How Social Media Made Me A Kardashian

I remember the days of running home from school, logging into my AOL account and hearing “You’ve Got Mail!” Those days are long gone, but without a doubt I still experience the same urge to login into my social media accounts. Typing in my credentials on any social media platform grants me access to a […]

Social Media & Me

If you read the title of this blog post and thought to yourself, “Yeah, right..” I get it. Millennials can be so accustomed to associating social media with it’s entertainment purposes, while more seasoned audiences solely focus on its shortcomings and what it’s ‘done’ to millennials. These two views leave out the beneficial basic functions of social media and how they aid our society in letting our voices be heard, connecting with communities, and sharing content.

For me, social media has enabled me to stay connected with friends that you don’t get to see everyday. Not just by talking to them via text and catching up, but by remaining in their lives as if you were in the same time zone. The advent of social media sites that allow for content sharing to mass audiences lets us visually, audibly, and physically keep up with loved ones through apps. When I was abroad in Spain, I got to see my family’s faces and talk to them as if we were in the same room thanks to iPhone’s Facetime feature. Social media has just extended our reach where it wasn’t possible before.

When you FaceTime your friends from 🇬🇧 because they're practicing their SONG FOR THE SUPERBOWL (WHAT?!) pic.twitter.com/2rKARtaUW6

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 27, 2017

Another big thank you I’d like to give to social media is for letting me access my news from multiple sources and in real time. Most people look at sites like Facebook and Twitter and think of unwarranted opinions, a plethora of baby photos, and cute videos of puppies. While you can find all those things on these sites, news outlets and big companies have been using these platforms as ways for their audiences to receive information without delay. The transparency and the speed have kept me informed and on top of things happening in this crazy world.

Follow latest developments & reaction to President Trump's travel ban https://t.co/dxA80tggMd pic.twitter.com/wfTBmOnax2

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 29, 2017

How Social Media Changed My Views on Networking

Before social media, I dreaded networking. I felt that there was something so unnatural about walking up to strangers whose careers I admired and drilling them with questions regarding their early beginnings and advice for young hopefuls. Due to this uncomfortable feeling, I grew concerned that I was missing out on opportunities to make connections that could […]

From Facebook Friends to Future Inspiration

Throughout my life, I’ve consistently been an impressionable gal. The “older girls,” with whom I spent countless hours dancing and singing in musicals, often took me under their wing and incorporated me into their group, even though I was typically a few years their minor. They did this like it was no big deal and were […]

Are Social Media Hegemonic?

Social media have the power to perpetuate hegemony in our society. Social platforms such as Instagram and Twitter are able to influence our perception of reality. In this day in age, we are constantly bombarded with images of what the “ideal” body type, relationship, and even life are supposed to be. The Italian Marxist theorist and […]

#SocialMediaBeLike

Besides being able to access information from all around the world, social media has changed me in many different ways. With the use of social media I am able to connect with a plethora of individuals like my family and friends, as well as with new people. Social media makes keeping connections and friendships, or […]

OMG, Guess Who Just “Viewed My Profile?”

Do you remember “Friendster”? And I’m referring to the pre-2011 version, before it turned into this weird social gaming website (basically a dumbed down version of Steam). @FlashbackDaily #Friendster father of #socialmedia left us 2 soon… its ashes laid 2 rest in a cup of #MarkZuckerberg 's coffee at college pic.twitter.com/hTD2po5AYf — StarGayz (@Star_Gayz) December […]

Choosing My Voice Online

When it comes to social media that I use today, the most frequent app I find myself using is Twitter. This has been the case for a few years, but what has changed is the way in which I use the app. I didn’t start using my account until some of my friends convinced me […]

Do I Really Have As Many Friends As I Think I Do?

Social media bring so many people into our lives; a large number of whom we probably don’t know in “real life.” I have upwards of 1,000 “friends” on Facebook, and several hundred followers on Instagram and Twitter. I’m sure we’ve all scrolled through our newsfeed on whatever platform and seen posts from names and faces […]

It’s not all Rainbows and Sunshine

It’s no secret that social media is an incredible resource that millions of people have access to (and if it is a secret then you need to remove yourself from the rock under which you are hiding). Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn are all used to create connections, establish and maintain relationships and […]

Newhouse

SOCIAL MEDIA

Spring 2017