pauline-03

[pauline-03]

Social Gaming in the Digital Sphere: Exploring the Interplay Between Social Media Platforms, Affordances, and User Engagement

Social experiences are intricately linked to the platforms that host them, creating a dynamic and interconnected world as a result of social media and gaming coming together. This essay explores the complex relationship that exists between the affordances provided by these platforms and our social gaming experiences on social media. We will look at the example of Fortnite, a hugely famous online game that has become a cultural phenomenon and demonstrates the relationship between social media and social gaming, to demonstrate these dynamics.

Social gaming experiences are shaped by the distinct affordances offered by social media networks. Among these affordances, real-time communication, community building, and seamless sharing of material are the most notable. With the ability to interact, discuss, and share gaming experiences with a worldwide audience, social gaming platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch have become essential components of the ecosystem.

Epic Games' Fortnite is a prime example of the significant influence social media platforms have had on social gaming. Up to 100 people combat it out in the battle royale game Fortnite to be the final individual standing on a lively, constantly changing island (TapTap, n.d.). Its clever social feature integration and captivating gameplay are both key factors in its success.

To improve the game experience, Fortnite makes use of social media networks' real-time communication features. Voice chat and text chat are the two main conversation modes available in Fortnite. Using their microphones, players can converse with each other via voice chat or text chat (Metha, 2023). The incorporation of sites like Twitch, where users can livestream their gaming and promote real-time community involvement, was the true social revolution, though. This enables viewers to communicate, provide advice, and create communities centred around their favourite streamers in addition to giving participants a platform to display their skills.

Within the game industry, social media platforms help communities come together. A wealth of other Fortnite fans can be found in subreddits and forums, where they are always looking for their next companion. They converse about favourite gameplay modes, game developments, and (Post, 2023). Players on various devices can collaborate thanks to the game's cross-platform features, which go beyond conventional gaming borders. You can find friends on social media in addition to sharing memes (Post, 2023). According to this article (Amg, 2023), players cooperate, share works, and take part in creative challenges. Moreover, the rise of content created by users among Fortnite fans, such as memes, fan art, and videos, strengthens their sense of community and common identity.

Another important factor in the profitability of social gaming is social media networks. In-game cosmetic item purchases are available in Fortnite, much like in a lot of other online games (Epic Games Technical Support & Customer Service | Epic Games, n.d.). A mutually beneficial partnership is created when social media influencers and broadcasters work with game creators on promotions, giveaways, and exclusive content (The Enterprise World, 2023). This model demonstrates how social media networks, by giving developers, influencers, and the player community a direct channel of communication, enhance the economic aspects of social gaming.

The combination of social networking and social gaming has many advantages, but there are drawbacks as well, including moral dilemmas. Concerns including the possibility of addiction, toxicity in gaming communities, and cyberbullying are issues that need to be addressed. It is imperative that platform developers and providers take action to tackle these issues and establish a more secure and welcoming gaming environment.

In conclusion, the affordances provided by these platforms are closely linked to our social experiences in social media gaming. The social gaming ecosystem's integration of seamless sharing of content, real-time communication, community building, and monetization is exemplified by the Fortnite case study. Developers and players alike must comprehend and navigate the intricacies of this interconnected ecosystem as the lines between social media and gaming continue to blur. Future developments in digital entertainment and community involvement will surely be influenced by the changing dynamic between social media platforms and social gaming.

List of Reference

Amg, A. M. G.-. (2023, October 12). Fortnite and the Revolution of User-Generated Content: A new era of gaming. Medium. https://medium.com/@aeyguild/fortnite-and-the-revolution-of-user-generated-content-a-new-era-of-gaming-1e38683a0d33.

Epic Games Technical Support & Customer Service | Epic Games. (n.d.). Epic Games. https://www.epicgames.com/help/en-US/.

Metha, N. (2023, June 8). Fortnite Chat: strategies, tips, and best practices. Brandalytics. https://brandalytics.co/fortnite-chat/#:~:text=Fortnite%20offers%20two%20primary%20forms,make%20the%20most%20of%20them.

