claire-thelen-blog

[claire-thelen-blog]

Effective Implementation

The goal is to be a social organization, not just an organization who happens to have social media accounts. My client project has focused on conveying this idea to my client while offering useful recommendations and steps for how this transition can be done. However, there are many hurdles and roadblocks that get in the way of successfully implementing these recommendations.

In The Social Organization by Bradley and McDonald, four reasons are given for why social media initiatives fail. The first of these is that the firm focuses on technologies instead of achieving a purpose through technology. I do not believe that this is going to be a huge issue for my client as the organization has established a clear purpose for their social media presence. The second reason is that organizations lack knowledge of the principles of mass collaboration; I have shared this knowledge through my memos, so I also do not believe this will be a hindrance for my client. The third reason is that not all challenges are well-suited to mass collaboration. This could be a potential hurdle for my client because they are not focused on selling a product or improving a service. Instead, the main goal of the social media presence is to attract new community members and keep current community members updated on important events. Thus, it is not the easiest organization environment to implement mass collaboration. Lastly, a social media initiative may fail if leadership lacks the confidence to assign compelling purposes to communities and allow them to find a way to fulfill their purposes. Because the social media manager at my client shows characteristics of someone who likes to be in complete control, this may be a roadblock to implementing my recommendations that require delegating some duties and responsibilities.

No organization will perfectly implement the strategies we have discussed; however, there are certainly varying degrees of willingness of companies to embrace social media. Normally, a lack of willingness to embrace social media is a result of viewing social platforms as more of a task or a threat than a tool or a community. I believe that the view of social media as a task, a general lack of time and resources, and not understanding the true value of social media are going to be the biggest challenges to my client successfully implementing my recommendations. As a result of my consultation this semester, I am hoping my client has a begun to view social media as a valuable tool. In addition, I hope that my recommendations have made it clear that there are many simple ways (that do not require a ton of time and resources) to improve social media performance. If nothing else, I know that I have certainly learned these lessons and have become much more social media savvy as a result.

[claire-thelen-blog]

Constructive Content

The principles of effective content development and sharing are essential to becoming a social organization. The basic reason for this is fairly simple: if the content your organization posts and shares on social media is irrelevant or boring, no one will want to engage with your organization on social media. If no one wants to engage with your organization on social media, you will not be able to experience growth in your online community or inspire mass collaboration. There is great value in passively observing the activity of others on social media, but you cannot become a true social organization without becoming an active contributor of effective content.

Creating and curating engaging content is extremely important, but it can also be one of the most difficult parts of being a social media manager. Hootsuite Module 5, titled “Social Content Marketing,” outlines how content can be developed and shared effectively. The module suggests developing a Social Media Content Strategy that supports your overall Social Media Strategy. This strategy has four main components that include: researching and analyzing current content reception and strategy, evaluating the target audience on each platform, listing content-specific goals and objectives, and planning for content distribution. A content calendar is also a very helpful tool to map out planned distribution of social media posts for all social media channels. It is best practice to establish a general monthly calendar for big events as well as a detailed weekly calendar.

The module discussed curated content (gathered from relevant sources) and created content (produced within your organization) and suggested a 60/40 split. I imagine many of our social media clients are distributing more created content than curated. There are many best practices for sharing this content. One best practice is creating a strong headline or caption that grabs the reader’s attention. E! News does a great job of creating strong headlines and captions for its Facebook posts. For example, a recent post about a Jimmy Kimmel special caught my attention with the headline, “Watch Carrie Underwood Hilariously Prank & Serenade Nashville Shoppers.”

Another best practice is to use visual content to boost engagement. This is specifically relevant on Instagram, and GoPro does an excellent job of advertising its action cameras through excellent visual posts like this one. When sharing content, it is a great idea to end posts with a call to action; Ignite Donuts does a great job of this. A great example of a call to action is seen in this post that ends the caption with “…stop by The Market to pick up some Hot Donuts and pair it up with a cappuccino from one of the coffee stops on campus!”

