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Refreshing your feed isn’t always helpful. Here’s how to use social media better in wake of election

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No matter what side of the aisle you’re on, this is a hard, news-filled week for American voters.

And, like at the beginning of the pandemic, many of us are glued to social media, hoping to find any kind of update. In fact, according to Forbes, about 72 percent of Americans who are of voting age actively use social media — and that’s a lot of folks with bated breath.

But constantly refreshing your feed isn’t always helpful — especially in tense, fraught times like this. So how should you think about using social media right now?

With so many of us isolated in our homes right now due to the pandemic, social media can feel like a lifeline to the outside world — and in some ways, it is. But studies have shown that overuse is associated with increased depression and anxiety, among other ailments.

So with that in mind during this tense, postelection cycle, consider cutting back on your social media intake, or taking a break entirely — after all, doomscrolling (or endlessly consuming negative news on your feed) isn’t going to help. Even Wall Street Journal technology columnist Joanna Stern recommends a break and said she is planning on staying off social media for at least a few days. As Stern recently put it: “The first rule of election social media is: You do not use election social media.”

Cutting off social media entirely can be difficult, but Psychology Today recommends putting your phone out of reach, turning off notifications, and deleting social media apps from your smartphone. However, if you can’t take a break entirely, at least try to limit your screen time, and make sure the information you’re consuming is reliable.

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“It’s better to consume 30, 35 minutes of quality information than having (the television) on the entire day, or notifications on your phone,” Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, executive director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education, told The Inquirer earlier this year in reference to the coronavirus news cycle. But that’s good advice for the election, too.

Social media lives and breathes on interactions like liking, commenting, and sharing — and with the anxiety and doubt many of us are feeling right now, participating in the online election conversation in those ways may feel necessary. But before you share, like, or comment, first stop and take a breath, and consider: Do you need to do this right now?

“It’s important to share information. It’s important in these times, this is part of how we’re helping each other get through this,” Kristy Roschke, a professor at Arizona State University told The Inquirer earlier this year. “But I don’t think we need to share everything we come across.”

And as the Washington Post points out, arguing online isn’t likely to change anyone’s mind, so it might be smarter just to walk away — or at least try to not be hostile when leaving a reply. But even then, research has shown political beliefs are particularly difficult to alter, as we tend to “mistake ideological challenges as personal insults,” as Vox reported in 2017.

Instead, like with coronavirus news, try to share and interact with information online intentionally and thoughtfully — but only after you’ve paused first.

If you decide you are going to share information on social media, take some steps to make sure it isn’t wrong. One good way to do that is the SIFT Method, which was developed by digital literacy expert Mike Caulfield of Washington State University Vancouver.

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The steps, Caulfield writes online, are to stop, investigate the source, find trusted coverage, and trace claims, quotes, and media to the original context. Taken together, these steps can help determine when claims are incorrect, what sources are ” ‘bad actors’ who are trying to deceive you,” and recontextualize information. Or, put more simply, as Caulfield told The Inquirer earlier this year: “Take a breath and think, ‘Do I actually know what I’m doing with that?’ “

Many resources online can help spot election misinformation, such as Buzzfeed’s running list of false and misleading information about the election, and breakdown of false info specifically related to Pennsylvania. Likewise, the New York Times has a wide-ranging write-up debunking some of the most viral election misinformation.

Additionally, social media websites have taken steps to help identify misleading or false claims shared online. Facebook and Instagram, for example, have been attaching warning labels to misleading content. Twitter, meanwhile, is hiding false claims behind warning screens that require users to click through to see them.

Whether you’re staying up-to-the-minute on election updates or checking social media only periodically for advancements, remember: It will take time to determine who the winner of the presidential election is, so don’t expect an answer right away.

That is because of the huge number of mail-in and absentee ballots cast around the country, which means it could be days or weeks before the race’s winner is determined. And, as The Inquirer reported this week, we will see shifts in the margins between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden as votes are counted — particularly in key battleground states like Pennsylvania.

Already, reports have popped up that Philadelphia is behind schedule with counting mail ballots, or stopped altogether. However, as city election officials previously said, they are working to count ballots around the clock. As Omar Sabir, a city commissioner, told The Inquirer, “we’re doing the canvass, we are not stopping for nobody.”

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But it will take time, so try to be patient. In the meantime, breathe, and try to relax.

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Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?

