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Social Media Ethics

By Luis Eduardo Galindez Garcia  

Trends in Social Media Ethics 

A growing trend in social media ethics is the emphasis on transparency and authenticity. Platforms are cracking down on misinformation, fake news, and AI-generated content. Users are demanding more accountability from influencers and companies regarding what they post and how they handle user data. 

Current Cases Related to Social Media Ethics 

One major case was the backlash against TikTok influencers promoting weight-loss products without disclosures. Another was the Meta whistleblower case, where internal documents revealed Facebook’s awareness of Instagram’s harmful effects on teen mental health. These cases highlight the urgent need for stronger ethical standards. 

Organization Code of Ethics 

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has a clear code of ethics that emphasizes honesty, advocacy, fairness, and accountability. I would be interested in joining an organization like this because it aligns with my belief that social media should be used to build trust and serve the public good. 

Brands with Strong Social Media Ethics

Patagonia is a good example of ethical social media use. They use their platforms to advocate for environmental protection, always disclose sponsorships, and don’t manipulate their audience with false urgency or unrealistic lifestyles. 

Professionals Who Model Ethical Behavior

One example is Dr. Julie Smith, a psychologist who uses Instagram and TikTok to share evidence-based mental health tips. She never sells false hope or miracle cures. Another is Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), who gives honest tech reviews without misleading sponsorships. 

Takeaways for Your Own Practice

I’ve learned that it’s important to always be transparent about who I am and what I’m promoting. I want to avoid sharing misleading content and make sure I give credit when using someone else’s work or ideas. Being respectful in comments and avoiding hate speech are also key takeaways. 

Important Concepts to Follow 

- Honesty: Tell the truth about products, experiences, and affiliations.  - Privacy: Protect people’s personal information.  - Consent: Always ask before posting about others.  - Transparency: Disclose sponsorships and paid ads.  - Accountability: Admit mistakes and correct them publicly.  - Respect: Avoid hate speech, bullying, and disrespect.  - Accuracy: Share only verified and credible information.  - Authenticity: Be real, not just performative.  - Inclusion: Promote diverse voices and viewpoints.  - Responsibility: Understand the influence you have. 

Unethical Practices to Avoid 

Practices I strongly disagree with include buying fake followers, spreading disinformation, using clickbait to mislead people, cyberbullying, and promoting unrealistic body standards. These behaviors are harmful because they damage trust, harm mental health, and manipulate audiences. 

Core Concepts You Will Follow 

- Tell the truth  - Be respectful  - Protect others’ privacy  - Give credit where it’s due  - Avoid spreading rumors  - Be transparent about sponsorships  - Don’t promote harmful content  - Stay open to different viewpoints  - Admit and correct mistakes  - Use social media to uplift, not tear down 

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Influencers: are they affecting the mental health of followers?  

Absolutely and in more ways than we often realize. Social media influencers shape how people think, feel, and even define their self-worth. On one hand, they create entertaining content, offer lifestyle tips, and build supportive communities. But on the other hand, many promote unrealistic beauty standards, wealth, and “perfect” lives that don’t reflect reality. Constant exposure to this kind of content can lead to anxiety, depression, body image issues, and a sense of not being “good enough.”

Young people, especially teens and young adults, are the most vulnerable. They’re still figuring out who they are, and seeing filtered, edited, and highly curated lives every day can distort their view of what’s normal.

But it’s not all negative there are also influencers who use their platform to speak up about mental health, promote authenticity, and encourage self-love. The key is who we choose to follow and how much power we give them over our emotions and decisions.

At the end of the day, it’s on us to set boundaries and remember that social media is just a highlight reel not real life. 🧠📲💬

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Tuning In: How Spotify Can Improve Social Media Metrics with Smarter Listening

By: Luis Eduardo Galindez Garcia

Spotify is one of the world’s most popular music streaming platforms, but like any brand, its success depends heavily on how it performs on social media. In this blog, I’ll explore how Spotify is doing on platforms like Instagram and Twitter, how it can improve, and what advanced metrics can help track success.

