Pros and Cons of Social Media

One pro of social networking is that it helps students do better in school. 59% of students with access to the internet report that they use social networking sites to discuss educational topics. College students in particular use more because our assignment nowadays have to deal with social media. This impacts me because I am constantly looking up things on the internet, which is normally google. Some of the sites might not be reliable but i still using some of them, I admit because I don't want to spend more time finding the information somewhere else.

One con of social networking is that criminals use social media to commit and promote crimes. Gangs are using sites to recruit younger members, coordinate violent crimes and threaten other gangs. This is very important because others can use this as ways to avoid or even report things to the police on activities being done by gangs. This impacts me very little because i do not personally have any involvement in gangs, but it does help to avoid where they are going to be and that way i don't get myself into serious trouble. 

Celebrities vs Everyday People

Celebrities are different from everyday people in a lot of things in everyday life. Celebrities are idolized on almost everything and they have people to do things for them instead of doing things themselves, unlike everyday people that do everything their selves. Like with the example in class with Taylor Swift were she didn't carry her own gym bag, she had some handler carrying it. She also has created this image of her not being able to wear the same thing twice. Everyday people don't have the money to be doing that, we can't afford to be constantly buying new clothes, or we don't have the connections to be borrowing clothes for their free publicity.

Celebrities are used for our entertainment because we enjoy hearing stories about them. They influence everyday life for everyday people. Everyday people tend to want to do things that the celebrity is doing, it gives us verisimilitude which is a connection to reality and it also gives us identification which also gives us a connection to ourselves. 

Social Currency

1. Pancheros:  This uses the Leverage game mechanics. Pancheros has created a card/ benefits where you can get a free burrito if you go in so many times. So you get something out of it, and it motivates us to go into to Pancheros more. http://www.pancheros.com/rewards
2. Snapchat Lenses: This is an example of Remarkability, because a lot of people mention it and it is brought up a lot. They are also very unusual lenses that make you look crazy so that might make you want to share with more people.   https://support.snapchat.com/en-US/ca/lenses
3. Kylie Jenner's Lip Kit: This is an example of making people feel like insiders. Her product uses both exclusivity and scarcity because it sells out very quickly. Her lip kit is also very exclusive because it can be on the expensive side of pricing for lipstick. There are alot of people that don't want to buy it because they can get cheaper lipstick somewhere else. http://kyliecosmetics.com/

Tattoos creating mixed message

One point that they author makes about mixed messages within our society is individuals use tattoos for identity expression and formation, but what is creating that mixed message is that people are keeping their tattoos secret from the public. While I understand why you might need to cover them up for job purposes, but why do people keep getting them in places where no one can see them. People like the way they look and the attention it gives to famous people but then again they can't show them because there is a law that states have a right to enforce a dress code and companies have a right to fire you if your appearance if it relates to companies business objectives.

Another point that she makes is that tattoos are seen as deviant and might also assume they are signs of psychological problems. There have been examples in the media of actors dying of an overdose or something along those lines and they would tie it right back to their tattoos because they are seen as deviant. An example of this is Amy Winehouse, which I don't completely understand because it's not like her tattoos were big and bold and stuck out like a soar thumb. Even with this mixed message, nowadays its not considered to be something within just the working class; doesn't carry a socio-economic stigma.