These are just a few of the many best practices for sharing content effectively. Each platform also has individual best practices. For example, you should use short links, searchable hashtags, and keep retweeted content to less than 20% of your total content on Twitter. On Facebook, you should use hashtags sparingly and try to keep your posts short. On Instagram, you are able to use long captions and Instagram Stories. Instagram also provides a lot of options for creatively editing Instagram photos, but it is important to remember that the best editing jobs are those your audience does not even notice.

There are countless ways to more effectively share content on social media, and developing a Social Media Content Strategy can help organize all of these tips and tricks. Implementing a Social Media Content Strategy is a great step towards becoming a successful social organization.

[claire-thelen-blog]

Ethical Issues: Social Media

One of the unfolding current issues that Facebook and other platforms are dealing with is the role of online content moderators. There are thousands of these moderators that, on a daily basis, sort through the most disturbing, violent, and exploitative content that social media has to offer. These moderators experience poor working conditions and a huge emotional toll due to the nature of their work. In addition, these moderators are compensated poorly for their work. This is definitely an ethical issue for these social media platforms, as well as society as a whole.

A second unfolding issue is that, according to Yael Eisenstat of The Washington Post, “Facebook profits partly by amplifying lies and selling dangerous targeting tools that allow political operatives to engage in a new level of information warfare.” Our data is analyzed by social media platforms, and that data is used to target us with customized advertisements. That is no secret. However, this does become a bit of an ethical issue when the advertisements become political. When these targeted advertisements are only letting us see a version of the truth that was customized for us, the practice becomes manipulative and damaging to our democracy.

The internet is free for users in terms of literal currency. However, our “payment” is our data and our consent to be tracked and analyzed. One of the inherent problems with the advertising ethical issue is that social media platforms were created on a business model of profiting through targeted advertising. Advertising is what allows all of these online services to operate free-of-charge. Thus, unless we are about to pay for the internet, targeted advertisements are not going anywhere.

In response to some of these ethical issues (like targeted political advertisements on Facebook), people might say, “Well, just don’t use Facebook!” This is certainly one response at the individual or business level. But, it is generally not that simple. This is the power of network effects. There are literally billions of users on Facebook. In order to stay connected and relevant, especially as a business, a Facebook account is almost a necessity…because essentially everyone is using it. Facebook is such a valuable tool because so many people use it (and it’s free)!

So, how do we address these ethical dilemmas? Well, Europe has enacted a digital privacy legislation—General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). GDPR is a set of rules giving EU citizens more control over their personal data by ensuring organizations gather personal data legally, protect that data from misuse or exploitation, and respect the rights of the data owners.

At a societal level, I think awareness is always the first step. I had no idea before reading these articles that content moderators even existed, that Facebook was using targeted political advertisements, and that Europe had enacted the GDPR. As technology progresses, these issues are slowly inching to the forefront, and society as a whole will begin demanding more protection (like what was given through the GDPR).

At a personal level, we should avoid using Facebook as a source of political enlightenment. At a business level (even small business and not-for-profits), management should work to get ahead of the game. Businesses can establish their own policies for protecting the data of their users. Soon enough, these policies will likely be mandatory, and there will also likely be lawsuits based on past violations of data protection. Getting ahead of the game now will hopefully help avoid fines, penalties, and lawsuits, while also establishing a reputation of integrity.

[claire-thelen-blog]

Collaborative Community: An Art Form

The idea of building an online community on social media seems a bit daunting and abstract. Developing relationships in real life can be a complex task requiring significant effort, and the same can be said of developing a strong online community. In fact, many times these “real life” relationships can be a big step in developing an online community.

