creativecollegestudent

[creativecollegestudent]

The current state of social media ethics by ALEXANDER GONZALEZ

The current state of social media ethics: what trends are happening in the industry? What are two current cases related to social media ethics? Outline the current code of ethics for social media by a professional organization you would be interesting in joining as part of their social media staff.

The world of social media is constantly evolving and changing, but here are some major trends that are currently happening in the industry. For example, Video Content, Ephemeral Content, Social Commerce, Augmented Reality, and Privacy and Security.

With the ongoing trends that are happening, there is also a lot of worry and concern about these trends. Like the numerous cases related to social media ethics.  Two current ones are:

Facebook and Cambridge Analytica - In 2018, it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica had obtained data on millions of Facebook users without their consent. The data was used to create targeted political advertisements during the 2016 US Presidential election.

TikTok and Privacy Concerns - TikTok, a popular short-form video app, has faced criticism for its privacy policies. The app has been accused of collecting user data and sharing it with the Chinese government.

I really related to the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) code of ethics.

The PRSA Code of Ethics outlines six core values that should guide the ethical practice of public relations professionals. These values are:

Advocacy - Public relations professionals should act as advocates for their clients or organizations, but should also be responsible to the public interest.

Honesty - Public relations professionals should be truthful and accurate in all communications.

Expertise - Public relations professionals should provide expertise to their clients or organizations, but should also continue to develop their own professional skills and knowledge.

Independence - Public relations professionals should avoid conflicts of interest and should be transparent about any potential conflicts.

Loyalty - Public relations professionals should be loyal to their clients or organizations, but should also be responsible to the public interest.

Fairness - Public relations professionals should be fair and respectful to all parties involved in their work.

When it comes to social media specifically, the PRSA Code of Ethics emphasizes the importance of transparency and disclosure. Public relations professionals should be transparent about their identity and the identity of their clients when engaging in social media communication. They should also disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

Overall, the PRSA Code of Ethics provides a clear framework for ethical practice in public relations, including in the realm of social media.

Brands/professionals with strong social media ethical codes: what brands are utilizing proper social media ethical practices? Are there any professionals that you feel practice strong ethical behavior on social media? Support your choice with evidence. What are some takeaways you can bring forth in your own practices?

There are a lot of brands with excellent social media strategies, including Hello Fresh, which has been one the first global carbon-neutral meal kit company. While they do not specifically mention their ethical practices, their success in such a challenging market indicates that they have been using social media effectively and ethically.

In addition, they have a very open conversation about their ethical social media marketing. These include being transparent, respectful, and responsible, as well as avoiding misleading statements and deceptive practices. By following these practices, professionals can ensure they are using social media ethically and responsibly.

As a takeaway, professionals should be transparent in their social media practices and avoid misleading statements. They should also be respectful and responsible in their interactions online. By following these best practices, professionals can ensure that they are using social media in an ethical and effective way.

Key concepts and issues: what main concepts do you are necessary to adhere to for your own personal conduct online?

When it comes to social media ethics, there are a few key concepts and issues that are important to consider.

Firstly, there is the issue of privacy. It's essential to respect the privacy of others and not share confidential information or personal details without their consent. This includes things like sharing photos or videos of others without their permission or discussing private conversations or interactions online.

Secondly, there is the issue of cyberbullying and harassment. It's crucial to treat others with respect and kindness online, and not engage in any behavior that could be considered harassment or bullying.

Thirdly, there is the issue of accuracy and honesty. It's important to be truthful and transparent in your online interactions and not spread false information or misinformation.

In terms of how I will conduct myself online, they are:

Being respectful and kind to others, even in the face of disagreement or conflict.

Being mindful of the impact your words and actions can have on others and taking responsibility for any harm caused.

Being truthful and transparent in your online interactions and avoiding spreading false information or misinformation.

Respecting the privacy of others and not sharing personal information or details without their consent.

Being aware of the potential consequences of your online behavior, both for yourself and for others.

What to do and what not to do: what main concepts do you feel strongly against and want to make sure you avoid on social media?

As a student and professional marketer, I strongly believe in the power of social media to connect people, build brands, and drive engagement. However, there are certain concepts that I feel strongly against and want to avoid when creating social media content. These include:

Discrimination: Discriminatory language and content have no place on social media. It is important to be inclusive and respectful of all individuals, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.

