This Class

This class has taught me so much about social media in this day and age. I plan on doing some sort of social media work for a company after I graduate (preferably at Free People) and I truly believe that this class has really helped me to better understand just how social media works. I feel that I have a better understanding of my audience - I can predict what they will respond to in a positive manner. 

I also feel that I have seen the positive and negative affects of a society so focused on social media. The lack of human connection in public places and the need to post about life 14/7. I will be much more aware of the way social media is used in my everyday life thanks to this class. 

With nearly everyone on some form of social media platform, it's hard to imagine our lives without it. I hope that social media will remain a useful tool rather than becoming a way of life.

You didn't post about it, so did it actually happen?

So you went somewhere rad, you were having such a good time that you didn't post about it - did it actually happen? Stupid question, but I am definitely guilty of this. If I'm going to a highly anticipated concert or to some cool event, I feel that need to post about it, whether I'm posting selfies or play-by-play tweeting about it. As a photographer, I truly feel the need to photograph important events in my life a lot more than the typical human being. I post about everything from my morning coffee to the part I was at last weekend. 

But lately, I've been trying to a little less posting and a lot more living. It's quite freeing to be able to simply live in the moment rather than worrying about having wifi to post or having good light to take a photo. While it's nice to be able to share a moment with 1,000 of your closest friends, it's also even nicer to live in the moment with whoever you're with. You guys can always tell people about it later. This is something I like to remind myself if I'm ever feeling remorse about not taking any pictures.

I promise, it happened even if there is no photographic evidence.

Live a little

The Disconnect (Part 2)

Today my boyfriend and I decided to unplug and go for a walk in the woods. Like many people, we are both pretty "plugged in" most of the time - me with my constant social media posted/checking and him with his video games and TV. He just moved to a new team at work and I'm in the middle of finales so with such beautiful weather today we decided that it would be a good day to just completely unplug. 

We left out phones at home. I brought nothing but a little cash, my charlie card, and my camera. We took a walk in the Fens. It was an area that he had never been to and I was very familiar with. We took along the water past the blooming trees and grazing geese. Nothing but each other and the sounds and sights of nature.

It was refreshing to be able to do this. It is rare that the two of us get days off like this. We're hoping that we can do something like this at least once a month. Everyone needs the opportunity to unplug and recharge every once and a while.

Social Media Networks

That small boutique that posts about its sales on Instagram; that transportation system that tweets about its delays; that photographer with the gallery on Facebook.

All these social media outlets make it possible for the public to interact with these businesses, services, and people. The public can ask questions, leave comments, and even make connections. 

I have personally made a lot of connections through social media. My very first networking experience came to me when I was 17. Tiana, a local photographer that I really admired reached out to me about modeling for her. I was so excited that she wanted to work with me and ended up meeting up with her later that same week. What was supposed to be a few hours of shooting turned into an all-day hangout. We had a lot in common and became fast friends. Today, I can't imagine not having Tiana in my life. If it weren't for Facebook, we would never have met!

In a similar situation, Free People Boston reached out to me about a job opportunity through Instagram. The store's current hiring manager, liked my Instagram content and decided to hire me. Today, I've been with Free People for a little over a year and a half and I currently run all of the Boston store's Instagram content.

Having an account on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram can be the difference between a customer saving on a certain item, an employee being late to work, or even making a new friend.

My Tinder Journey

I remember when I first heard about tinder. It was my freshman year of college and I was pretty new to Boston. Meeting guys (especially when you attend an all women's college) can be trickier than one would imagine. Although I was living in a city full of college students, finding ways to meet people organically without seeming like a creep. 

I was 19, so not old enough to go out to bar, but old enough to go to frat parties. I discovered very early on that this was really not my scene. The brother only let you in if you were a hot girl or a friend so I got over that kind of exclusivity pretty quick. 

I started playing around on Tinder, never actually going out with any of the guys I was matched with, but talking to a few here and there. I soon got sick of it and deleted the app. I was still pretty stuck on trying to meet someone naturally.

It wasn't until my junior year, that I seriously started to use Tinder. I went a couple Tinder dates, all duds. Meeting up for a Tinder date is probably the most awkward experience...ever. 

Just when I was going to give up on the app and try to meet someone the old fashion way, I "Binge Tindered" - meaning I sat in my apartment on a Friday night with my roommate and just kept swipping right. I talked to nearly all my matches that night. Only one of them really stuck though. His name was Andrew and was quite the sweetheart. We met up the next day and we've been dating ever since.

Don't worry ladies, it is possible to meet a good guy on the internet. They're not all complete duds. You just have to be persistent sometimes. 

My Yik Yak Experience

I decided to download Yik Yak about two weeks ago. We had our discussion in class about anonymity on the internet using this app as an example. I heard about Yik Yak through a friend of mine that goes to the University of New Hampshire (a Yaking hotspot) and figured it was about time I tried it out. 

At first I was shocked just how honest people were. There were those crude bathroom and sex yaks, but there were also a number of just plain friendly yaks and genuine confessions. While scrolling through the feed, all I could think was "There is noooo way anyone would ever tweet that..." No one would ever talk about how their life is in the bedroom or in the bathroom if their name is attached. 

I must say it was pretty addicting the first day I tried out the app. I even yakked a few times to see just how much "yakkarma" I could get (I currently have 1034 after two weeks of yakking.) It is truly a refreshing form of social media.

Happy yaking! 

Fandom

When thinking about fandom, one big one comes to mind for me - the Twilight fandom. This is one that I was personally a part of. I read all the books when I was 14 and my group of friends at the time were all fans of the series as well. We would hang out at school and talk about the books. At that time, Twilight was somewhat of a cult phenomenon so there really were not that many fans. 

My friends and I considered ourselves an "alternative" crowd. At that time the fandom of Twilight - their members called "Twihards" - was mainly female ranges between the ages of 12-25. 

Being one of the first fans of series, I watched the fandom take off. First with fan fiction website and fanart and then with chat rooms and forums about the series. To me, it was always funny to see just how involved some people could get with fictional characters. Many of these fan-made works involved an extended story for the books. Many involved the relationship between Jacob and Renesme, Edward and Bella's daughter. 

Twilight fandom seriously blew up as soon as the making of the movie was announced. Fans of the seriously began to expand. Everyone and their mother was reading the Twilight books (literally, my Mom AND my Dad read the entire series as well.) 

Today, even after the last movie in the series has been released, Twilight fandom still exists. There are still those die-hard fans that continue to write their fan fiction expanding upon the story that touched so many individuals world-wide.