Post, S. (2023, August 30). Find Fortnite players to play with: Ultimate Guide. TheXboxHub. https://www.thexboxhub.com/find-fortnite-players-to-play-with-ultimate-guide/.

TapTap. (n.d.). https://www.taptap.io/post/6391965?utm_medium=seo&utm_source=google.

The Enterprise World. (2023, May 25). How Online Gaming Business Use Marketing in 2023? | The Enterprise World. The Enterprise World. https://theenterpriseworld.com/create-successful-online-gaming-business/.

[pauline-03]

Is social media useful in spreading information on covid-19 in Malaysia or your country? What is your opinion?

Gif from giphy

Hi there! This week’s blog is about public health and we will dive a little about the coronavirus disease, also known as covid-19 and in days gone by, named 2019 novel coronavirus. Coronavirus was first spotted at one of open air “wet market” in Wuhan, China. Afterwards, during that time, there was an assumption that there might a coronavirus originated in one of lab in China as a biological weapon. However, the newest reports concur that the coronavirus is not an engineered virus being developed to become a biological weapon.

What is social media role during coronavirus issue?

According to (Abbas et al., 2021), people usage time on social media is higher than usual during COVID-19 pandemic period since social media is the only platform where people can search for health information for their own and their loved one’s benefits. Due to global crisis and health disaster during the pandemic, social medias have become the most welcome relief for people.

(Abbas et al., 2021) also stated, typically, users will create or share about health information that already available via local or international sources as their response to an international public health issue.

As social media platforms can bring impacts to people, people also need someone who can share their own life experience or their knowledge about health issue and shared their experience or knowledge about health information. This method called peer support. The peer support concept on social media is referring to health information that will help people to know more about Covid-19 pandemic issue. People will be searching for health-related news regarding to Covid-19 pandemic in their social media account, for example the most common one is Facebook. Since Covid-19 pandemic brought “culture shock” to the world, people will be searching for the detailed health-related update and stay keep in touch with family, friends and peers. Public communication and interaction searching for accurate information and opportunity of Covid-19 to create proper virus prevention on social media. Since social media provides the latest news and trustable information to the world, social media have become the central role in answering in global health crisis issue.

Gif from giphy

Social media and electronic government (E-government) role during Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia

Image from YouTube

First Covid-19 case detected in Malaysia after three individuals had a close contact with one individual in Singapore. They had their trip into Malaysia from Singapore on January 24th 2020 and tested positive on January 25th 2020. After that, on the February 4th 2020, the very first Malaysian was tested positive Covid-19 after he returned from Singapore and started to cough and had fever.

During the pandemic time, the Ministry of Health of Malaysia take advantages of social media to educate and spread the awareness to the public about the Covid-19 precautions. On 18th March 2020 until 18th April 2020, the Malaysia Government implemented Movement Control Order (MCO) to control the Covid-19 from widespread.

During the entire period of Covid-19, social media accounts for example like X (previously known as Twitter) and WeChat were used to share the updates about preventive measure and healthcare. After Tan Sri Muhyiddin implemented MCO, the media started to actively using the #stayhome hashtag to spread the awareness. The government of Malaysia come up with enough latest information to the public via the Official Portal of the Ministry of Health Malaysia, verified Facebook page named Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia posted about the Crisis Preparedness and Response Center (CRPC) and Telegram channel named CPRC KKM.

The Malaysia government also launched one application that can only used on mobile named MySejahtera in April 20202 to help all the users to keep track of their health progress, helping the authorities to collect the latest information, check in location and come up with the most essential and fast reply.

Screenchot of CPRC KKM telegram page

Screenshot of KKM Facebook page

Now, if you ask me, i would definitely say yes. I do agree that social media is useful in spreading information on Covid-19 because through social media is the way that Ministry of Health Malaysia can reach out to the people since gathering is allowed during the MCO period. People will depend on social media to stay connected with their family or friend and also to get the latest update regarding to health issues.

Image from Facebook

References

Brennan, D. (2022) Coronavirus history: How did coronavirus start?Dan, WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/covid/coronavirus-history (Accessed: 01 November 2023).