As discussed in The Social Organization, there are many principles and best practices for effectively building an online community with social media. It is important to develop a vision statement emphasizing the value leadership sees in community collaboration and identifying opportunities for collaboration to add value. The Social Organization outlines that community collaboration is best for a large group of people acting “independently to contribute and share open and complementary information that aggregates well into a bigger picture and results in actions that lead to heightened performance” (42). In addition, it states that it is best practice to encourage valuable grassroots efforts while also pursuing top-down community collaboration initiatives. When I interned for a public accounting firm, they had a collaboration website called “Yammer” that was a great example of a collaborative community. On Yammer, staff members were able to share company updates, keep updated on new policies and best practices, and collaborate to heighten performance at the firm. Staff members engaged on the platform to improve their individual performance, improve the overall performance of the firm, and display their commitment to the success of the firm. Staff members engaged in grassroots efforts when they asked questions about engagement-specific issues. Partners were also able to pursue top-down community collaboration initiatives on the site and target specific objectives. Out of the six organizational attitudes discussed in The Social Organization, I would argue that the public accounting firm was in between the stages of formulating and forging.

Another key principle in The Social Organization was that “purpose is paramount. If you can tap into a meaningful “What’s in it for them?” you can cultivate a successful community from culturally challenging groups” (47). A well-formed purpose can go a very long way in creating a collaborative online community. I am a member of a group called “Dogspotting” on Facebook, and I think this is a stellar example of a successful online collaborative community. All of the content is generated by its members, there are multiple posts every day, and it is not uncommon for posts to receive thousands of likes, hundreds of comments, and many shares. Most importantly, this group has a very clear purpose. The members love dogs and the purpose is simply to share dog spottings.

Growing an established online community is also an art. As discussed previously, your offline community can be a great start in growing your online community by simply asking them to engage. In the fourth Hootsuite module, the power of word of mouth recommendations was emphasized. Word of mouth can certainly be done in face-to-face conversations, but it can also be done through brand advocacy programs and employee advocacy programs. I witnessed an informal advocacy program during my public accounting internship, as staff members were continuously encouraged to be active on LinkedIn and engaging with clients, industry members, and individual networks. In addition, I follow Sean Lowe on Instagram, and he advocates for many brands including Portal TV, Dentyne, and FabFitFun (among many others). A slightly different take on this idea, but with a similar purpose, is the Survivor Instagram account’s use of Instagram story takeovers by past contestants. These Survivor alumni members take over the account when a new episode goes live and create collaborative engagement by answering questions from fans. These advocacy programs help grow the online community by providing a relevant voice that the community members trust. This advocacy program idea could be relevant to my client project with St. Mary University Parish at CMU if the organization seeks out students who would be willing to share their positive experiences on the organization’s page or their individual social media accounts.

The Hootsuite module also emphasized partnering with other organizations for events and establishing an active presence on social media. St. Mary could consider partnering with some of the other religious organizations on campus for events or even online contests to support both of their online communities. In addition, St. Mary should work on increasing its active presence on its social media platforms by engaging with the content posted by its followers.

Establishing and growing an online community is not a science, but an art form. When done well, an online collaborative community can deliver extraordinary value.

[claire-thelen-blog]

With Big Data Comes Big Responsibilities

This past summer, I studied abroad in Thailand. One of the things that I distinctly remember being surprised about was the general lack of security measures at some of the big venues and tourist spots we visited throughout our time there. In many cases, it just appeared to be a general lack of concern and effort. For example, we visited the Grand Palace, and they had a handful of metal detectors (like what you would see at airport security) lined up for visitors to walk through. They also had about five or six security guards on the other side of the detectors. However, the lights and alarms were going off constantly as visitors walked through, and the guards were unbothered. Some of the guards were playing on their phones. Others were stopping people who were not dressed modestly enough to enter. They definitely seemed more concerned about exposed shoulders than the chance that someone had a weapon in their purse. Now, this has many cultural elements to it, but the lack of security measures stands in extreme contrast to the measures we see in the United States—even just to get into a minor league baseball game! In our group discussion that night in Thailand, we speculated that part of the difference might be that Thailand does not see violence and terrorism as quite an imminent threat as we do in the United States. In fact, many of the security measures we now see in the U.S. were not quite as strict before we experienced the terrorism in the September 11 attacks. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a tragedy for preventative measures to be put in place.

