I feel like digital media is part of almost everything I do throughout the day, even when I don’t realize it. Between being a mom of two boys, working full-time, and going to school, my days can get pretty busy. Sometimes scrolling through social media is my little break from everything going on. Other times, I’m using it to look something up, get ideas, or just have a good laugh.
The apps I use the most are Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Google. I mainly use Facebook to keep up with family and friends, see what’s happening around town, and occasionally scroll through random posts. Instagram and TikTok are probably where I spend most of my time when I want to relax. I love watching funny videos, looking at creative ideas, and finding things I didn’t even know I needed! YouTube is my go-to when I need to figure out how to do something. Whether it’s a makeup tutorial, a recipe, or trying to fix something around the house, there’s usually a video for it. Google is another one I use constantly because I’m always looking something up or comparing things before buying them.
I also use social media at work, just in a different way. I’m a Service Planner at a nonprofit organization that helps individuals with disabilities, and I also help manage my department’s Instagram page. I enjoy being able to get creative with posts and share things that help people learn more about what we do. It’s actually one of the reasons I picked this class as an elective. I wanted to learn more about social media and how to create better content that people will enjoy and interact with.
Most of my experiences with digital media are positive. I love how easy it is to stay connected with people, find new ideas, and learn things without having to go anywhere. However, there are definitely things that annoy me too! One of the biggest is when I search for something once, and suddenly I’m seeing advertisements for it everywhere. Sometimes I feel like my phone knows what I want before I do! I also have a bad habit of opening TikTok for just a few minutes and realizing I’ve been scrolling way longer than I planned.
Something I’ve noticed about marketing today is that businesses are getting really good at making advertisements feel like regular posts. Instead of just showing a product and telling you to buy it, they make funny videos, share tutorials, or have influencers talk about it. I’ve definitely caught myself watching someone use a product and thinking, “Okay, now I want that!” even though I wasn’t looking to buy anything. I think that’s what makes social media marketing so effective. It catches your attention without always feeling like a traditional advertisement.
Working with Instagram has also helped me see another side of marketing. Since I work for a nonprofit, we’re not necessarily trying to sell something. We’re trying to share information, show people what we do, and connect with our community. I’ve learned that creating content isn’t just about posting a picture or video. It’s also about making something that people will actually want to stop and look at.
Overall, digital media is a huge part of my everyday life, whether I’m using it for fun, work, or school. I enjoy all the creative things that come with it, even if I occasionally spend a little too much time scrolling! I’m looking forward to learning more about social media marketing in this class and hopefully using what I learn to make our department’s Instagram page even better.
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