Abbas, J. et al. (2021) Social media technology during COVID-19: RMHP, Risk Management and Healthcare Policy. Available at: https://www.dovepress.com/the-role-of-social-media-in-the-advent-of-covid-19-pandemic-crisis-man-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-

Elengoe, A. (2020, June). Covid-19 outbreak in Malaysia. Osong public health and research perspectives. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7258884/#:~:text=On%20the%2025th%20January,the%2024th%20January%202020.

Ahamd, N. S., Zulkifli Hussain, Abd Hamid, H. S., & Khairani, A. Z. (2021, July 10). Roles of social media and counselling support in reducing anxiety among Malaysian during COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420921004179

Kahe. (2021, May 4). Important role of social media during pandemic disaster. Karpagam Academy of Higher Education. https://kahedu.edu.in/important-role-of-social-media-during-pandemic-disaster/

Md Shah, A. U., Azrie Safri, S. N., Thevadas, R., Noordin, N. K., Abd Rahman, A., Sekawi, Z., Ideris, A., Hameed Sultan, M. T., & h. (2020, June 2). Covid-19 outbreak in Malaysia: Actions taken by the Malaysian government. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971220304008#:~:text=The%20Government%20of%20Malaysia%20enforced,personal%20protective%20equipment%20for%20frontliners.

Mat Dawi, N., Namazi, H., Hwang, H. J., Ismail, S., Maresova, P., & Krejcar, O. (2021, January 27). Attitude toward protective behavior engagement during covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia: The role of E-government and Social Media. Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.609716/full#:~:text=Malaysia%20residents%20can%20get%20information,of%20CPRC%20KKM%20(24).

#Week7 #MDA20009

[pauline-03]

Crowdsourcing in Social Media: Unveiling the Dynamics of Affordances and User Engagement

An era of unparalleled communication and collaboration has been ushered in with the introduction of social media platforms. Among the many purposes these platforms fulfil, crowdsourcing is particularly noteworthy as an effective way to leverage community engagement and intellect. This essay explores the complex interrelationships of the affordances provided by social media platforms, our social experiences with crowdsourcing, and the manner in which users make use of these resources. We will examine a case study that demonstrates the revolutionary potential of crowdsourcing on social media in order to shed light on this dynamic interplay.

To begin with, what is crowdsourcing? Crowdsourcing is the process of gathering work, data, or insights from a huge number of people who provide their knowledge via social media, the Internet, and mobile apps (Hargrave, 2022). Crowdsourcing is the process of redirecting knowledge management to include the outside environment of the company as a major source of knowledge (Devece et al., 2019).

Crowdsourcing information, ideas, and responses is made easier by the special affordances offered by social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This is demonstrated by the fact that users can create surveys and polls on Facebook using the "Questions" feature, generate surveys on Twitter and gather feedback from their followers, and set up polls on Instagram stories for marketing campaigns (SocialPilot, 2023). These platforms' real-time nature facilitates immediate replies from a wide range of audiences by enabling rapid information flow. The capacity to instantly connect with a worldwide audience turns social media into an active environment for cooperative problem-solving.

The Ice Bucket Challenge is one case study that we can examine. The summer of 2014 saw the widespread popularity of the Ice Bucket Challenge, which provides an engrossing case study for comprehending the mutually beneficial link between platform affordances and social media crowdsourcing. As part of the challenge, participants had to cover their heads with a bucket of ice water, nominate others to participate, and solicit funds to fund research on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The campaign captured the attention of social media users and spread swiftly, surpassing regional limits. Not only did this affect common people, but it also reached notable figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates. This demonstrates the extent of the Ice Bucket Challenge's success. The task illustrated social media's influence. Moreover, the challenge demonstrated that social media can be an incomprehensible marketing weapon if its power is properly directed, controlled, and exploited (Brown, n.d.).

