Instagram

Although we were not able to cover Chapter 5 about Instagram in class, I found the online video engaging. As an avid Instagram user, I found the demographics especially interesting, particularly the fact that there are more male users on the app even though it often feels as if most content is posted by women.

The section about the algorithm was also fascinating. Although the code behind it is complex, it is impressive that the app curates what users see based on their interactions with posts, profiles and types of content. Instagram is my most-used social media platform, yet I have never made a purchase through the app.

I was also interested in the statistics related to Instagram Shop. Some case studies indicated that up to 80% of sales came from in-app purchases, while other companies reported increased engagement through marketing on the platform. Another key takeaway was Instagram’s advertising impact. It is currently the second-most-used social media platform for advertising. Its visual format and high-quality images make it especially appealing for brands looking to promote their products.

Where do you see Instagram compared with Facebook in terms of advertising over the next 10 years?

Weekend at home

Living in the Chicagoland area, I do not often get the chance to go home. This weekend, however, I was able to make the drive. On my way back, I created a list of objectives to accomplish while I was there. When I arrived Friday night, my family greeted me with a home-cooked dinner waiting on the kitchen table. I was grateful they took the time to prepare such a great meal.

On Saturday morning, I woke up early to help with our new puppy, Murphy. He is especially energetic in the mornings and at night. My parents and I kept an eye on him until he took his daily nap. Later, I went to an appointment for the fingerprint scan required for my internship this summer. Afterward, I dropped off my car at the dealership for its 30,000-mile service and oil change. My mom picked me up, and we went to dinner and caught up.

On Sunday, I made breakfast for my parents and watched sports in the morning. I also spent time working on homework before heading back to school. It is always rewarding to go home, and I was grateful to make the most of my time there this weekend.

The Evolution of Facebook

As I was growing up, I used to joke with my parents that Facebook was for older people. After reading Chapter 4 and reflecting on my experience in class, I realize it is not as much of an older-person app as I once thought.

Currently, the most-used social media platforms among my generation are Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube. That said, Facebook is slowly gaining traction with our age group. In class, we looked at an infographic showing people ages 18-24 as the second-largest group of users on the app. The data also showed that about 70% of users earn $70,000 per year. Most college students are not making $70,000 annually, but our demographic uses the app for different reasons.

Marketplace is one feature Facebook has added that appeals to my generation. It allows users to buy and sell new or used items directly through the app. This is unique because few other social media platforms offer a built-in marketplace connecting everyday users. It has become a successful feature that many younger people enjoy.

What else do you think Facebook could implement to attract more users?

Weekend Reset

After a long week of school, I took this weekend to relax and reset. I decided to use the time to get a lot done around my apartment. I usually do not spend much time doing things around the house, but I decided to change that and fix a bunch of things that would help me stay focused.

My day started with waking up, making my bed and taking out the trash. After that, I went back inside to do my laundry and clean up the apartment. This involved vacuuming and mopping the floors, as well as cleaning other spaces such as the sink, tables, desk, countertops and bathroom. After the apartment was clean, I decided to finish different forms for my internship and get ahead in some of my classes by doing extra homework.

Later in the day, I went to Walmart to buy food for the week, and I decided to meal prep so I would not have to take extra time out of my day to make healthy meals. After meal prepping, I ended up making chicken broccoli bowls for my roommate and me. I then decided to watch some YouTube before winding down for the night so I could wake up and start my week on the right foot.

Social Media Marketing

Phones have taken over people’s lives. Hours upon hours are spent scrolling on social media sites. Companies are able to use this as an advantage to push products and encourage consumers to make purchases in numerous strategic ways.

Recently, different brands and companies have also tried to appeal to audiences through entertainment-focused content. Consider Duolingo’s and Nutter Butter’s TikTok pages. Many companies market to younger generations who are highly active on social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. Other platforms feature different types of content, such as Facebook, X and Pinterest, which are geared toward older audiences.

Chapter 3 also discussed how to analyze social media accounts by conducting brand audits. These can be especially helpful when trying to identify promotions, new products, changes and other curated content aimed at target markets. However, some brands have better accounts than others. For example, the chapter also mentioned profile optimization. Not every brand has a profile that is fully optimized with links, descriptions, hashtags and industry keywords.

