Introduction - Social Media (9369)

Introductions have always been hard for me, where the heck do I start?

My name is Zoe and I am studying a bachelor of communications and media, majoring in journalism. I began studying my degree at the University of Newcastle and transferred to UC in 2020.

I was born in the late ’90s so much like my Millennial and Gen Z counterparts’ social media has been a major part of my life. With the emergence of ‘the big three’ - Facebook in 2005, Twitter in 2006 and Instagram in 2010 - almost two centuries of our lives have been filled with social media.

As a teen I was glued to my mobile, addicted to checking Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Tumblr (bet you haven’t thought about that one in a while). Although I was an avid social media user throughout high school, adulthood has been quite the contrary. These days I’ll only scroll through Facebook mundanely waiting for an appointment or public

transport and once in a blue moon I will share a post – generally a video of a dog. Instagram is the only social media platform I regularly use and interact with these days and even then, I am only a light user compared to most.

Although my personal use of social media is limited, in 2020 I was employed by Two Before Ten to run the social media accounts for their various cafes, The Bolt Bar and Illeso studio. This role consisted of creating content including video, photo and text, product and event marketing, as well as managing and maintaining communications between suppliers and buyers.

The platforms I used were predominantly Facebook and Instagram. These are two of the largest social media platforms in the world and are used by 'the everyday man' as well as businesses and corporations. Facebook and Instagram not only allow you to advertise and share your company’s products and activities but it also allows you to communicate directly to customers which done effectively, enhances your customer relationship.

Social media marketing is undoubtedly the best way for small businesses to advertise. It’s accessible, affordable and effective. This is because social media is an infinitely large platform hosted by the internet offering individuals bountiful amounts of information and interactions. Due to social media's extensive worldwide reach businesses, individuals, conglomerates and press are able to advertise, inform, persuade and communicate to over 3.6 billion people daily.

Social media platforms are extensive with hundreds of sites that are relatively uncensored, which attracts all demographics across the globe. The ease of attaining a social media account assists in harbouring a variety of people from children to adults, educated to uneducated, religious or atheist. The possibilities on social media are seemingly endless whether you are an individual, business or working within the media.