Sparkling Snippets

     As my first year of college wraps up, I’ve been thinking a lot about the classes that actually changed how I see the world— and surprisingly, Principles of Social Media was one of them. Going into the course, I thought I already knew everything I needed to about social media. I mean, I use Instagram daily, scroll TikTok like it’s my job and keep up streaks on Snapchat. But it turns out there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes— and now, I can’t unsee it.      One of the first things I learned was that the algorithm is everything— and it's also constantly changing. The content we see, the posts that blow up and even the trends we think are totally organic are often the result of calculated, ever- evolving algorithms. I always thought going viral was kind of random, but there’s actual strategy behind it, and that strategy has to keep shifting. Social media users, especially creators and brands, have to adapt constantly or risk being left behind. Wh...

    Summer kicks off in less than two weeks! While I'm going to miss all my friends here at ONU, I can't wait for everything summer has to offer. I don’t have the entire season planned, but here are just a few things I’m looking forward to over the next few months.       On May 16, right after Freshman Showcase, I’m headed to Indiana for my oldest brother’s graduation. For those who don’t know, I have two older brothers. Thomas is the oldest, and Daniel is in the middle ( we’re each two years apart). While Daniel is at the Air Force Academy studying engineering, Thomas has been pursuing mechanical engineering at Purdue University. He chose to participate in a co- op program that allowed him to work during some semesters in different states. He finally graduates this May, and I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate him.           After Thomas’ graduation, I already have some time planned with my hometown best friends, Nate and ...

     TikTok is the fifth most popular social media platform and continues to grow in its number of users. There’s something intriguing about scrolling through various videos and seeing something new with each swipe. From dances to book reviews, there’s a video for everyone. As users flock to the platform, it's just as important to understand the algorithm—not just for its potential to make content go viral, but for the privacy concerns it quietly raises.      The algorithm is crafted to show videos tailored to your interests. Using data from previous videos you’ve engaged with—liked, commented on or shared—the app sends similar content to your For You page. This is why you’ll often see related videos as you scroll. If you search for something on TikTok, you’re more likely to see content related to that subject because you’ve shown interest. Beyond the subject matter of a video, using the same sounds, captions or hashtags can also help send a video to your F...

     When it comes to social media platforms, few have the global reach and influence of YouTube. Launched in 2005 and acquired by Google in 2006, YouTube has grown into the world’s second-most visited website, surpassed only by Google itself. With more than 2.5 billion monthly active users, the platform has become a cornerstone of digital marketing, entertainment and education. YouTube’s user base is both massive and highly engaged. Every day, people around the world watch more than 1 billion hours of video on the platform. That’s more viewing time than Netflix and Facebook video combined. As of 2024, YouTube boasts more than 122 million daily active users and over 500 hours of video uploaded every minute.      YouTube's demographic reach is also impressive. The platform is most popular with users aged 18 to 34, a highly sought-after age group for advertisers. However, its appeal spans across generations — from Gen Z to Baby Boomers. According to Pew Rese...

    This weekend we officially wrapped “Hello, Dolly!” and I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience. I never imagined I would make my Ohio Northern musical debut in my freshman year, but I’m so thankful for the opportunity. While I’ve had my own tumultuous history with “Hello, Dolly!” as I mentioned in my last post, this show was nothing but a joy. Here are some highlights from tech week, the performances and strike. Corsets and Hair Galore      If you’ve watched Dance Moms, you might know about the famous rat and snood from one of their dances. Fun fact: for those of us who didn’t wear wigs, we had to use rats to shape our hair into period-accurate styles. I’ll admit, without the hats and dresses the hairstyle looked a bit like Preminger from Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper (as seen in the recent TikTok trends), but once you’re in full costume, it fits. Another thing you might not know from the audience is that underneath the layers of cost...

     Last Friday, I attended the 7th Annual Social Media Workshop at Ohio Northern University. The event offered a variety of sessions led by social media experts, covering topics from LinkedIn strategies to personal branding. Having the freedom to choose which sessions to attend allowed me to tailor the day to my interests.      The session I found most impactful was the final one of the day, titled “Mastering the Social Media Maze: Adapting to Algorithms, Trends and Clientele.” Amanda Langley, the presenter, broke down how algorithms promote content and emphasized the importance of understanding each platform’s unique characteristics. One key point was how traction varies depending on the platform. Langley made the concepts easy to grasp and relatable to a diverse audience.      A moment that stood out was her comparison of Instagram to an “aesthetic museum” and TikTok to an “eclectic street fair.” This visual helped me understand how each...