Spotify’s Current Social Media Metrics

On Instagram, Spotify has millions of followers and often posts music highlights, artist interviews, and trending playlists. The average engagement per post is strong, especially when featuring popular artists or new music releases.

On Twitter, Spotify uses trending hashtags, replies to fans, and promotes its playlists. However, engagement is often lower compared to Instagram, possibly due to Twitter’s fast-moving feed.

Metrics Evaluated:

Instagram: likes, comments, shares, and story views.

Twitter: retweets, replies, impressions, and hashtag usage.

How Spotify Can Improve

Better Use of Reels & Shorts: Instagram’s algorithm favors short-form video. Spotify should create more artist teasers or fan moments using Reels to boost reach.

User-Generated Content Campaigns: Encouraging fans to share their own playlists or Spotify Wrapped results with branded hashtags could increase engagement and authenticity.

Live Engagement: Hosting live interviews or Q&As with artists on Instagram Live or Twitter Spaces would help drive real-time interaction and deepen fan connection.

Suggested Metrics to Track Success

To improve, Spotify should go beyond basic metrics. Here are three types of metrics to track deeper insights:

Advanced Metric (Cross-platform)

Sentiment Analysis: Use tools like Brandwatch to analyze whether fans are talking positively or negatively about Spotify. This helps Spotify understand how people feel about the brand.

Channel Metric (Platform-Specific)

Instagram Story Completion Rate: Knowing how many people view all slides in a story shows if content is keeping attention. Low completion means content might be too long or boring.

Behavioral Metric

Click-Through Rate (CTR) on Playlist Links: Tracks how many users clicked on promoted playlists from social posts. It shows whether content leads to actual app engagement.

Final Thoughts

Spotify has a strong social media presence, but to keep leading in the digital world, it must focus on smarter engagement and deeper listening. By tracking advanced and behavioral metrics, and connecting more directly with fans, Spotify can boost loyalty and increase its platform usage.

Sources:

Social Listening: What It Is and Why It Matters

Six Ways to Improve Social Listening

Spotify Instagram

Spotify Twitter

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What is Social Media?

Blog #1 – 

By Luis Eduardo Galindez Garcia 

Social media, to me, is more than just apps and websites. It’s a global space where people connect, express themselves, share ideas, and build communities. While the textbook defines social media as platforms for communication and content sharing, I believe it also reflects who we are and how we relate to others in the modern world. It can shape opinions, influence behaviors, and even change lives. Social media has become a part of our daily routines, whether it’s to stay informed, entertained, or simply feel connected with others. 

As a social media user, I would describe myself as someone who uses it with purpose. I mostly use platforms to stay in touch with family, find motivation, and follow pages related to technology and education. I’m not the type to constantly post updates about my life, but I do enjoy reading what others share and occasionally commenting or sharing content that I find meaningful. I also follow influencers and creators who talk about personal growth and entrepreneurship, like Gary Vaynerchuk. His video on self-awareness really made me think more about who I am and how I use my time online. 

One of my strengths when it comes to social media is that I’m mindful about what I post and who I follow. I try to use these platforms in a positive way, whether it’s learning something new or supporting someone else. I think another strength is that I understand how social media can be both powerful and dangerous depending on how it’s used. My challenge, however, is sometimes spending too much time scrolling through content that’s not productive. It’s easy to get distracted and lose track of time, especially when the content is endless. Another challenge I face is figuring out how to use social media more effectively for my future career, especially since I’m studying computer science and want to get into cybersecurity. I know social media can be a tool for building a professional network, but I’m still learning how to do that. 

What I want to get out of this class is a deeper understanding of how social media works—from both a user and a professional perspective. I want to learn how to use it not just for personal use, but also as a tool for communication, networking, and maybe even promoting future projects or a business. I also hope this class helps me be more aware of the ethical and privacy concerns that come with using these platforms. In today’s world, everything we post online stays somewhere, and I want to be more responsible and educated about that. 

In the end, social media is what we make of it. It can be a distraction or a powerful tool it depends on how we use it. I’m excited to explore more about this topic and grow not just as a user, but as someone who understands the impact it has on society and the future.