Now, what does this have to do with big data? Well, big data includes a ton of personal information. This personal information can be very sensitive and desirable—and thus subject to theft and misuse. Sometimes it takes a tragedy for preventative measures to be put in place. But, it does not need to be that way. Businesses need to ensure that the big data they collect is properly protected—and not wait for a tragedy to happen before they start caring.

What should businesses be aware of when using big data?

The concept of big data is relatively new and constantly evolving—to the point that, according to patent attorney, Doug LaLone, in his presentation “The Legal Side of Big Data,” there really is no current, legal definition. Thus, the different factors that businesses and consumers must consider in relation to big data are also constantly changing. However, there are a few overarching elements that businesses should be aware of when it comes to big data. After listening to LaLone’s presentation, I believe these main elements include: access, ownership, and protection.

Who has access to the big data the business collects? Businesses need to consider if any outside organizations (supplies, customers, contracted entities, consultants, etc.) have access to the big data they collect. In addition, businesses should consider what internal employees have access to the data they collect and if this access is truly necessary. Make sure everyone is on the same page about the confidentiality involved with this information.

Who has ownership of the big data the business collects? Obviously, it is probably best if the business has complete ownership of all of their collected big data from the time they generate it to the ultimate storage of the information. However, if there is some outside ownership somewhere in that process, the business needs to be aware of that and assess the risks of that situation.

Is there proper protection of the big data the business collects? Preventative measures are key. The business must ensure that proper controls, authorizations, policies, and procedures are in place to protect the big data and the personal information they collect. This is much easier said than done, but continuous investment of resources and monitoring of data protection is certainly money well spent.

What should consumers be aware of?

Again, big data is a new and changing concept, but consumers should be aware of a number of key points about big data. Firstly, consumers should be aware that this data exists and is being collected constantly when they make purchases, browse the web, etc. Secondly, consumers should act with due care in the use and spread of their personal information. Much of this collection of our personal information is out of our control; however, we can still choose to act with care in the ways that it is still in our control (i.e. do not give out your social security number unless absolutely necessary). Thirdly, I think it is important for consumers to stay current on the development of laws and issues around big data. As LaLone stated, there are not currently many laws on the sale of big data and the way in which this information should be handled when an organization goes bankrupt. Thus, it is important for consumers to stay informed on these topics and fight for the protection of their information when necessary.

Best way to balance opportunities and threats of development of big data?

With much power comes much responsibility. Big data gives businesses and governments a lot of power and a lot of opportunities to improve their performance. However, when data hacks take place, there are big threats to the reputation and pocket book of the entity that was hacked as well as threats to the individual consumers that the information was collected on. I am not sure there is really one best way to balance the opportunities and threats of the development of big data aside from constantly seeking to be proactive rather than reactive. Assess the relevant risks. Create policies and develop procedures that seek to protect the data collected. Monitor the controls. Don’t wait for tragedy to strike before establishing preventative measures. If you have big data, know this also comes with big responsibilities.

[claire-thelen-blog]

*Fake News*

Fake news! We hear about it all the time—especially from the man in charge of running our country. But how does this fake news—or junk news—spread so quickly across social media? Well, Philip Howard and Samantha Bradshaw believe it is a combination of algorithms, advertising, and exposure. I agree with their statement that all three of these factors contribute to the spread of junk news on social media.

Algorithms

Algorithms are used on social media platforms to select and prioritize what information is delivered to the user. The algorithms are used to maximize user engagement and keep social media users on the applicable platform. This is problematic because it inhibits the free flow of ideas and makes it more difficult to ensure you are finding information from a diverse set of viewpoints.

