By Kaitlyn Reyes
Social media is a part of life I have distanced myself from over the past few years. The apps that I use throughout my daily life are either for school or work. However, fashion and beauty are a great interest of mine and are my most visited sites. I enjoy online shopping and browsing what is trending in those industries. Revolve is the site I visit most often, as it is a hub for several brands. An app that pairs well with my love for beauty and fashion is Pinterest. It is an app that allows consumers to create mood boards and pin inspiration to their page. Trend forecasting and analytics are big aspects of my ideal career. For leisure, I love using music streaming platforms to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. With my lack of social media, podcasts are a way to stay in the loop and keep up with pop culture and world news. Spotify is my preferred music streaming service because it hosts all the major podcasts and authors. Social media is a tool for me to gather inspiration and stay up to date on current trends and events.
Different social media platforms evoke different emotions in me. It can be difficult for individuals to express themselves without the pressure to present a perfect picture. Comparison is a significant part of social media and can become very damaging for many. I tend to stay away from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to avoid becoming addicted. I try to keep my screen time down to a minimum to distance myself from the negative aspects of social media. I realized the more I visit those apps, the less I actually talk to my friends and loved ones. It can be easy to replace phone calls and texts with comments and likes. Although apps like Spotify and Pinterest scratch a more positive part of my brain. Pinterest helps spark creativity and can inspire new ideas for the hobbies I keep. Pinterest is a whole array of images rather than focusing on the content creator itself. Music is a powerful tool, and Spotify is the app that brings me the most joy. Listening to music and audiobooks helps me relax and expand my knowledge. Social media apps that focus less on content creators themselves are the ones that I gather the most joy from.
With the career that I am working towards, it is disadvantageous if I do not keep up with all social media platforms. The most successful brands are the ones with the strongest digital presence. Digital media marketing has been a major part of brand campaigns and product launches. Developing a strong digital platform widens the brand’s audience and awareness. Brands are quick to recognize certain trends and use them to their advantage. Popular brands like Skims and Rhode collaborate with the latest celebrities and social media stars to promote their campaigns. Using these partnerships helps boost the brand and attract new consumers through their collaborator’s following. A negative effect of digital media is the rapid rise and fall of trends. It plays a major role in overconsumption and fast fashion. Brands must use digital media ethically to avoid promoting unhealthy spending habits.
Consumer Buying Behavior 