Posts

Visual Communication Online

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 Hello everyone and welcome back to the weekly blog post! Today we are going to discuss a methodology called Social Semiotics and provide some examples.  Social Semiotics is a methodology used to analyze how meaning is communicated/created through connotation and social and cultural visuals like images, languages or symbols. Developed by Michael Halliday, Social Semiotics represents the ways that meaning is shaped by social context and power structures. Understanding this methodology can be vital to understand communication through many types of media, especially in our increasingly digital world. According to Introducing Social Semiotics by Theo Van Leeuwen: "...the term connotation can also be applied to semiotic modes other than language. Images, too, have two layers of meaning – the layer of denotation, that is the layer of ‘what, or who, is represented here?’ and the layer of connotation, that is the layer of ‘what ideas and values are expressed through what is represente...
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Online Arguments

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Hello everyone and welcome back to our weekly blog post. Today I am going to discuss an example of an online argument I came across, and what NOT to say/do when discussing things online.  As we all know, the 2024 election occurred recently which makes social media a very hot-headed place to share your political opinions. Most of the time, online users think that just because they aren't talking with their opinionated opponent face-to-face that it is perfectly acceptable to say rude things. But it is not at all. Humans are still humans even when communicating over social media through comment threads and everyone deserves to be treated with respect and kindness. As a society in a digital age, I think many of us are still learning how to navigate social media and disagreements in a positive way.  Here is a source from University of Washington that gives more information about how to have more positive arguments online:  https://www.washington.edu/news/2021/04/19/uw-research...
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Toulmin Method

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 Hello! Welcome back to our weekly blog post where today I will be discussing the Toulmin Method and how it works within online communication.  In the digital age, online communication is so important in how we form opinions, engage with others, and build arguments. From online debates to Instagram comment sections, the internet offers a vast realm of conversations that require critical thinking and an effective argument. A great method for navigating these discussions is the Toulmin method, a structured approach to analyzing arguments and creating persuasive messages. The Toulmin method was created by a philosopher named Stephen Toulmin. It breaks down arguments into six key components: Claim: The main point that the argument is trying to prove. This is the basis of the argument that the speaker or writer wants the audience to believe. Data: Evidence or facts that support the claim. Data can include statistics, opinions, personal experiences, or research findings. Warrant: Ho...
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Research Podcast: Dangers of Mediated Communication

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 Hello guys! Welcome back to another weekly blog post where I will be discussing the dangers of online communication with specifics in social media. I've done research on this topic by using in class materials and a podcast. The podcast I have chosen is published by: The Psychology of your 20s, and is titled: "Is social media corrupting your brain?". It discusses the psychology of social media, how it controls our behaviors, social comparison and what makes TikTok so addictive. In class we have learned about how online communication can be beneficial but how it can also be dangerous, and today I choose to discuss the ways it is negative.  The link to the podcast is here:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/38jwvvLsh8QEx5XSQ08XBu Social media has been created with intent to capture our attention for extended periods of time, curating addiction and dependency to it. Algorithms used by social media sites create content specifically catered to each user, so they constantly view...
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The Battle For Public Opinion

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Hello and welcome back to my weekly blog post!  Today we are talking about the Battle for Public Opinion, specifically talking about our vivacious online landscape is transforming the dynamics of public opinion formation and communication strategies. The internet is a huge landscape in the digital age that allows anyone the freedom to Provide examples of successful or controversial online campaigns that have significantly influenced public opinion and explain the underlying communication tactics. Social media allows anyone to release rapidly spreading information that anyone with an online presence has the ability to view. These millions of posts from anyone, influence public opinion heavily and have entirely shifted the dynamics of how the public forms their opinion, and communicates. There are many consequences from this type of communication including the difference in democracy, interpersonal relationships and the overall well-being of society.  Democracy is at risk becaus...
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Online Communication, Business Assessment

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 Hello again! We are back with our weekly post, and today I would like to talk about a business that I find extremely interesting from a communication standpoint: Adidas .  I think this company does an amazing job of communicating through their website and their social media accounts. They are loyal to their customers, and I can say from a personal perspective that Adidas does a great job of notifying their previous customers about new sale opportunities and product releases. The website itself does a great job of providing the most relevant news on their main page, so you see it immediately after opening the website. The website link is also featured on every social media account and post, so users can quickly and simply access the product. Social media sites include Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and more, all of which are beautifully managed by the marketing team to create eye-catching and attention drawing content. They make sure to post about 1-2 times a day, with relevant co...
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Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants

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Hello guys!  We are back with another weekly blog post, where I will be exploring written work from Marc Prensky and Paul Kirschner.  According to Prensky, I would personally fall under the category of a Digital Native. In his work he describes there to be two different categories of people: Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants. A Digital Native is someone born during or after the widespread adoption of digital technology. Prensky argues that digital natives are inherently familiar with digital devices, internet culture, and technological interfaces because they grew up in a digital world. A Digital Immigrant is someone born before the digital age who had to adapt to new technologies later in life. Prensky says that digital immigrants may struggle to fully understand new technology or may approach it with a more cautious mindset, applying older methods to newer systems like using the internet or accessing emails. I was born in 2005, meaning that I grew up surrounded with tec...
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