some time has crossed my mind quite a few times, but I don’t think it’s the right path for me. I genuinely enjoy having an online presence and connecting with my friends and family through various platforms, and I would feel like I am missing out if I quit social media. Social media is also a great form of self-expression. I can share my ideas, what makes me happy, my interests, and what I am passionate about. I can also learn this information about other people, see different perspectives, hear other people’s stories, and educate myself on different topics. Rather than taking one dramatic step and quitting, I just need to work on balancing online and real life.

Welcome to My Blog!

 My name is Neeharika Pothamsetty. I'm from Orlando, Florida, and go to school at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Even though I have been in Florida all my life, I definitely plan to move to the Northeast in the coming years. I am a Health Sciences major with concentrations in Biological Sciences and Information Technology. Post-graduation, I plan to work for a year or two then obtain an M.S. in Marketing and eventually an MBA.

I love to travel. My family and I travel almost every year– we have actually been to all seven continents. My favorite destination was definitely Antarctica. Experiencing and learning about different cultures and ways of life are very important to me. I want to continue to travel throughout the rest of my life. When I can’t travel, I like to spend my time outdoors. I have played tennis since I was young, and I recently started teaching myself how to rollerblade. Hiking is definitely my favorite outdoor hobby, but because of Florida’s unfortunate flatness, I don’t get to do it very often. I also like to run; I ran my first half marathon two summers ago.

I value all of the work experience I have had– they played a big part in shaping who I am today. My first job was in my last two years of high school when I worked as a sales associate at American Eagle Outfitters. After, I did not work until my sophomore year of college when I was a teaching assistant for Introduction to Statistics. The following jobs I held related more to the field I want to work in. In my junior year, I worked as a marketing assistant for Orlando Gastroenterology, a private practice. In the summer before my senior year, I was a digital marketing intern for Valtix, a tech startup.

I use social media often (embarrassingly often). My most used platforms are Twitter and TikTok. I like TikTok because it provides a wide variety of content specific to my interests. I could learn about politics, cooking, fitness, fashion, animals, investing, cars, and cleaning and have a good laugh all within one sitting. My favorite platform, however, is Twitter. Though I feel like it is slowly dying out, I feel as if Twitter provides the most authentic content. It has a good combination of people sharing their experiences related to social issues, provides new ways of thinking, and a lot of humor.

This is my first time creating a blog. I have always wanted to create one, and I’m very happy that school is giving me the push I needed to actually start one. I don’t follow any blogs or use them often, but some that I have used have provided good recipes for cooking. The one issue that could come with blogs is that you don’t know how factually correct some information could be. Overall, however, I like the idea of blogs because typically someone would only make one if they feel as if they have some expertise to share with the world, and blogs enable them to do so.