My own understandings of social media are ever-evolving, increasingly so as I recognise the complex, multifaceted nature of the term and all that it encompasses. In unpacking my understanding, I intend to utilise my experiences with social media as a consumer to inform my decisions as a creator. Over my past years at University specifically, I have recognised a shift in my interpretation of social media and its affordances. As something I previously engaged with primarily for entertainment and conversing with friends as a teenager, social media now seems like more of a tool with which one can navigate through business, relationships, lifestyle and ultimately society. Moving forward in this studio, I hope to take this tool of social media along with the tool of data to ultimately create something that is a beneficial extension to the consciousness of an online audience. Something with purpose and intention that is tailored to their interests, highlights a new perspective or fills a gap in the social media sphere.

Further, with the extensive data and detail provided through the Sensis surveys, my work will be informed by the social media habits of specific audiences. Particularly aided through the ‘filter’ aspect on the survey, I will be able to hone in on individual ideals and demographics, tailoring my work to best suit their online experiences.

Lastly, to reference my own aforementioned examples of social media surrounding the rampant news coverage of COVID-19, I intend to create work in this studio that will counteract any overwhelming and unhelpful feelings that can surface through online media coverage. With a deeper awareness of the implications of social media, the feelings it can elicit and the mark it can leave – emphasising the value of two-way communication between the media maker and the audience.

As a whole, I foresee that the Sensis data, my own understandings and the highlighted examples of social media will provide a solid foundation to build on in this studio. I look forward to the further learning, insight and eventual creation of my own social media artefact – a personal contribution to the boundless entity that is online communication as we know it.

In the age of Web 2.0, social media prompts the idea that almost anything is possible with the help of the internet. Content can go viral and online trends can rise just as quickly as they fall. In saying this, one aspect that I find to be challenging is the intenseness, overexposure and bombardment driven from online content.

Particularly in the last few days amid the increasing pandemic of COVID-19, it is seemingly impossible to check social media without some form of commentary, update or ‘fake news’ propaganda surrounding the topic. Personally, I have found it challenging to stay informed on the matter without feeling overwhelmed. There seems to be such a fine line between the two. Further, in these times of uncertainty people are often looking for answers or reassurance which is helpful when legitimate e.g. Health organisations but contrarily dangerous if it is not. Social media can perpetuate this risk through its freedom of speech, echoing the opinions of anyone and everyone – verified or not.

In the midst of COVID-19, countless posts are circulating online with ‘false and misleading’ health tips in some cases ‘wrongly attributed’ to Stanford University (Fichera, 2020). Inclusive of claims that a 10-second deep breath without coughing, discomfort or tightness etc indicates no virus or infection. These posts have been rapidly shared across many social media platforms. The online dissemination of this information, despite being shared with the intention of reducing harm seems to actually enhance harm – with the risk of undiagnosed cases of those who believe they are fine after seeing an Instagram post.

More inspiringly, social media can also be a light in these dark time, through maintaining communication online when we are unable to do so physically. Social media can support our essential familiar connections and relationships to combat isolation and uncertainty. In the last half an hour, despite not leaving my room, I been able to message my brother who is 13,760km away in Canada, along with contributing to an online University tutorial – both of which are made possible through the power of social media.

References: 

Fichera, Angelo 2020, Viral Social Media Posts Offer False Coronavirus Tips, Fact Check, The University of Pennsylvania, Web. https://www.factcheck.org/2020/03/viral-social-media-posts-offer-false-coronavirus-tips/

In my own interpretation of ‘social media’, the term itself can be seen as an oxymoron by the nature of its subjective universality. Subjective in the sense that each individual has a personalised and unique experience using social media, yet universal as there are ‘at least 3.5 billion of us online’ from the ‘7.7 billion’ world population (Ortiz-Ospina, 2019, pg.1).

My own engagement with social media has definitely evolved over time and differs according to context. It can be utilised both casually to converse online with friends e.g. Facebook messenger, and in an educational setting to access Canvas or online readings for University – or perhaps simultaneously for both purposes. 

 Social media can be utilised as a means to stay connected, informed, entertained, educated and in more recent years to create revenue. Comprehensively, interactions on social media can place ‘connective bridges among cultures, societies and visions’ (Serafinelli, 2018, pg.1) emphasising common ideas surrounding community, connection and congregation, fostered through the two-way communication. Arguably, two-way communication afforded through comments, likes, dislikes, reposts etc. can be seen as the clear differentiation between social media and traditional media e.g. Print, Television. There is an ‘instantaneous level of communication’ (Martin, 2017, pg.10) that elevates an audience from passive to active through the click of a button.

Looking at the Sensis reports, it is clear to see the overwhelming relevance of social media in today’s society – with 88% of participants owning a smartphone, of which 59.4% access the internet between 10-20+ times a day (Sensis, 2020).    To analyse smartphones in particular, the physicality of carrying around the device in our bags or pockets can be symbolic of the entangled nature of social media. No longer is media something we will sit at the computer or TV to consume for a solitary amount of time, rather it is now a constant, readily accessible and mobile tool used as an extension of everyday living.

References:

Martin, Gail Z. 2017 The Essential Social Media Marketing Handbook : A New Roadmap for Maximizing Your Brand, Influence, and Credibility, Career Press, 2017.

Ospina-Ortiz, Esteban. The rise of social media, Our World in Data, University of Oxford, 2019. Web. https://ourworldindata.org/rise-of-social-media

Sensis Data Solutions 2020, Have your say Australia 2020, consumer report, Sensis Data Solutions. https://portal.glowfeed.com/shared-report/f98c499e-2cfd-4c17-8432-12fa1d4734b6?token=66a6c977f6e992bbe4e9691607453062&emailVerifyToken=5m3vly2r1

Serafinelli, Elisa. Digital Life on Instagram : New Social Communication of Photography. First ed. Bingley: Emerald Limited, 2018. Web.