Digging Deep into Social Media
Social media is a powerful platform. Specifically, Instagram has been one of the social media platforms I have had for quite some time. I have seen myself grow and change throughout the 6 years that I have had it in all different aspects including, my photo quality, captions, and my eye for a good shot. I opened the account back in 2012 simply because that was what everyone else was doing. In 8th grade, many people followed trends to fit in and getting an Instagram was one of them. This idea follows throughout my Instagram history because I have the desire to fit in with everyone else, therefore I try to be similar to my followers and who I follow.
Instagram Identity
I mostly use my Instagram to post pictures on special occasions, like sporting events, vacations, and activities with friends. When posting a picture, I edit the photo in a separate app, Aviary, to enhance the colors and blur any imperfections. Once I get on the Instagram app, I like to scroll through the feed and like photos that I find that are aesthetically appealing, hence why I use the editing app so my audience will be drawn to my pictures like I am drawn to theirs. I post on average, once a month or so. I do not post often, but am trying to post more frequently. Right now, I just like to share the things that are most important to me, not just something that happens every day.
My followers consist of people my age who I know from high school, summer camps, or college. Both male and female, posting similar pictures of them and friends, I try to create similar pictures because I know that is what my followers want to see and like since they do it themselves!
My followers consist of people my age who I know from high school, summer camps, or college. Both male and female, posting similar pictures of them and friends, I try to create similar pictures because I know that is what my followers want to see and like since they do it themselves!
Post #1- Dec. 29, 2017
|
I posted this photo at the Belk Bowl where Wake Forest University played Texas A&M. I went to the game because my family loves Wake Forest. I posted this photo because Wake won the football game, which is rare. They are usually not successful in sports, therefore this win was something special to share. I indicated that the Deacs won through the “#champs” hashtag. My captioning, “Deac for the day” shares a good deal of information. I first indicate that I am a Demon Deacon fan and only for the day, since I attend TCU and not Wake Forest and have to stay loyal to the Frogs. It shows my dedication and passion for TCU and that I am a committed fan to both teams, but in different ways. This was also during TCU’s winter break and the game was closer to me, in Charlotte, than the Alamo Bowl.
Visually, this is a bright and overall happy photo to showcase the win that Wake Forest had. The bright blue that is in the background of the photo makes it pop. However, since blue is not a color of WFU, I had to showcase the gold pom pom and the black jacket so the viewer can see that I am a fan of Wake Forest. Featured in this photo is my mother’s cousin, Katie. She also has Wake colors on, proving we are in the Wake section. She has always been a supporter of WFU sports and is a close family member of mine so it would make sense for me to feature her in a photo.
Visually, this is a bright and overall happy photo to showcase the win that Wake Forest had. The bright blue that is in the background of the photo makes it pop. However, since blue is not a color of WFU, I had to showcase the gold pom pom and the black jacket so the viewer can see that I am a fan of Wake Forest. Featured in this photo is my mother’s cousin, Katie. She also has Wake colors on, proving we are in the Wake section. She has always been a supporter of WFU sports and is a close family member of mine so it would make sense for me to feature her in a photo.
Post #2- Dec. 2, 2017
|
This photo was also a post about a big sporting event, when TCU played in the Big XII Championship game at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX. This post is quite different than the previous post with the caption and photo. The captioning, “Sooners are land thieves #lookitup #frogsby90” says quite a bit of information. TCU lost to the OU Sooners and all of the TCU fans were pretty upset about it. OU is a school that generally many TCU fans do not like, therefore I chose more of a pushy caption to showcase my grudge that I had towards our loss. I did some research for this caption and figured out that during the Land Rush of 1889, Sooners were people who entered the land before everyone else so they could claim it first, so by default they are land thieves. It is because of this story why I included the hashtag saying look it up. Lastly, the frogs by 90 hashtag was supposed to be a comical remark because we lost.