Misinformation: With the rise of fake news and misinformation, it is crucial to fact-check information before sharing it on social media. Spreading false information can cause harm and lead to confusion.

Cyberbullying: Bullying and harassment have no place on social media. It is important to use social media to uplift and support others, rather than tear them down.

Overpromotion: While promoting your brand or product is important, it is crucial not to overdo it on social media. Bombarding your followers with constant promotions can be off-putting and may lead to them unfollowing you.

Insensitivity: It is important to be mindful of current events and sensitive topics when creating social media content. Posting insensitive content can be damaging to your brand and may lead to a backlash.

By avoiding these concepts and focusing on creating quality, engaging content, you can build a strong presence on social media and connect with your audience in a meaningful way.

Bullet point 5-10 core concepts that you will follow as a practicing social media professional. Include citations that you used for sources/supports for this.

Know your audience: Understanding your target audience is essential for creating content that resonates with them. This includes demographics, interests, and behaviors. (Source: Hootsuite, "What Is a Target Market (And How to Find Yours in 2023)

Consistency is key: Maintaining a consistent brand voice, posting schedule, and visual aesthetic across all social media platforms helps build brand recognition and trust. (Source: Sprout Social, " How social media consistency drives business results")

Engage with your followers: Responding to comments and messages shows your audience that you value their input and fosters a sense of community around your brand. (Source: HubSpot, "Social Media Marketing: The Ultimate Guide")

Use visuals: Incorporating images and videos into social media posts can increase engagement and help your content stand out in a crowded feed. (Source: Forbes, "Visual Marketing: The Power Of Images & Videos For Promoting Your Brand")

Stay up-to-date on trends and algorithm changes: Social media platforms are constantly evolving, and it's important to stay informed on updates and changes to algorithms to ensure your content is being seen by your target audience. (Source: Social Media Today, "Social Media Algorithms: A 2023 Guide for Every Network")

Utilize analytics: Monitoring social media analytics can provide insights into what content is performing well and what can be improved, allowing for adjustments to be made to optimize future content. (Source: Buffer, "Introducing Buffer Analyze: A Social Media Analytics Tool From Buffer")

Be authentic: Authenticity is crucial for building trust with your audience and establishing a strong brand identity. This includes being transparent about sponsored content and avoiding overly salesy language. (Source: Forbes, "Why Authenticity Is The Most Critical Part Of Your Social Strategy")

Experiment with new formats: Trying out new formats such as Instagram Reels or Twitter Fleets can help keep your content fresh and engaging for your audience. (Source: Social Media Examiner, "Biggest Social Media Trends in 2023")

Collaborate with others: Collaborating with other brands or influencers can increase your reach and help build relationships with others in your industry. (Source: Hootsuite, "Why cross-brand collaborations are rising in popularity")

Continuously learn and adapt: Social media is constantly changing, and it's important to stay informed and adapt to new trends and best practices to stay ahead of the competition. (Source: Social Media Today, "The Importance of Continuous Learning in Digital Marketing")

[creativecollegestudent]

The Lion, The Elephant, and the Carousal. By Alexander Gonzalez.

I have chosen the Roger Williams Zoo to evaluate. I have always had a soft spot for local zoos. I am happy that in the state of Rhode Island, we have access to a pretty nice one. The Boston Globe named the zoo one of the best in New England. The 40-acre facility features animals of various species, such as African elephants, snow leopards, and seals. It also has a variety of other attractions, such as a playground and the historic carousel. 

I have seen on their existing social media accounts that they have a very good following. The brand presence is based on the main stars of the show and that is the animals. They currently have 44.3k on Instagram, 151k on Facebook, and 4k followers on Twitter. As well as their average engagement rate is between 2-3 percent depending on the platform. From a blog discussion from Hootsuite the average “good” engagement rate is between 1% to 5%. This is specific to the 2023 engagement guide posted on their site found here. 

I can see that their good engagement rate is something that can be increased with some small changes. However, it can be very challenging to determine which KPI to use and if this metric can lead to a decision or a course of action. While the goal would be to increase their interactions on Instagram, it might also help to sell merchandise from the same platform. 

A good metric is a way to provide actionable feedback and insight into the business's operations. It can help make changes to improve the effectiveness of marketing efforts and identify areas where it can improve. 