I agree that algorithms can be very useful. For example, Netflix uses complex algorithms to pick out movies that I might like to watch based on content I previously enjoyed. Facebook uses algorithms to show me hilarious videos that are similar to previous videos that I “reacted to” or “liked.” However, as Howard and Bradshaw pointed out, I also see the dark side of algorithms. If social media platforms are only showing us information similar to the posts we previously interacted with, this quickly narrows down our content and destroys any chance at seeing a wide variety of viewpoints on one’s feed.

Advertising

As the saying goes, “You don’t want to stare, but you can’t look away.” As humans, we are drawn to outrageous, tragic, intense, and emotional content. For example, when visiting New York City, I distinctly remember stopping many times on the street to watch outrageous, intense, and emotional street performances. In addition, we saw a lot of homeless people. It was quite sad, and you did not want to stare, but sometimes you just could not get yourself to look away. In much the same way, social media’s data-based advertising model helps spread junk news by rewarding viral content. Clickbait is used to attract attention, and this increases the use of exaggerated and misleading content.

I try to ignore website advertisements, but I have definitely seen these outrageous, exaggerated advertisements while browsing the internet and social media. The times that I do click on some of this “clickbait” are often when it involves celebrities that I enjoy following. For example, I remember clicking on a little advertisement on Facebook this past week with a really exaggerated headline involving Carrie Underwood. After clicking on the ad, I quickly realized this was junk news. This is a relatively harmless example, but if it involved misleading political information, this could definitely have negative consequences in spreading inaccurate and exaggerated content.

Exposure

The majority of my friends share many of my same viewpoints. I would like to say that I spend time with a group of people who challenge my views, but that is just not the case. Thus, I completely agree with Howard and Bradshaw in their statement that exposure is one of the factors leading to the spread of junk news on social media. Most of the posts I am exposed to on social media are from my friends who share the same views as I do. In addition, I do not necessarily enjoy reading content that makes me question my views (although I know I should do it). When we are only exposed to information that supports our beliefs, I think it makes it much easier to buy into junk news. I am sure we all have that one family member or friend on Facebook who is constantly sharing content that looks far less than reliable. But, as with a train wreck, it is hard to look away.

 -----

I believe businesses and individuals should simply be aware that there is a lot of junk news out there and that it is likely that they are not being exposed to information from a diverse set of viewpoints on their social media feeds. Howard and Bradshaw’s article reminded me of the recent controversy over Ellen DeGeneres sitting by George W. Bush at the Cowboys game. Ellen defended her seat choice by saying that she was aware she was going to be surrounded by people with very different views and beliefs. Ellen also expressed that many of her friends have different views from her. I think this is the key to trying to respond to the spread of junk news. We need to take actions to surround ourselves with a diverse set of viewpoints. The first step would be to follow a wide variety of individuals on social media that have differing views than your own. If the social media feed still seems filtered to show only content you agree with, this may require manually checking in on the posts of the individuals you do not agree with. It is a challenge to sort through the junk, but as they say, nothing worth having comes easy.

[claire-thelen-blog]

Capable Consultants

Consultants are hired every day to diagnose problems and assist in implementing solutions. These consultants are employed because the organization or individual hiring them has an issue that they are unable to solve on their own. Clearly, this implies that the consultant has something that the organization or individual does not have; maybe this is experience, resources, specific qualities, or even just time. Whatever it may be, the consultant offers a specific skill set that the organization or individual sees as valuable.

In my opinion, three of the most important qualities for a social media consultant to have are the following: exemplary communication skills, creativity, and strong ability to adapt.

Communication Skills

It is crucial to have great communication skills in nearly every position in the business world, but it is especially important when one’s position involves direct contact with customers or clients. As a consultant, one will be interacting with clients very frequently. Communication skills involve the ability to listen, write, and speak effectively. It is extremely important for the consultant to be able to listen to the client well and figure out what the problem really is and what the client really needs. It is crucial that the consultant is able to write well in order to communicate recommendations to the client in a format that they can reference in the future. Lastly, it is of utmost importance that the consultant can speak well and effectively explain to the client what the issue is and what the practical steps are in overcoming the problems.

