Assessing my Online Presence
Social Media in a time of social distancing? It is no secret that the last few months have been a difficult time for many people. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way people live their lives across the entire world. For safety reasons we are keeping a physical distance between ourselves and other people. However with the prevalence of social media we can continue to be connected socially in a virtual space.
During this quarantine period I have also started an online grad program in Social Media through the University of Florida. Having done my undergrad at a traditional university this shift in online learning is new to me. In a weird twist I have seen many activities I used to do in person move into a digital space. All of these recent events have created a hypersensitivity reaction to my current social media presence. I have been left wondering if it is possible to be bad at social media?
I am currently on three separate social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
At the time of this post conception I would consider myself to be a passive user of social media. I am mainly there to see what other people are posting. I do not actively use my social media platforms for business and I do not consider myself as having a strong personal brand. In a hope to improve upon my online presence I will look at how I use my platforms.
Instagram:
I consider Instagram to be the main form of social media I use. I post on this platform more than any other platform and feel the most creative. On Instagram I feel connected to my peers. It has become a lot more commonplace to meet someone new and follow them on Instagram as opposed to friending them on Facebook. Being a person who is more focused on visuals I enjoy Instagram for that aspect. Compared to Facebook I feel like I am getting less bogged down by information I am not overly concerned about seeing. I do not have a professional Instagram account at the moment but I do post some graphic design/ video projects from time to time. I believe that my Instagram communicates that I am a person who likes to be adventurous and explore new environments. Looking at all my posts, 90 percent are outdoors.
Facebook:
I have been on Facebook since middle school. On this platform I am connected to old classmates, coworkers, and many relatives. The group of people I am connected to differs greatly from Instagram. It is my perception that Instagram is more an app for younger people. So where I do not find it weird to be friends with my Aunt on Facebook I would think it was weird to follow/ be followed by them on Instagram.
Facebook has become a lot more versatile in the functionality that I use it for. Recently Facebook groups have become a source I turn to for answers. Working for Walt Disney World I was placed on furlough in April. Trying to navigate Florida Reemployment has been a stressful time. Facebook groups that were used as a place to trade shifts have turned into a place where people can pose questions and get other coworkers responses sharing similar situations. Although it has been a stressful time having these groups in place has turned it into a shared experience. It can be reassuring knowing that you are not the only one facing these problems and it can also give you hope when someone has positive news to share. I find that I am not posting to my timeline ever but I will post questions in these individual groups. I do not use Facebook for professional reasons other than workgroups.
Pinterest:
The last social media platform I use is Pinterest. I have been using this platform for at least 5 years but until recently I did not even know it was considered social media. I use Pinterest almost every day for personal entertainment. Strangely enough I use Pinterest mainly to look at architecture and interior design. Although I have no professional connection to that industry I still find house design to be very interesting. I am also intrigued by the tiny house movement and love seeing the clever ways people design in small spaces. My boards on Pinterest consist of Future House, Tiny House, Cabin, and Van Life. I am using Pinterest for a very specific purpose. I do not follow any people on Pinterest only topics. Pinterest is a place where I go to explore a different interest independent of my other social media platforms.
Final Thoughts:
As a whole I feel like I could better develop my presence on social media. I would like to have a clear personal brand that is communicated across my various channels. I look forward to developing this as I learn more about social media. For now though I am appreciative that it continues to be a place I can turn to for entertainment and interaction with others in a time of uncertainty.
