I use social media daily. Knowing how to sufficiently use social media is vital in today’s marketing. Many people stream movies and TV without commercials. Our local newspaper has stopped publishing physical copies for many days of the week and raised the printed paper’s price. The sources we used to advertise aren’t quite as efficient or seen as they used to be.

Social media is the main place that people discover new products, learn about the news, and keep up with area attractions. For instance, the football hall of fame, here in Canton, Ohio, has been creating a space that will attract more people to visit and stay in canton. They’ve put in a shopping area with places to eat, built areas for children to learn and play football, and are currently working on the construction of a water park. they often publish special events or update our city on the construction progress through Facebook. This is just one example of how marketing has evolved and its uses.

There are so many sites and applications that exist, each with its own purpose and atmosphere. I spend most of my time on Facebook, Instagram, Associated Press (AP) News, and TikTok. I use Facebook and Instagram mainly to keep up with the lives of family and friends. I like TikTok for its unfiltered news. We no longer wait to hear about what is happening in the world. We can experience and learn to understand each other in real-time. I have noticed many politicians now use TikTok to update and show constituents what is happening in Congress. This educational forum is where politicians can share their ideas and frustration. I visit the AP news mainly because it is one of the least biased news sources. I prefer to hear the facts and come to my own conclusions. I spend a lot of time researching whatever comes to my mind. Whether I’m looking for recipes for dinner or finding articles on how to be a better pet parent, I am exposed to ads.

It is hard not to have positive and negative emotions about social media. Facebook, for example, has gradually decreased the amount of posts we see from our friends and family. They have chosen to immerse the platform with advertisements and articles about whatever they have decided is important to us. I think if they aren’t more careful, they will lose people when they find other platforms to connect each other. This lack of balance between connection and ad immersion is harmful to both marketing and human connection. It is the human connection that draws people to many platforms and when ads become all a person sees, it loses its draw.

My needs are more satisfied using Instagram. This platform currently has a more balanced combination of connection and marketing. I can see pictures of my friend and her family in Canada. I can follow their Tattoo business and their family karaoke nights. I can also get coupon codes from Pet supplies plus, as well as follow my favorite social media dogs. In my opinion, if you haven’t followed bunny the talking dog on Instagram, you are missing out. I would have to say Instagram is the most balanced.

Many companies still use email to try to catch my attention. However, to be honest, I only read important emails and rarely open advertisements. I don’t have time for that and feel I get enough advertisements scrolling through the internet and on social media platforms. Occasionally a good subject line with a high-value discount will catch my attention. email has just become a flood of advertisements and junk mail. I get about five emails a day from my kid’s schools, and it can just get overwhelming to have so much to weed through.

I have noticed that social media today is a battle between connection and marketing. Overall, I believe social media can be a valuable tool for marketing as long as it is executed well. Platforms need to remember that people are drawn to connection. They need to feel connection with their loved ones and also with the companies products they love most.