I have written several posts on the impact of social media for public relations professionals and academics, but there was one audience that I feel is very important in regards to social media. Who you ask? Well, students of course! These individuals are the ones that will be graduating and will be the rising professionals in public relations, marketing, or other disciplines. The question is – besides going on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube to name a few – what are the other social media platforms that students are using to communicate, share information, or identify themselves online?
Campus Books (courtesy of Mashable.com, April 16, 2009)
There was a article that appeared on Mashable that discusses the top social media sites for college students today. From getting internships to Twitter (how to connect with others in college, get internships, and how to search hashtags for specific job opportunities) to even getting information about textbooks and where to go for the best prices – there is a wide range in terms of social media web sites.
What is very interesting about this post from a PR angle is the fact that this was written by a student and what he feels are the best social media tools for his peers and others. There were some sites that I was not even aware of, and it was interesting to see how people are using social media for many different aspects related to college. For PR professionals, we have to be aware of these specific target publics and where they are getting their information from, and see if we can creatively use these to implement our strategies and communication messages for our clients or organizations.
Plus, this gives us an insight into the reality of what it is like to be a college student. Okay, now I am talking like a qualitative researcher – 🙂 – but I think that it is a useful way to better understand the meaning behind how students use social media and why they use these specific tools.
Hope you all have a great day!
Best Wishes,
Karen
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