Blog 6

How do notable individuals use social media?

Notable individuals are often famous or important in some way, however, this description can define a diverse range of success; from economic, social, pop culture, and business. Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey are notable, so are Cardi B and the Kardashians. The similarity between these vastly different individuals is their social media presence; they all possess a large following and influence online. Notable individuals use social media as a platform for presenting information about their brand. They may post relevant findings and research related to their field, or showcase music, talents, and products they sell. They convey the idea that the content is produced authentically, but everything is curated based on specific intentions. Social media further reinforces their presence in culture and society. This idea of reflecting your brand on social media is conveyed by Vance. Her role as a broadcaster provides flexibility in terms of opinions/content she can post. 

 What are the benefits of being in the public eye and having a PLN? 

The benefits of being in the public eye and having a PLN is that you are represented in the online world and this opens up several opportunities for collaboration, employment, and learning. You have access to infinite knowledge, however there is equal access to you. This is the cavate of having an online presence, but it doesn’t have to be a warning if you create your PLN effectively. Specific benefits of being in the public eye include increasing your credibility and reliability, and having access to relevant information.

 Building community with online tools provided by the employer can be limiting, what are the perceived restrictions and benefits? 

Building community with online tools is a highlight of having an online presence. There are several benefits that include forming connections with likeminded individuals, increasing accessibility to niche interests, increasing professional collaboration, and widening the breadth of interactions. The restrictions are lack of physical cues that may lead to miscommunication, false personal identification, and the fact that being online may depersonalize a person from empathetic and kind responses.

 Delivering information in a connected society requires verifiable resources, how to build a PLN to rely on? 

It is imperative to read and include several sources when contributing to the online world. Information– whether it be a news article, documentary, or even published literature– has  been created for a purpose. More often than not this is incentivized, which creates possible bias for information and result. Interpreting several platforms and sources of information allows for more reliable conclusions and analysis.

 How do those, who are veteran storytellers, minimize risk in sharing misinformation 

Ensuring that false information does not get spread is vital for veteran storytellers. They must ensure the information being revealed is correct and relevant. Furthermore, conducting additional research can be useful for being able to improve judgement abilities for posting online. It is imperative to add the references that were used to develop a piece. This is done for reliability, respect, and a resource for readers to explore where information is coming from.

Vance, Jody & Miller, J. “EDCI 338 – 2021 – 03 – 21 JODY VANCE.” 03 Mar. 2021. doi: https://.youtube.com/watchv=dgZOJgJKdyl&feature=youtu.be

Hirst, M. (2018). Social Journalism and the Gig Economy. Navigating Social Journalism: A Handbook for Media Literacy and Citizen Journalism. Ch. 6.(pp. 142-143). New York, NY: Routledge.