Creativity

As previously stated, the organization or individual is hiring the consultant because they are unable to solve an issue on their own. I believe that often times, the reason the consultant is truly needed, is that the situation needs a set of fresh eyes. These fresh eyes bring new perspectives and unique ideas—creativity. Creative solutions lead to innovation, efficiencies, and competitive advantage. Creative thinking is a critical capability for a consultant to possess.

Adaptation

When working through complex problems and unique personalities, there always seems to be a curveball or two that is experienced. Consultants are always working with complex issues and a wide variety of clients with a wide variety of personalities; thus, they are bound to experience a few speed bumps and unexpected situations as they seek to serve their clients. This requires the capability of adaptation. New technologies are emerging constantly. Society is always changing. This results in new problems and new solutions. Great consultants should be able to adapt to all of these changes in order to craft consistently effective solutions.

If I were to act as a social media consultant for myself to help improve my professional social media presence, I would focus on my LinkedIn account. In my opinion, this is where most professional connections are made through social media. I believe that it is important to create a network and to make an active presence. So far, I have updated my photo, skills, and work experience. However, I am not very active with sharing and creating posts. In the future, I believe that I should work on creating more of an active presence on LinkedIn. If I were a social media consultant for myself, I would recommend the plan of starting to share or post one thing on LinkedIn per week. I would also recommend connecting on LinkedIn with any and all professional and personal connections that I form with individuals in my day-to-day interactions in order to create a bigger network. I believe that I do a decent job of keeping all of my social media accounts free of content that could be potentially damaging if an employer were to see it. However, I would ensure that in the social media plan, I would continue to keep my social media accounts free of this damaging content.

[claire-thelen-blog]

Every Breath You Take

I recently went on a trip to Nashville with a large group of friends—like 19 or so people. In order to ensure everyone’s safety on the trip, we set up a big group chat, and everyone turned on the “share my location” feature in the group chat. This worked great for the trip, but I turned the feature off right when we got home—not because I had anything to hide, but because I just didn’t like the idea of my friends being able to track my every movement.

I don’t like the idea of my closest friends being able to track my location. Yet, there are undoubtedly many strangers with the ability to track my location, credit card purchases, online activity, and more through the collection and sale of big data.

According to Professor Jim Melton, big data is the storage and analysis of large and or complex data sets. The concept of big data relates to information privacy because most of this big data information comes from us. Although the internet is free, we often hand over our information in exchange—often times without even knowing this information is being collected. According to Federal Trade Commissioner Julie Brill, most people probably have no clue that this information is being collected and sold and that it is personally identifiable to them. This information includes characteristics like religion, ethnicity, political affiliation, income, family medical history, and user names. Every breath you take. Every move you make. Every bond you break. Every step you take. They’ll be watching you. Okay, maybe it isn’t quite as invasive as The Police might describe it, but it’s probably more invasive than we know. Because individuals are not necessarily aware that this information is being collected, it brings into play the question of information privacy and whether that is being violated. If the use of big data is abused, individuals could have personal information leaked out to the public, and we could see damaging results like identity and credit card fraud. On the other hand, big data is an immensely powerful tool because it enables organizations to take seemingly unrelated pieces of data and piece them together into a bigger picture. This bigger picture can help advertisers target customer needs and desires more accurately.

As far as limiting the harm from big data, I think there are definitely steps that should be taken on a personal and societal level. Personally, we should all be careful of what information we are sharing online; of course, you may not be aware of what is all being collected, but you can remain conscious of what information you are deliberately broadcasting online. In addition, I agree with Commissioner Brill’s statement that we should all be able to see the information that has been collected about us, challenge its integrity, and opt out of it being collected if desired. As a society, we should be speaking up and making these demands.

