twitter

OLJ Task 10 (Module 4) Twitter feeds

AOK INF506 , , ,

Explore two of the Twitter feeds listed above. Write a post for your OLJ of around 400 words that includes the following:

Compare and contrast the Twitter presence of the two organisations. What type of content do the organisations tweet (and retweet)? What audience are they appealing to? Do they appear to be successful? Analyse why or why not.

A little birdie told me…

(Blue bird, n.d.)

Being relatively new to Twitter, whilst trying to get my head around and navigate through this platform, I am constantly distracted by the tweets and retweets. This microblog format offers a short, sharp, quick and creative way to share information with its users. When comparing two Australian Twitter accounts, the Australian Library and Information Association (@ALIANational) and the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (@ACAReduau) there are many similarities and differences between the two.

Both accounts offer a very clear description and purpose of their page, defining what they are about with @ALIANational even stating their targeted audience being library and information professionals. As I scroll through it is obvious that the content provided is very much related to their purpose. Promotion of up-and-coming events, current issues, updates and general information feature through images, videos, hashtags and engaging captions. Going on followers alone, both accounts seem to have cemented their credibility and have a large following with numbers exceeding 10K.

In our Welcome to Week 8 update, the Q&A recording featuring Angela Hursh, highlights the importance of ensuring that a library’s social media page is not a bulletin board for information or flyers, but instead promotes and encourages moments of interaction with its users (Hursh, n.d.) or entices them to seek more information. When examining both accounts, apart from retweets, there is very little conversation occurring through the comment feature. However, there are numerous opportunities for users to connect to other sources of information if they desire. @ACAReduau generates content from a varied range of sources by retweeting which according to Cowell (2018) is very strategic adding value to your followers and creating a stronger network. Whereas @ALIANational, as well as retweeting, produces more original content. The frequency of tweets also differs. @ALIANational makes multiple posts a day whereas @ACAReduau is more sporadic. Hursh (2022) advises that maintaining an active presence, by posting frequently and consistently, will in turn increase your visibility, engagement and number of followers.

So, how does one judge success in the social media world? Is it through the number of followers, friends, likes, retweets or content? I don’t think there is a definitive answer to this. If we are looking at the number of followers then I would say, yes. Both appear to be successful. On the other hand, if one was to focus on the amount of interaction through comments and likes then I would say that both accounts have missed the mark with tweets presenting very low numbers in comparison to the number of followers. Without being the owner of either account, it is very difficult to make a judgement on the success of each. I believe the success of a page comes down to the user’s personal experience not the aesthetics that appear on the page, and whether or not the user sees benefit in what the site is providing.

References

Cowell, J. (2018, October 7). 15 twitter tips for librarians. Jane Cowell. https://janecowell8.medium.com/15-twitter-tips-for-librarians-8cba66589c6

Hursh, A. (2022). The 2022 guide to social media for libraries: Twitter. Super Library Marketing: Practical Tips and Ideas for Library Promotion. https://superlibrarymarketing.com/2021/12/20/twitterforlibraries2022/

Hursh, A. (n.d.). Q&A with Angela Hursh [Video]. INF506, Interact 2. https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_60616_1&content_id=_5039559_1&mode=reset

OpenClipart. (n.d.). [Bluebird]. Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/vectors/twitter-tweet-bird-funny-cute-117595/

OLJ Task 1 (Module 1) Social Media and Society Journal Task Analysis

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Differing Relationships Between Instagram and Twitter on Suicidal Thinking: The Importance of Interpersonal Factors

Having recently made the decision to have a break from social media, as well as being a mother of 4 children, 3 of whom being teenagers drawn to social media on a daily basis, the topics raised within this article are at the forefront of my mind. The individual interpersonal social experience that these platforms offer is not of concern. However, the effect that it can have and the suggestion that social media platforms are beginning to ‘take the place of’ older forms of communication are concerning (Barnes 2008). Words like “I need Snapchat because this is how everyone communicates and I don’t want to miss out” resonating from the mouths of my own children, speaks to thwarted belongingness, an interpersonal factor discussed in this article.

The relationship between social media, in particular Instagram and Twitter, and suicidal ideation is examined in this article. Although there is limited research in this area, what I found interesting were the contradictory results. With literature suggesting social media having a negative effect on mental health, this study in fact highlights that social media can have positive effects as well. Results indicated that Instagram had a negative relationship with interpersonal factors whilst there was no significant relationship found with Twitter. I agree that different Social Media platforms’ content and context vary, therefore causing differing effects (Unruh-Dawes. et. al., 2022). The content and context however were not examined as part of this study.

In my experience, using social media can have both positive and negative effects. Feelings of social connection are experienced when utilising social media platforms. The sharing of experiences and thoughts with others and interacting and responding to these, evoke this connection. However, on the flip side, FoMO (Fear of Missing Out) can also come into play. The social disruption that social media can cause both online and offline is real. People having to check status, updates and replies mid conversation, reflects not only (dare I say) people’s addiction, but also the social connection that people are having with that person at that particular time. Online, this same sense of connection or disconnection can be experienced. My children’s fear of their streak being discontinued and or the absence of a reply or acknowledgement to a message or post, leaves people questioning their social connection.

I believe there needs to be a balance between real life social interaction and that which these platforms offer in order to prevent the possibility of negative mental health outcomes.

References

Barnes, S. B. (2008). Understanding social media from the media ecological perspective. In E. A. Konijin, S. Utz, M. Tanis, & S. B. Barnes (Eds.), Mediated interpersonal communication (pp. 28-47). Routledge.

Unruh-Dawes, E. L., Smith, L. M., Krug Marks, C. P., & Wells, T. T. (2022). Differing relationships between Instagram and Twitter on suicidal thinking: The importance of interpersonal Factors. Social Media + Society, January-March, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051221077027