For starters, I would recommend starting a hashtag campaign around their Instagram posts to follow and track a specific event. Using this hashtag will help track what type of content is more interacted with. This will present the data that more content specific to what is being interacted with will help increase engagement. This will also expose their reach to a broader audience if the hashtag campaign is unique and trending. 

Also, it costs more to attract new customers than it does to retain the ones that you already have. This is why it’s important that you focus on retaining your existing customers. Happy, satisfied customers are more likely to become loyal to your brand and will continue to rely on you for their services. Introducing a loyalty campaign and tying it to their Facebook page could be beneficial. A special loyalty sign-up can be offered via a specific Facebook post with direct URL access. This can also be a way to drive ticket sales that are purchased online. 

You will first need to know how loyal your customers are. One of the easiest ways to determine if your customers are loyal to you is by examining their purchase history. This can be done by looking at the products or services that they have previously bought from you. For instance, if a customer repeatedly visits your site and purchases the same or similar products or services, this could mean that they are satisfied with the experience they received. Introducing a loyalty program to this specific list of customers can be easily implemented with email marketing or a specific promo code on a Facebook post. 

[creativecollegestudent]

Questions to ponder about social media by Alexander Gonzalez

The existence of social media has been a positive and negative influence on the world. I see social media as a business and tool for communication. However, there are many ways that I can describe or define what social media means to me. I am very biased on this topic because I am a social media manager and marketer. Without social media, I would probably be working in a much less creative field than I would like. 

Either way, social media is a way to help people communicate from all over the world. A way to share memories and experiences with people you want to interact with. It is a social tool, and it is in the name “Social Media”. But it does not stop there. It can help us stay active in the lives of our loved ones. While also keeping us informed of recent news and events worldwide.

Social media is also a capitalist manipulation business. We are fed ads and content that an algorithm decides for things we do not need. It entices us to fantasize about a lifestyle that is not realistic. It creates self-image issues and causes a strain on mental health. 

Social media has good and bad, but it all depends on how we use it. I read somewhere that the origination of social media was intended to be a communication tool to keep people connected. That lasted a few years before turning into the monstrosity it is now that dictates how we live or what we buy. 

The book defines social media as a networked hub of information and relationship management. I disagree I define it as a sales tool and disconnection from reality. 

I can only compare myself to a typical millennial who is curious about what others are doing. That is how I would say that my time is spent on social media for personal use. I am a looky-loo and nosey-nelly. I spend a lot of my free time checking to see what my friends are doing and if they are hanging out without me. I also believe that is more of a symptom of my anxiety. 

However, I do like to know what other people are doing. It gives me a sense of motivation to see people traveling or spending time in new scenery. I want to be able to explore the world and if that means exploring the photo grid of an Instagram travel influencer then so be it. It also allows me to plan future travel by scoping out places that others have been to. A much better way of checking out restaurants and tourist locations without leaving my home. 

Sometimes it amazes me what people will post on their social networks. Things that I would not like to share publicly are so easily spread across stories, posts, blogs, and photos. Nothing is secret and that is somehow liberating. Knowledge is power and I am glad to see people sharing it. 

Having grown up in the digital age has really been a head start for me with the understanding of social media. I know what it was like prior to social media and that helps me understand a world without it. I can determine the differences between what is real and fake on social media. I have an upper hand because my childhood was not publicized like a lot of people have grown up in the last couple of years. 

I know what social media was originally intended to be and how it has developed throughout the years. This also has led me into a career path that I never thought I would be a part of. I now get to be completely submerged in all things that are social media. Having to actively stay on top of changes and the ever-growing attributes of social media is a strength that I do not take lightly. 

One challenge that I have encountered is determining when I have consumed too much social media. My professional and personal life revolves around social media and sometimes it is difficult to disconnect. Something I have really struggled with is putting my phone down and shutting off the noise that social media causes. 

I would love to really refresh my knowledge of social media. I believe that learning about a topic that you are already familiar with allows you to go past what you already know. Especially with the fast-growing monster that is social media. There are so many things that I do not know, and I am hoping to gain at least one small piece of knowledge that will help me build a better relationship with social media usage. 

A lot of my knowledge comes from user experience and things that I had to self-teach. This will be a way to learn from a college-level curriculum and to me, that is more beneficial. Sometimes it takes a discussion with a classroom or feedback from a professor to help you understand more clearly. I also believe that I may have an interpretation of what I have experienced with social media whereas this class may help me understand something I could have missed entirely.