In Ethan Zuckerman’s article, “The Internet’s Original Sin,” he highlights the idea that advertising has become the default business model on the web; this advertising business model is fueled by the surveillance of internet users and the collection of big data. Zuckerman claims the leaders of online platforms are promising their investors that their advertising will be “more invasive, ubiquitous, and targeted” and that they “will collect more data about [their] users and their behavior.” Maciej Ceglowski further explains the issue when he claims that the foundations of the web are kind of rotten and that we are addicted to gathering all of this data (with no way to dispose of it or intention to do so). Internet business models thrive on the surveillance of users and collection of data on their experiences. Ceglowski made it pretty clear that this is a depressing subject to talk about; we don’t want to have to think about the fact that we are being watched (just as I do not want my friends tracking my location). However, it is happening, and if we care to make a change, we will have to take a stance as individuals and as a society because the big data collectors are not stopping on their own.

[claire-thelen-blog]

Hungry

Oddly enough, diets usually start out a little bit fun. They are new. They are exciting. There is the possibility of positive change. Yeah, you kind of dread them before you start, but overall, the first little bit is not too bad. But, then the hunger sets in. We begin to question why we started. The cravings get more intense. We need to dig a little deeper to find the determination to stick with it.

This is a bit how my recent fast from social media went.

Let’s rewind. A few days ago, I was challenged to track my technology usage for a day. Now, I always have access to a lot of these statistics because iPhones these days track that type of information and display it to users in “Screen Time” reports. However, as all great psychologists know, denying that you have a problem is certainly the best way to solve it. So, I avoid these reports like the plague. If I don’t actually take a look, I can pretend the amount of screen time I engage in actually isn’t that bad, right?

Anyway, I tracked my technology usage for a “normal” day, and honestly, I was a bit surprised at how little I was using social media platforms. However, I was a bit appalled at the sheer amount of screen time I had in one day between my phone, laptop, and the TV. In addition, I was a bit ashamed of how many phone “pickups” I accumulated in a day.

After reflecting on this daily usage and being challenged to do some sort of technology fast, I decided to engage in a 24 hour fast from social media. As I previously stated, it started out a little bit fun. But, then I got hungry. Hungry for that seductive sweetness I discussed in my last post. Every time I got a notification, it was like that little red bubble was just taunting me. It was pretty frustrating that I couldn’t just take a look and see what the mysterious notification had in store. One could say I was experiencing some withdrawal.

In the end, I survived. Shocking, I know. My notifications were all waiting for me the next morning, and they were not nearly as exciting as what my brain had imagined. My screen time dropped dramatically. My phone “pickups” were cut by about a third. And, I got a little bored. Luckily, I was able to transform some of that boredom into productivity.

Now, I am not planning on repeating this type of fast anytime in the near future. However, I did learn that limiting technology use can definitely have some positive results. Maybe I can take some little steps to start cutting back on my social media use and screen time. And just maybe, with a little time and discipline, that hunger pain to constantly be connected will ache a little less.

[claire-thelen-blog]

The Seductive Sweetness

My phone alarm goes off. How is it already time to get up? I roll over, grab my phone that was charging next to my pillow, shut off my alarm, and begin scrolling through my social media feeds.

I sit down at my desk. I got to class a little too early. What was the name of the guy who sits next to me, again? Sam? Who knows. Well, he’s just sitting there tapping his pencil on the edge of his desk. I should probably say something. “How was your weekend?” I ask him. “Pretty good, you?” he responds. “Same! Went by too fast!” I reply. Then the awkward silence settles in. I pull my phone out of my pocket. He does the same. No notifications… I guess I will just scroll through Instagram until class starts.

-----

I would love to say that I am not addicted to social media, the internet, and technology. But, my use of social media and the internet are so routine and habitual at this point that there is probably no other word to accurately describe it. I mean for goodness sake, I have a routine order. I always check Instagram first, Snapchat second, Twitter third, and Facebook last. The narratives I previously described highlight some classic examples of how I use social media to fill in the “boring bits” of my life that Sherry Turkle so eloquently described. I am not very active with posting on social media; however, I definitely use it as a huge source of entertainment. As everyone knows, social media can be an excellent tool to stay in touch and create a community, but I believe the biggest influence it has on my daily life is that it is a huge waste of my time. Yet, I continue to use it. Hence, the term “addiction” seems appropriate.

