By: Amber Justice

• The world revolves around technology and our ability to connect with it. All across the world people are connecting at a greater rate than ever before. Today, If I want to, I can chat with someone in Japan with the click of a button. Our world is being defined by our ability to have an online presence.
• What sites and/or applications do you visit most often? Describe the sites and applications that you identify.
• How do you connect with others when you are an introverted person? It’s not easy when you’re a quiet person that would rather keep home life private. As an introverted person, I tend to shy away from mainstream applications like Facebook, and instead go for other applications like Tumblr, and youtube. Tumblr is a great way for people to connect with their interests. For instance, if you are a cat lover, a science lover, or just want to spend the day browsing through pictures of flowers, you can do that. It’s anonymous if you choose to be, you can follow or unfollow any topic you want, and you can choose whether to comment on a user’s post.
• I spend a great deal of time on youtube. In recent years its become a guilty pleasure of mine. If I want to have someone read a book to me, watch doll customization videos, or just listen to music, there is a channel for everything out there. Today, I watch more youtube by far then bother with cable tv or even online streaming services such as Netflix or Hulu. On youtube, I can tell someone I like their posts with a comment, or a like or subscribe, but none of it is as personal as social media sites, even though it is technically classified as one.
• Do you have positive or negative reactions when using certain types of digital media?
• I dislike a lot of social media sites, such as Facebook. Everything is so personal, down to whether someone actually liked your post. Too much drama is often involved, and my self-worth feels tied to how many likes I got. I would much rather stay away from toxicity and rather focus on things that make me happy, like watching funny pet videos.
• Do you find that your needs are satisfied using one type of digital media over another?
• I like using media that is versatile like youtube. I can watch videos or if I want I can just listen to music. There is an answer to every need I have, such as listening to sleep sounds for bedtime, or getting some stress help. I would much prefer something that I can hit a play button for rather than having to swipe through feeds to find what I’m looking for.
• Do you receive emails from companies? If so, what types of email catch your attention? What do you look for?
• I get all kinds of emails from different companies. From notifications about discounts on clothing, to new recipes from Crumble, and of course the job notification from Indeed and Linkdin. The ones that catch my attention the most are the ones that are running good discounts, or notifications about certain jobs near me. If it pertains to my interest, I’m more than willing to check it out. It can be hard to catch my attention, as these days if its not coming to me in a text, then I’m generally to busy to check it out.
• What do you notice about the use of digital media in marketing today? Explain.
• Digital marketing today is everywhere and sometimes placed pretty cleverly. I love billboards that have 3D images that move and look real. They have to be state of the art, and have to appeal to a wide range of people and cultures. It can be hard to create something that appeals to everyone or that can be used across different countries, but today with how many people are interactive online across the globe, its becoming easier.