On Reading and Creating Digital/Social Media

READING SOCIAL MEDIA TEXTS

Social media texts are the words, phrases, passages, and creations that can be found within a social media setting. Content that is created within the realm of social media often is personal and reflects certain ideas or values of the person who is creating the text. The consumption of social media texts can help readers to better understand the people that surround them and the world they live in. The following questions will help you to read social media texts in a new and meaningful way. 

Who is the person behind the social media content? 

When attempting to collect meaning from social media content, it is important to consider who the creator is. By understanding a person's values or experiences, you will be able to more fully contextualize what type of content they are producing in a social media context. This context will lend greater meaning to the works you come across on social media. 

What social media platform is the text being presented on?

The social media platform and the account that is being used to publish digital content can greatly influence what type of text the writer is producing. For example, the content that someone would produce on Instagram could be drastically different from what would be made on Twitter because of the differing nature of these two websites. The audience on each platform is unique. Therefore, the writer's approach will vary from platform to platform. It is important to consider what platform someone is publishing on, who their audience would be on that specific platform, and how those factors would influence what type of content someone is publishing. 

What media is being used in addition to the text? 

Is there a photo included with the social media text? Is there writing in response to something that somebody else published? These are important things to consider when attempting to uncover the meaning of text in a social media setting. The information that is being provided in addition to the text will offer deeper meaning and understanding of what is being said. 

What is the social media content attempting to convey? 

Is what is being produced trying to make you laugh? Is it attempting to invoke some type of emotional response? Is the content a simple life update? People have a wide variety of motives when publishing content on a social media site. Some use these platforms as a creative outlet while other use them as a place to connect with friends and family. Therefore, the content found on social media attempts to convey all sorts of messages. By deciphering what the content is actually trying to convey, you will find greater value and appreciation in the types of social media you are observing. 

What other information may be needed in order to understand social media content? 

Oftentimes, the content that is found on social media will not make complete sense to all of its viewers. That is because there may be outside factors that must be understood before fully capturing what is being communicated in a social media posts. What things are happen culturally that influence the content? What events are taking place currently that affect what is being published? How does generation and age play into what is being created on social media? Considering these questions and seeking answers from outside contexts will help you to more fully understand social media content.