The Ice Bucket Challenge was a huge success because of social media's viral nature. The challenge's structure and the captivating visual component of players dousing themselves in icy water created content that was extremely shareable. Video is a terrific way to communicate, which is why Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn have all been extensively promoting it on their networks (Lake, 2022). Thanks to their quick information-sharing capabilities, social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter helped the challenge spread quickly among users. Celebrities, public figures, and people from all walks of life took part in the challenge and nominated others to participate, turning it into a cultural phenomenon.

The Ice Bucket Challenge has succeeded in fostering an incredible community that is in equal parts inclusive and exclusive (Sahai, 2018). The simplicity with which one could tag, share, and nominate others encouraged a sense of community as people accepted the challenge of making a generous contribution. Through the virtual chain of nominations and answers, a dynamic network of participants was formed, bridging geographical divides and uniting individuals in a shared experience towards a common goal.

In summary, the affordances these platforms give are closely linked to our social experiences in social media crowdsourcing. The Ice Bucket Challenge is a powerful illustration of how social media platforms' virality, simplicity of sharing, and developing communities potential can be used to inspire large crowds of people to support a cause. Comprehending the interplay between social media platforms and crowdsourcing is crucial for properly utilising these tools to promote good change and involvement in varied communities as we traverse the terrain of digital participation.

List of References

Brown, S. (n.d.). Why Has The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Been Such A Huge Success? https://www.roionline.com/blog/blog/why-has-the-als-ice-bucket-challenge-been-such-a-huge-su.

Devece, C., Palacios, D., & Ribeiro-Navarrete, B. (2019). The effectiveness of crowdsourcing in knowledge-based industries: the moderating role of transformational leadership and organisational learning. Ekonomska Istrazivanja-economic Research, 32(1), 335–351. https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677x.2018.1547204.

Hargrave, M. (2022, November 20). Crowdsourcing: Definition, how it works, types, and examples. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/crowdsourcing.asp#:~:text=Investopedia%200%2F%20Paige%20McLaughlin-,What%20Is%20Crowdsourcing%3F,others%20complete%20small%20tasks%20wilfully.

Lake, H. (2022, January 27). Why did the Ice Bucket Challenge do so well? UK Fundraising. https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/03/06/why-did-the-ice-bucket-challenge-do-so-well/.

Sahai, T. (2018, January 9). What the ALS ice bucket challenge can teach us about the power of belonging. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140925093034-7719084-what-the-als-ice-bucket-challenge-can-teach-us-about-the-power-of-belonging.

SocialPilot. (2023, October 17). Crowdsourcing - definition, uses, and examples. https://www.socialpilot.co/social-media-terms/crowdsourcing#:~:text=Different%20social%20media%20platforms%20support,to%20create%20polls%20and%20surveys.

[pauline-03]

Public Health Campaigns & Communities

The convergence of public health campaigns with social media platforms in the modern digital era has changed how people interact and perceive health-related content. Public health communications and community engagement are greatly aided by the complex interplay between our social experiences on social media and the affordances of these platforms. Using a case study to provide a thorough analysis, this essay examines the symbiotic relationship between social media, its affordances, and how communities use these platforms in the context of public health initiatives.

Public health campaigns can benefit from the special affordances offered by social media platforms. Compared to more conventional forms of communication, social networking platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Twitter have made it easier and faster to share news with a far larger audience. Because of these characteristics, it is now essential for academics to use social media to communicate their research and to produce reputable content that can be viewed by a large audience (Dong et al., 2020). These advantages are used by public health advocates and organisations to disseminate instructional materials, reach a wide audience, and encourage healthy lifestyle choices.

An effective case study demonstrating the significant influence of social media on public health efforts is the COVID-19 pandemic. Social media sites such as Twitter and Instagram have emerged as vital conduits for the dissemination of factual information, dispelling myths, and promoting preventative measures. Health officials took advantage of social media's real-time nature to interact with the public, share instructions, and offer timely information.

Social media platforms have made it easier to distribute infographics, videos, and other visually appealing content that conveys complicated medical knowledge widely. As a result of the popularity of hashtags like #MaskUp and #StayHome, there was a sense of collective commitment to public health recommendations. Social media users' interconnection facilitated the quick dissemination of information, highlighting the cooperative character of community involvement in public health initiatives.

