My Favorite Social Media Stories: Community.

Hi there! Welcome to my blog. 

For this assignment, I found it challenging to focus on a single social media story– there are so many inspiring examples of how social media is being used to benefit society. From heartfelt stories of people overcoming challenges to fundraising for those in need, social media platforms can foster a sense of community and be used for good. So instead of one, here are two examples that impacted me the most.

My first example is TikTok influencer Fernanda Cortes, who has been featured on USA Today and has a sort of "digital blog" where she posts videos on Latino history, current events, businesses and more. With an audience of over a million followers, she raises awareness about resources that may interest her viewers.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/b34017_43f29957fe484cdc92d5a5b8436391db/480p/mp4/file.mp4

By using her large platform to promote small businesses, she not only impacts the overall economy but also supports struggling family-owned businesses, where every dollar makes a significant difference compared to large corporations.

Cortes’s audience is comprised mostly of younger Latinos and she is a great example of a social media storyteller seen as she has perfected her engagement strategy through consistent date posting across various social media platforms, and how she curates her content into a fast-paced style (fitting for Tiktok) into her specific niche.

For the second example, a non-profit organization, "Food for the Poor" uses multiple social media outlets to spread its humanitarian cause from its blog, "Blog for the Poor." With the goal of,

"uplifting stories from the field, project updates and insights into Food For The Poor’s work throughout the Caribbean and Latin America."

as stated on their website.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/b34017_52c7e2db0ba84b548d772b9ad34e2c21/480p/mp4/file.mp4

In this TikTok, Food for the Poor uses both social media and the radio station KTNO which airs in Dallas, Texas, and reaches over a million people. When raising awareness about food scarcity, fundraising in-person promotion can sometimes fall short. With nearly a third of Dallas's population being Spanish speakers, the organization's decision to air its advocacy in Spanish is a smart strategic move to engage more community members in their cause.

Overall, these two examples illustrate the profound impact social media can have in driving positive societal change. Whether through localized efforts by community-driven radio stations or influential figures utilizing their platforms to uplift marginalized businesses, these two examples showed that when strategically utilized, social media can go beyond just digital communication. 

See you next time!