For the module 3 assignment, I choose to create a social media campaign around educating adults age 18-25 on how to manage using social media. For this assignment I choose Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest because of its popularity among the target audience. While this social media campaign is to encourage young adults to stay off social media, the goal is to showcase how it can have a negative impact on one’s life and showcase how to manage time away.
The campaign first began with getting the target audience’s attention about what are the signs someone is addicted to social media. This included choosing to be on their phone instead of socializing, not spending time with friends or family, school grades being negatively affected and feeling anxious when not looking at notifications. This led to the second post about what happens in the brain when a person becomes addicted to social media. By using infographics and arrows in a circle to indicate the cycle, the post showcases how this is a continuous loop of addiction.
To help the target audience identify if they are addicted to social media, there was a This or That quiz across the three social media platforms, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. The target audience was also encouraged to comment their results and to tag friends to also take the quiz. By using colorful posts and including easy to follow quizzes, the posts are meant to start the conversation of how many people are addicted to social media.
Once the target audience had identified that they had an addiction to social media, the posts focused on ways to reduce the urge in a healthy manner. The posts featured color lists with infographics about the activities the target audience can do like exercising, going outside to enjoy walks, read a book, and learn a new skill that did not require technology. The posts also included tips on how to reduce social media use while on your phone by setting time limits, turning off notifications, and having goals to slowly reduce the amount of time on social media.
Further posts were also meant to showcase followers suggestions on how to stay away from social media. This included book recommendations that are popular with the target audience, enjoy swimming during the summer, and find others who are also struggling with reducing the urge to use social media. Posts also included followers frequently asked questions that were answered by a psychologist to showcase a professional’s opinion.
The final posts offered tips on how to best maintain in person relationships with friends and family and how to boost self-esteem, which can be damaged by social media. The final posts showcased how to live a healthier lifestyle by showing healthy cooking recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. These posts’ goal was to not only show another activity to do instead of being on social media, but how a healthy mind also comes with a healthy body. The last post showcased contact information for anyone that needs professional help. While this campaign showcased the negative side of social media and how to best handle the urge, the last post was meant to help the target audience continue the journey of having a healthier relationship with social media. The crisis phone numbers shared connect the target audience with a mental health professional, who can provide additional support for those who are struggling.