Social media platforms function as dynamic areas where citizens participate actively in public health initiatives. With the ongoing advancement of technology and other reasons, social media is becoming an increasingly potent instrument for educating people about a variety of socially relevant issues and raising awareness of them. Social media efforts can help advance mental health. According to a study on the use of social media for health by teenagers and young adults, 25% of participants said that social media may give them helpful information (Latha et al., 2020). Users are encouraged to submit their experiences, ideas, and support for health initiatives on these participatory platforms. User-generated material is a common component of public health campaigns, empowering people to become advocates for health promotion. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, people promoted a sense of unity, emphasised the value of immunisation, and shared personal tales of conquering the virus. The communal exchange of personal stories aided in the de-stigmatization of health-related concerns and encouraged open dialogue among community. 

Social media platforms provide public health campaigns with previously unheard-of possibilities, but they also come with difficulties and moral dilemmas. The efficiency of campaigns can be hampered by the quick dissemination of false information and the emergence of "echo chambers," when people with similar views reinforce one another's opinions. According to a recent study, bogus news spreads more quickly than actual news on Twitter. For example, polarisation on the internet might encourage the spread of false information.  Users also have a propensity to gravitate towards content that supports their opinions and associate with communities that are built around a common story—a phenomenon known as echo chambers. The rise of social media echo chambers could be explained by selective exposure and confirmation bias (Cinelli et al., 2021). Promoting inclusive dialogues that reach a range of audiences and utilising tactics to guarantee information accuracy are two ways public health advocates must overcome these obstacles. For instance, during the epidemic, government health officials "took action" against 14 social media posts that spread false information about Covid-19 (Zainul, 2022).

In summary, the distinct affordances that social media platforms provide are closely linked to our social experiences in public health initiatives. The COVID-19 pandemic case study emphasises how social media may have a revolutionary impact on community participation, the dissemination of factual information, and the promotion of healthy practises. Social media platforms are dynamic hubs for information sharing and community development because of their participatory nature, which enables communities to actively participate in public health activities. Understanding and utilising social media platforms' affordances is essential for the success of public health initiatives and the welfare of communities everywhere as we continue to navigate the rapidly changing environment of digital communication.

List of References

Cinelli, M., De Francisci Morales, G., Galeazzi, A., Quattrociocchi, W., & Starnini, M. (2021). The echo chamber effect on social media. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118(9). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2023301118.

Dong, J., Saunders, C., Wachira, B., Thoma, B., & Chan, T. M. (2020). Social media and the modern scientist: a research primer for low- and middle-income countries. African Journal of Emergency Medicine, 10, S120–S124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afjem.2020.04.005.

Latha, K. R., Meena, K. S., Pravitha, M. R., Dasgupta, M., & Chaturvedi, S. K. (2020). Effective use of social media platforms for promotion of mental health awareness. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 9(1), 124. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_90_20.

Sheikh, B. F., Karam, A., Botero, L. F. V., Neulat, L., Madhujan, L. R., Meléndez-Samó, L. M., Subba, U. K., Siu, O., & Giannone, Z. (n.d.). Stories of hope, resilience and inspiration during the coronavirus pandemic. https://www.apa.org. https://www.apa.org/international/global-insights/stories-pandemic.

Zainul, H. (2022, March 4). Harris Zainul. https://www.isis.org.my/2022/03/04/moh-acted-on-14-viral-fake-news-posts-for-covid-misinformation/.

[pauline-03]

Social Media Activism and Protest

Hello peeps! I 'll be delving deeply into the complex connection between activism and social media. It's important that we keep a critical viewpoint because this is a topic that has generated a great deal of discussion and debate. Although there's no denying that social media has changed the face of grassroots movement and protest, we also need to be aware of its limitations and complexity. This blog examines the ways in which social media platforms and their affordances shape our social experiences in activism, with a focus on a case study that highlights the complex complexities of this interaction.