What types of content do you prefer to view as a consumer?

Welcome to The Family

Growing up, pets have always been a part of my life. In my lifetime, I have had the pleasure of having golden retrievers by my side. Recently, our family decided it was time to put down our childhood dog, Clover, and it was a pretty tough few days. Clover was one of our three golden retrievers, and it was really tough to let her go. Another one of our dogs is also quickly aging, and we are not sure how long she has left. Our last golden is just five years old. My parents decided that we should ultimately get a puppy so that the youngest dog has someone to play with.

This weekend, I made the four-and-a-half-hour drive back to Chicago to meet our newest member of the family, Murphy. I had to keep the secret from my brother and sister back home for a while, and it was great to see the shock on their faces when they met the puppy. Murphy was flown in from a breeder in Salt Lake City last Friday.

I am so glad that I was able to go home and spend time with my family, as well as my new dog. It is going to take some time for Murphy to get to know my other dog, Parker. I am looking forward to driving back home a few more times this semester to grow my relationship with the puppy.

Growing up

As a kid, everyone has crazy dreams and aspirations to be a difference maker in the world. Some people want to be doctors, others firefighters or police officers. Every child has a role model. For me it was a professional athlete. 

All my life I have been devoted to soccer. I remember when my parents used to sign me up for every recreational league sport you could think of. Most of them I was terrible at, but soccer was when I shined. From a young age I've been all-in on this sport. My parents have flown with me to nearly half of the United States, driven over tens of thousands of miles to help me fulfill this dream. Ultimately, they supported me the best way they could, but I still fell short of my goal. Next year is my last year of eligibility to play collegiate soccer and what a ride it has been. I was never the strongest, fastest, tallest or most athletic player on the field. Unfortunately, the professionals all have some, if not all these traits.

Now I think back at my past and all the memories that the sport has given me. Going into my senior year next year, my last ever season of soccer is upon me. Our team had our annual end of season banquet. The past three years, my former teammates all stand at the podium and give their wisdom and advice for the remaining squad. At the end of the banquet, our coach makes all the rising seniors stand in front of the crowd and say some words of encouragement for the next year. It makes me emotional that I was so blessed to have such a great support system behind me. But also, because I don't have much time left of still being a kid and playing the sport I love. So, I will leave you with this. Enjoy your time on campus. Enjoy your extracurriculars. Enjoy your friends. 

I wish that I still had a few more years left to live in the moment and be a kid, but this time next year I will be on the dawn of my last semester here at Ohio Northern. I have loved every second of it, and I am going to continue to soak everything up that I have left. 

Podcasting Blog

Welcome back, everyone, to my blog! Today's post is different. I have exciting news to share: I made my very own podcast! I had the opportunity to interview my mother for this assignment, a professional working in the social media industry. My mother manages multiple social media accounts. These include: Galaxy Soccer Club and Naperville North Boosters Club. Across these two accounts she has gained a following of more than 10,000 people on Facebook, Instagram and X. She shared insight into what truly goes on behind the scenes in the social media realm. 

Kim has shared several valuable points to reflect on as someone studying social media currently. One of the key points she emphasized was attention to detail when it comes to inclusivity. This is especially important when running a page that serves people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, genders, talent levels and more. While some social media pages require relatively low management levels, she explained that hers is quite the opposite. Kim also stressed the importance of making sure everyone, and yes everyone, gets featured on their social media page. What sets the pages she manages apart is that both the parents and kids often follow them. Content must be distributed to the appropriate platform depending on the type of post. She shared that not every post is shared across all three platforms. Posts tailored for parents are typically shared on Facebook and X, not Instagram. However, a post that is tailored towards children and teens might be posted on Instagram and X, and not Facebook.

Ultimately, she says that social media is constantly evolving, which causes her job to change daily. With the growing integration of artificial intelligence in the field, she believes the future of social media is only just beginning. What are your thoughts or critiques of some social media pages you follow?

Click here for the link to the podcast!