     I was cast in Ohio Northern University’s production of Hello, Dolly! back in December. While we've been busy rehearsing and fine-tuning each piece, I’ve enjoyed reflecting on the last time I did this show and noticing how different the experiences have been.      In October 2023, I was cast as Ermengarde’s understudy and as a member of the ensemble for the Renaissance Theatre production of Hello, Dolly! While I had no idea what the show entailed at the time, I was excited for the chance to learn more about it. Little did I know we would be welcoming Jennifer Simard—currently starring in Death Becomes Her on Broadway—as our Dolly and Jeff Richmond—the composer of Mean Girls: The Musical and husband of Tina Fey—as our Horace. Because they were guest stars, we didn’t see our two leads until the week before tech. It was truly incredible to witness seasoned professionals at work and to get to know them.      During that show, I ran into a...

    While many see  LinkedIn as a personal social media platform it offers a variety of features designed to help both businesses and professionals build their brand, connect with their audience and generate leads. Here's some key features that LinkedIn offers and how they help promote businesses and professionals.       At the core of LinkedIn’s offerings is the Company Page , which acts as a digital storefront for organizations. Businesses can optimize their pages by providing detailed company information, high-quality visuals and a compelling description of their products and services. This helps establish credibility and make a strong first impression on potential followers and customers.      Another powerful feature is LinkedIn Content Publishing , which enables users to share industry insights, company updates and thought leadership articles. Posts can include text, images, videos and even documents to engage different audiences....

     Since its founding in 2009, Pinterest has become one of the 15 most popular social media platforms in the world. While its primary users are women ages 25 to 34, Gen Z has learned to use Pinterest to stay ahead of trends. Through boards and various types of pins, users can curate collections of interests ranging from mood boards to recipe ideas and everything in between.      Let’s start with the basic functions of Pinterest. The platform’s two primary features are pins and boards. Pins are pictures or videos with descriptions or links, similar to Instagram posts. Like other social media platforms, pins can be liked, saved, or commented on. One key difference is that pins can be saved to specific boards. Boards serve as a home base where saved pins are organized. They can be public, available to everyone, or private, viewable only by invitation. Each board can be themed and customized to display pins in a specific way, making it the perfect tool for cr...

     Between our Meta assignment for my social media class and the Countdown to the Crown posts leading up to nationals, I’ve had to learn how to plan social media posts in advance. Whether it’s creating Reels or regular posts, I’ve had to hone the art of creativity in my posts. Nobody wants to see the same template on their feed, so diversity is key to keeping your audience interested.      One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in social media content creation is varying my regular posts. It’s so easy to use the same images repeatedly because they spread the right message. If you continuously use the same photos, your followers will start to assume that’s all you post. To combat this urge, I’ve leaned on editing platforms like Canva to create picture posts that allow me to create something new. There are pre-designed templates for posts or stories that I can easily change the colors, add a photo, or write a small phrase and use in a few minutes. I find ...

    Did you know that Facebook is the largest social networking site in the world? If asked, I would've expected TikTok or Instagram to take that title. In an era with countless social networking platforms to choose from it's easy to only focus on those you actively use, but it's important to broaden your reach across platforms.      Up until last year, I was exclusively an Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok user. To me, Facebook was outdated and irrelevant. Going into college I initially created a Facebook page to find a roommate, but I've continued to learn more about it as I continue to use it. On Facebook, I've learned that I connect with a different audience than I do on Instagram. When I post on Instagram more of my peers tend to interact with my content, but on Facebook I tend to reach an older demographic that doesn't view my Instagram feeds. In learning this I've realized the importance of building your brand on multiple platforms. By focusing on o...

  It's officially spring recruitment season, so get ready to hear me say "Go Greek" a lot. This fall I went through the recruitment process to join a sorority. Now initially I wasn't sure Greek life was going to be a good fit for me. I had talked to a lot of my friends who are in sororities at other schools, and I just thought recruitment would be SO stressful. Granted, I was talking to a lot of people who go to schools like the University of Alabama, so their recruitment looks very different. I decided regardless of whether I'd give it a chance and the worst thing that would happen is I'd drop. I went to that first night and ended up feeling that it could be something I love. I also felt that Delta Zeta was different from all the other sororities. After visiting them time and time again, I sensed that this was the place where I could be myself. When I got my bid for Delta Zeta I was over the moon. I had found my home. My grandma was a member of a different so...