Social media's birth and explosive expansion have changed how people connect, communicate, and interact with each other with social concerns. With the ability to amplify voices, create international connections, and mobilise support like never before (Vasukam, 2023).

Social media has come to serve as a potent weapon for activists and social justice groups. Social media has become a potent instrument for activism, giving people and movements a forum to spread awareness, start dialogues, and promote social change. Many activists have taken use of social media's ability to question conventions, advocate for equality, and create a more welcoming atmosphere (Ilieva, 2023).

The #BlackLivesMatter campaign is a powerful illustration of how affordances, activism, and social media networks interact. This movement, which began as a reaction to institutional racism and acts of violence by law enforcement, gained traction on social media sites like Twitter, where users aggregated and amplified their thoughts using hashtags. Twitter's features, such as its hashtag feature and real-time communication capabilities, allowed news to circulate quickly, energising campaigners and starting a global dialogue on racial justice. According to research, the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag has been used on Twitter approximately 47.8 million times, or less than 3.7 million times every day on average (Pew Research Center, 2021). Public conversation can become more individualised and comprehensive when social media posts using the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter are made. This demonstrates how huge and different groups may come together to share knowledge, personal stories, and to mobilise behind a cause thanks to the accessibility of digital social media (Olson, n.d.).

Social media platforms' affordances have a big impact on how activists plan ahead and coordinate. For example, hashtags make content more discoverable and visible (iGrowMarketing Digital SEO Agency, 2023). Activists use these affordances strategically to plan demonstrations, disseminate educational materials, and forge a shared story. For instance, hashtag activism—the practise of mobilising people to support or fight for a cause on social media—has become a well-liked method of using social media to advocate for change. It can introduce fresh perspectives into the public conversation  (Goswami, 2018).

User involvement is closely related to the efficacy of social media activism. Nonprofits, for instance, might encourage people to do small, helpful steps on social media, such as liking, sharing, and commenting (Park & Rim, 2020). This is an example of how activists may encourage people. User-generated content turns into a catalyst since it not only represents a range of viewpoints but also makes a cause more viral. These platforms' user connectivity encourages a sense of collective agency in which each person's activities contribute to a larger movement.

In conclusion, the platforms we utilise and the affordances they provide have a significant impact on our social experiences in social media activism. The #BlackLivesMatter movement case study illustrates the complex relationship that exists between activism, social media, and the particularities of each platform. The way activists plan, coordinate, and interact with users is shaped by their affordances, and the effectiveness of these movements is further influenced by user involvement and platform resistance. A thorough grasp of the complex interplay between social media platforms and activism is crucial as we traverse the rapidly changing terrain of digital activism in order to bring about significant and long-lasting change.

List of References

Goswami, M. P. (2018). Social media and hashtag activism. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326655352_Social_Media_and_Hashtag_Activism.

iGrowMarketing Digital SEO Agency. (2023, May 10). The role of hashtags on social media. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/role-hashtags-social-media-igrowmarketing.

Ilieva, M. (2023, July 26). Amplifying Voices: The Impact Of Social Media On Activism In The Music Industry. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/07/26/amplifying-voices-the-impact-of-social-media-on-activism-in-the-music-industry/#:~:text=Social%20media%20has%20emerged%20as,foster%20a%20more%20inclusive%20environment.

Olson, R. E. (n.d.). Roles of social media in the Black Lives Matter Movement during COVID-19. ScholarWorks@GVSU. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/honorsprojects/838/.

Park, K., & Rim, H. (2020). “Click First!”: The Effects of Instant Activism Via a Hoax on Social Media. Social Media + Society, 6(2), 205630512090470. https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305120904706.

Pew Research Center. (2021, November 15). #BlackLivesMatter hashtag surges on Twitter after George Floyd’s death | Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/06/10/blacklivesmatter-surges-on-twitter-after-george-floyds-death/.

Vasukam. (2023, August 7). From Hashtags to Impact: How social media Revolutionized Activism. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-social-media-shaping-modern-activism-justice-movements.

[pauline-03]

"Is blogging still relevant in the age of TikTok and Instagram?"