Having constant access to the Internet has a similarly complex mix of benefits and drawbacks in my life. I have a tremendous amount of knowledge available at my fingertips—which can be extremely beneficial. On the other hand, as Emma Rathbone illustrated, the Internet can stifle creativity and fun. When your friend randomly asks you how many hot dogs you think a person could consume in 10 minutes, you can Google the answer and end the conversation in thirty seconds when you find out the record is 73.5 hot dogs. This is an admittedly strange example, but without these quick answers, I believe there would be room for more creative, fun conversations.

There were a lot of things that stood out to me in Sherry Turkle’s interview, but one thing that really stuck with me was the statement that “we are so vulnerable to the seduction of who wants to reach us—what sweetness is coming through the phone.” This statement highlights the addictive quality of our smart phones. I hate the idea of being addicted to or dependent on anything, let alone my phone, but I believe I am much more hooked on the sweetness than I would like to admit.

I have been on a number of retreats that forbid access to my phone, the internet, and even a clock. I remember dreading this part of the retreat. I remember looking down at my wrist to find no smart watch. I remember trying to navigate awkward silences without a smart phone to bury my face in. But, I also remember weird, random conversations. I also remember connecting with new friends in real life. I also remember feeling a little free. A little free from the seductive sweetness.

[claire-thelen-blog]

Roasting More Than Burgers

Hello friends, and welcome to my blog!

Let’s start from the beginning. My name is Claire. I grew up in the super close-knit, small town of Pewamo, MI. We have two restaurants, one stop light, and zero gas stations. You get it; it’s small small.

Leading up to this super-senior semester of college, I have spent seven semesters accumulating credits towards my accounting major and finance and business information systems minors. I have completed three internships—one in the finance department at a worker’s compensation organization and two at public accounting firms. In December, I will graduate with my bachelor’s degree and 150 credits. This will allow me to begin sitting for the CPA exam soon after graduation. My goal is to finish the CPA exam before I start full-time at Plante Moran in August of 2020. I also hope to find some time in that seven month break to go on a backpacking trip throughout Europe with a couple friends from home.

Ultimately, I hope to have a successful career in public accounting—whether that means I stay in public accounting or shift to a managerial role, I’m not sure. My biggest career goal is to enjoy what I am doing and constantly be challenged, advancing, and growing.

With this blog, I hope to explore some new perspectives on the use of social media in business as well as expand my professional network and online presence.

One way to explore the role of social media in business is to examine the accounts of companies who just get it. I believe ­Wendy’s is exemplary with regard to its use of social media—particularly its use of Twitter.

The reading from The Social Organization focused on the concept of mass collaboration. I believe Wendy’s has done an excellent job in fostering a collaborative community on Twitter and has succeeded in interest cultivation. Interest cultivation involves collecting people and content around a common interest (food and “roasts” in Wendy’s case) with the goal of growing the community and increasing engagement.

Wendy’s has been able to stay extremely relevant and popular on Twitter by “roasting” other organizations like McDonald’s, Burger King, and even Butterfinger. Not all of the roasts go over well, but for the most part, Twitter users eat it up. According to Andria Cheng from Forbes, part of this success is that the social media team at Wendy’s can tweet without any approval from higher-ups. This ties into the collaborative community that thrives without the constraints and compartmentalization discussed in the reading.

But wait, there’s more. Wendy’s is known for more than just its roasts on Twitter. The company’s social media team delivers excellent customer service on Twitter with quick replies (and sometimes appropriately sassy comments) to any tweets that mention the company. In addition, the social media team is often on top of the latest memes and fun content like the famous #NuggsForCarter campaign and Wendy’s Twitter rap battle.

Through Wendy’s active presence on Twitter, the company is able to engage with its 3.4 million followers while simultaneously promoting the brand.

That’s all for now. Thanks for coming to my corner!