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Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?

In a recent announcement, Snapchat revealed a groundbreaking update that challenges its traditional design ethos. The platform is experimenting with an option that allows users to defy the 24-hour auto-delete rule, a feature synonymous with Snapchat’s ephemeral messaging model.

The proposed change aims to introduce a “Never delete” option in messaging retention settings, aligning Snapchat more closely with conventional messaging apps. While this move may blur Snapchat’s distinctive selling point, Snap appears convinced of its necessity.

According to Snap, the decision stems from user feedback and a commitment to innovation based on user needs. The company aims to provide greater flexibility and control over conversations, catering to the preferences of its community.

Currently undergoing trials in select markets, the new feature empowers users to adjust retention settings on a conversation-by-conversation basis. Flexibility remains paramount, with participants able to modify settings within chats and receive in-chat notifications to ensure transparency.

Snapchat underscores that the default auto-delete feature will persist, reinforcing its design philosophy centered on ephemerality. However, with the app gaining traction as a primary messaging platform, the option offers users a means to preserve longer chat histories.

The update marks a pivotal moment for Snapchat, renowned for its disappearing message premise, especially popular among younger demographics. Retaining this focus has been pivotal to Snapchat’s identity, but the shift suggests a broader strategy aimed at diversifying its user base.

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This strategy may appeal particularly to older demographics, potentially extending Snapchat’s relevance as users age. By emulating features of conventional messaging platforms, Snapchat seeks to enhance its appeal and broaden its reach.

Yet, the introduction of message retention poses questions about Snapchat’s uniqueness. While addressing user demands, the risk of diluting Snapchat’s distinctiveness looms large.

As Snapchat ventures into uncharted territory, the outcome of this experiment remains uncertain. Will message retention propel Snapchat to new heights, or will it compromise the platform’s uniqueness?

Only time will tell.

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Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach

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Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach

While it is tempting to try to appeal to a broad audience, the founder of alcohol-free coaching service Just the Tonic, Sandra Parker, believes the best thing you can do for your business is focus on your niche. Here’s how she did just that.

When running a business, reaching out to as many clients as possible can be tempting. But it also risks making your marketing “too generic,” warns Sandra Parker, the founder of Just The Tonic Coaching.

“From the very start of my business, I knew exactly who I could help and who I couldn’t,” Parker told My Biggest Lessons.

Parker struggled with alcohol dependence as a young professional. Today, her business targets high-achieving individuals who face challenges similar to those she had early in her career.

“I understand their frustrations, I understand their fears, and I understand their coping mechanisms and the stories they’re telling themselves,” Parker said. “Because of that, I’m able to market very effectively, to speak in a language that they understand, and am able to reach them.” 

“I believe that it’s really important that you know exactly who your customer or your client is, and you target them, and you resist the temptation to make your marketing too generic to try and reach everyone,” she explained.

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“If you speak specifically to your target clients, you will reach them, and I believe that’s the way that you’re going to be more successful.

Watch the video for more of Sandra Parker’s biggest lessons.

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Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement

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Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement

Instagram’s testing out some new options to help spice up your live-streams in the app, with some live broadcasters now able to select a game that they can play with viewers in-stream.

As you can see in these example screens, posted by Ahmed Ghanem, some creators now have the option to play either “This or That”, a question and answer prompt that you can share with your viewers, or “Trivia”, to generate more engagement within your IG live-streams.

That could be a simple way to spark more conversation and interaction, which could then lead into further engagement opportunities from your live audience.

Meta’s been exploring more ways to make live-streaming a bigger consideration for IG creators, with a view to live-streams potentially catching on with more users.

That includes the gradual expansion of its “Stars” live-stream donation program, giving more creators in more regions a means to accept donations from live-stream viewers, while back in December, Instagram also added some new options to make it easier to go live using third-party tools via desktop PCs.

Live streaming has been a major shift in China, where shopping live-streams, in particular, have led to massive opportunities for streaming platforms. They haven’t caught on in the same way in Western regions, but as TikTok and YouTube look to push live-stream adoption, there is still a chance that they will become a much bigger element in future.

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Which is why IG is also trying to stay in touch, and add more ways for its creators to engage via streams. Live-stream games is another element within this, which could make this a better community-building, and potentially sales-driving option.

We’ve asked Instagram for more information on this test, and we’ll update this post if/when we hear back.

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