As for the visual, I wanted my followers to see where I was, even though the stadium was not in the photo. A full body photo is not uncommon on my profile. I wanted to showcase that we are wearing purple in the photo to indicate we are cheering for the frogs. One of my best friends, Kathryn, is in this photo with me. She shares the same love for football as I do, therefore I wanted to feature her in my post. I typically like to post with one or two other people to not make the photo busy and crowded.
As for the visual, I wanted my followers to see where I was, even though the stadium was not in the photo. A full body photo is not uncommon on my profile. I wanted to showcase that we are wearing purple in the photo to indicate we are cheering for the frogs. One of my best friends, Kathryn, is in this photo with me. She shares the same love for football as I do, therefore I wanted to feature her in my post. I typically like to post with one or two other people to not make the photo busy and crowded.
Hidden Aspects
After I noticed my hashtags, I started to realize that after each caption on each of my posts, I use either a hashtag or emoji. After analyzing this characteristic, I believe that I put in the hashtags to make the feeling of the post overall more fun and light. Having words and nothing else along with them to add some energy and spunk is just plain and boring.
I also have straight hair in both of these photos and I naturally have curly hair. I find this aspect interesting because I usually straighten my hair for special occasions and these photos are the ones I post on Instagram for my followers to see. I believe I try to put my best image on my profile and post pictures that I think I look good in. I think I look better when my hair is straight, therefore I tend to post more photos of me when my hair is straight to put out the best image of myself.
I also have straight hair in both of these photos and I naturally have curly hair. I find this aspect interesting because I usually straighten my hair for special occasions and these photos are the ones I post on Instagram for my followers to see. I believe I try to put my best image on my profile and post pictures that I think I look good in. I think I look better when my hair is straight, therefore I tend to post more photos of me when my hair is straight to put out the best image of myself.
Takeaways
I post many pictures with friends and family at big events because I want my audience to see that I am experiencing fun things with other people. Interestingly, the two posts that I have analyzed are at football games. Growing up in the south, sports was a lifestyle. Football, and sports in general, is something I take great interest in. I have gone to sports games since I was a child so I feel that it is a part of me and something I want to share with my audience.
I build my ethos through the consistency of my posts, posting about once a month and always keeping my face in the pictures. My pathos can be found through my photos and more meaningful captions like birthday posts for friends and family. Lastly, the logos is not very prevalent in my Instagram. However, the only thing that I can see that is factual is my location that I usually insert at the top of the post to show where I am and appeal to the viewer to show that I was actually in that location.
My image, personally and online, is one of the priorities of my life. I believe I do all of this because I want my audience to have a certain image of me. My captions and visuals come together to create an energy that is exciting, new, and slightly southern I try to achieve this idea through my fun and catchy captions, my bright and eye-catching visuals, and completing hashtags and emojis. I keep it consistent, meaningful, and genuine. I want people to look at my Instagram profile and to think that I am a content and confident college freshman who is enjoying life and making the most out of my experiences. This is who I am online and who I am offline and I want my audience to see that the two agree.
I build my ethos through the consistency of my posts, posting about once a month and always keeping my face in the pictures. My pathos can be found through my photos and more meaningful captions like birthday posts for friends and family. Lastly, the logos is not very prevalent in my Instagram. However, the only thing that I can see that is factual is my location that I usually insert at the top of the post to show where I am and appeal to the viewer to show that I was actually in that location.
My image, personally and online, is one of the priorities of my life. I believe I do all of this because I want my audience to have a certain image of me. My captions and visuals come together to create an energy that is exciting, new, and slightly southern I try to achieve this idea through my fun and catchy captions, my bright and eye-catching visuals, and completing hashtags and emojis. I keep it consistent, meaningful, and genuine. I want people to look at my Instagram profile and to think that I am a content and confident college freshman who is enjoying life and making the most out of my experiences. This is who I am online and who I am offline and I want my audience to see that the two agree.
