Bcm115
Blog 2
Introduction
In this blog article, I continue my exploration of content production within the student life niche, which began with my first post. My focus remains on the specific challenges and balances that students face while managing numerous responsibilities. For the autoethnography, posting information on Reddit and Instagram, both popular networks among students. Each platform has its unique set of interactions and content expectations, which influence my approach to content development. Reflecting on these events intends to bring further insight into the challenging process of developing meaningful, relevant material that engages my audience across many platforms.
Content Generation Process Across Two Platforms
To effectively engage people on Reddit and Instagram, content creation needs a deliberate approach to inspiration, research, production, and editing. For Reddit, I conducted extensive research on prominent student-life subreddits, identifying prevalent issues and pain concerns within the community. Throughout the autoethnographic inquiry, discovered that articles with a real, story-driven approach resonated the most. created the material to be informal and advice-driven, reflecting the supportive attitude of the Reddit student community.
Instagram, on the other hand, required a visually appealing approach, that included photographs and short video clips depicting student routines and times of leisure. Here, production entailed developing visually appealing pictures and simple descriptions that would rapidly attract viewers. The biggest problem was blending authenticity with the visual quality that Instagram values. I overcome this by establishing defined content topics for example “Study Hacks” or “Balancing Work and Study” and adhering to a consistent visual style, polishing my pictures using easy editing tools while maintaining authenticity.
Editing differed substantially between platforms on Reddit, I refined my wording to boost participation, but on Instagram, I concentrated on visual uniformity. By using alternative tactics adapted to each platform’s culture, I learnt how to generate material that appealed to both audiences.
Approach to Sharing Content Across Two Platforms
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Sharing the material on Reddit and Instagram necessitated deliberate adaption to the respective platforms’ distinctive community dynamics. On Reddit, it was difficult to create my voice inside current conversations without appearing self-promotional. I addressed this by participating in debates and expressing my own experiences in approachable, conversational language, so establishing trust within the group. This strategy displayed my communication abilities and adaptability to the platform’s true culture.
On Instagram, I faced a new set of issues relating to visual storytelling. Creating visually appealing material to catch attention on a fast-paced platform required both creativity and technical competence. I enhanced my photographs with Canva and Adobe Lightroom, focussing on consistency and colour to get a unified look. Throughout this process, I exhibited my content creation skills and flexibility to a wide range of consumer preferences across many platforms.
Navigating Content Creation Across Platforms Challenges and Skills Learned
Sharing my content on Instagram and Reddit was both an exciting and challenging experience. I enjoyed creating unique content and experimenting with different ideas, but adapting it for two very different platforms wasn’t easy. Instagram’s visual nature made it fun to work with photos, videos, and creative captions, but coming up with fresh ideas consistently was a bit overwhelming.
Reddit, on the other hand, was even more challenging. Unlike Instagram, Reddit focuses on meaningful discussions, and engaging with its audience felt harder because the platform’s interaction levels were much lower for my niche content. Finding ways to make my posts more relatable and encourage discussions required a lot of effort and experimentation.
Despite these challenges, I developed several important skills. I learned how to edit videos using different apps, combining images and text to make them visually appealing. I also figured out how to adapt the same content to suit both platforms—creating visually engaging posts for Instagram and more discussion-focused posts for Reddit.
Although managing both platforms was tough, it was also incredibly rewarding. It pushed me to think creatively, improve my technical skills, and better understand how to engage with different types of audiences. Overall, this experience helped me grow as a content creator and gave me a deeper appreciation for the effort that goes into sharing engaging content.
Reflection and Key Insights
This transition from student audience member to active content provider has given me important insights about the subtleties of platform-specific content development. I discovered that each channel requires a particular voice and style, and bridging these gaps necessitates agility and understanding for audience preferences. Generating realistic material on juggling student life has made me realise the importance of authenticity and involvement in developing a supportive online community. In continuing this path and hope to develop these ideas and refine the talents in digital storytelling across multiple media platforms.
What I Learned by Paying Attention in Class
Throughout this class, I came to understand the significance of maintaining alignment between my online persona and my real-life identity. By realizing that my online presence reflects my true self, I have found it easier to connect with and engage my target audience. This consistency allows me to better understand the perspectives of my followers, as the content I create is rooted in authenticity. I have learned that when one’s online persona mirrors their real-life persona, it fosters trust and relatability, which are essential for building meaningful relationships with others. This approach not only enhances the effectiveness of content creation but also encourages genuine interaction, ultimately making my online presence more impactful and engaging.
As a result, the trust and raport built helps me gain an insight into why these online student communities are so important and how they help students feel like they can vent in a safe virtual space.
Peer reviewed sources
- Asikainen, H, Kaipainen, K & Katajavuori, N 2019, ‘Understanding and promoting students’ well-being and performance in university studies’, Journal of university teaching & learning practice, vol. 16, no. 5.
- Lee, B-K, Suh, T & Sierra, JJ 2020, ‘Understanding the Effects of Physical Images on Viewers in Social Comparison Contexts: A Multi-study Approach’, Journal of promotion management, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 1–18.
- Sharma, S & Behl, R 2022, ‘Impact of Social Media on Student’s Academic Performance: A Study on Indian Education System’, Global business review, pp. 97215092211068-.
- Pierro, A, Giacomantonio, M, Pica, G, Kruglanski, AW & Higgins, ET 2013, ‘Locomotion and the preference for multi-tasking: Implications for well-being’, Motivation and emotion, vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 213–223.
- Gamba, RJ, Schmeltz, MT, Ortiz, N, Engelman, A, Lam, J, Ampil, A, Pritchard, MM, Santillan, JKA, Rivera, ES, Wood, LM, Ingram, D, Cheyne, K & Taylor, S 2021, ‘“Spending all this time stressing and worrying and calculating”: marginal food security and student life at a Diverse Urban University’, Public health nutrition, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 2788–2797.
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