Trends change with the seasons in the always changing world of the digital era. One may question the continued relevance of blogging, the long-time champion of long-form material, in the age of TikTok's 60-second clips and Instagram's finely curated photo grids. Let's first take a closer look at blogging before moving on to the subject.

Blogging

A blog, often known as a weblog, is a frequently updated online page that is used for business purposes or personal comments. The original forms of content marketing on the internet were blogs. They have existed since the earliest days of the internet (Beyond the Panorama 2022). Today's blogs are more likely to be personal online diaries or business-related commentary that's updated often and aimed at the broader public (Barney 2022).

TikToks and Instagram

 

Now that we know what blogging is, let’s dive into TikTok and Instagram. TikTok is a social media site that only supports short-form videos, whereas Instagram is a fully developed visual social media platform that supports photo sharing on top of any type of video, including both short-form and long-form clips (Maria 2022). Instagram was designed from the beginning to be a platform for sharing everyday stuff. a picture of your dinner or a picture of you eating with your companions. But with time, that type of stuff seemed to shift. We now hear more about Instagrammers, influencers, and content creators than phrases like bloggers because Instagram has grown into what feels like an unstoppable force.

So, how do we determine if blogging is still relevant in the era of TikTok and Instagram? Let’s decide it by looking at their main factors.

Longevity

Like gemstones, blogs are eternal. Blogs are permanent, unlike reels and TikTok videos, which only last a short while. This is because even if the videos are out-of-date, users can continue to discover relevant content on blogs via search engines (Beyond the Panorama 2022).

Purpose

Reels and TikTok were primarily developed as forms of entertainment, or at the very least, infotainment. On the other hand, blogs can be educational, amusing, or sales-focused, and they can support businesses in achieving a variety of goals (Beyond the Panorama 2022).

Media Flexibility

Reels and TikTok videos only enable video formats, whereas blogs allow for the inclusion of text, photographs, video, and other media. As a result, blogs may be utilised far more effectively to spread the word by utilising a variety of media formats. Because blogs offer more options, this offers consumers more freedom to decide (Beyond the Panorama 2022).

Platform Independence

According to Beyond the Panorama (2022), reels and TikTok are only available on those two platforms, respectively. They can only be used to target the usual young adult and teenage audiences of these networks. In contrast, blogs may be optimized for SEO to be found by Google on any platform.

More Structured

Even now, people read articles and blog postings. Sometimes people just want to click on a link, browse the content, and choose the information they need. Not every individual wants to watch a video for a piece of information. Articles are more structured, you don't have to know who wrote them, and they're highly useful in numerous areas of life.

Community

In the quick-paced world of TikTok and Instagram, there is frequently a lack of a sense of community and connection. Although these platforms are fantastic for getting instant likes and comments, bloggers may build long-lasting relationships with their readers by participating in continuous discussions in the comments area or through email newsletters. In addition to knowledge, many readers flock to their favourite bloggers for a sense of community and belonging to a specific specialty.

In conclusion, while TikTok and Instagram are undeniably popular and play a big part in how people consume material today, they cannot replace blogging for its distinctive contribution to the online world. There is still a place for bloggers who are passionate about sharing their ideas and tales with the public in a world that seeks both instant enjoyment and in-depth knowledge.

List of References

Beyond the Panorama 2022, ‘Content Marketing’, 6 reasons that make blogs remain relevant in the age of reels and tiktok, 5 August, viewed 25 September 2023, < https://beyondthepanorama.com/6-reasons-that-make-blogs-remain-relevant-in-the-age-of-reels-and-tiktok/>.

Barney, N 2022, What is a blog?, TechTarget, viewed 26 September 2023, < https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/weblog#:~:text=Today's%20blogs%20are%20more%20likely,page%20in%20reverse%20chronological%20order>.

Maria 2022, TikTok vs Instagram: Key differences you need to know, SocialBee, viewed 26 September 2023, < https://socialbee.com/blog/tiktok-vs-instagram/#:~:text=How%20Is%20TikTok%20Different%20from,videos%20through%20the%20IGTV%20feature>.