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The current state of social media ethics: what trends are happening in the industry?

Trends include more focus on AI transparency, honesty in influencer marketing, data privacy, and user trust. Brands are expected to act authentically and disclose sponsorships clearly.

2. What are two current cases related to social media ethics?

Chiara Ferragni was fined for misleading followers about charity proceeds. Gymshark faced an influencer contract dispute that raised issues about fairness and transparency.

3. Outline the current code of ethics for social media by a professional organization you would be interesting in joining as part of their social media staff.

The PRSA Code of Ethics stresses honesty, transparency, advocacy, fairness, and accountability in social media. Members must disclose sponsorships, protect data, and correct false information.

4. What brands are utilizing proper social media ethical practices?  Nike, REI, and LEGO model ethical social media by promoting inclusion, transparency, and authentic storytelling without misleading users.

5. Are there any professionals that you feel practice strong ethical behavior on social media? Jasmine Williams and other social media experts emphasize honesty, responsible AI use, and respect for audiences in online marketing.

6. What are some takeaways you can bring forth in your own practices? I’ll always disclose paid content, fact-check posts, protect privacy, and admit mistakes. Authenticity and respect will guide all my social interactions.

7. What main concepts do you think are necessary to adhere to for your own personal conduct online? Be transparent, honest, respectful, and accurate. Protect privacy, own mistakes, and separate personal from professional content. Stay inclusive and keep learning.

8. What main concepts do you feel strongly against and want to make sure you avoid on social media?

Avoid fake engagement, hidden ads, misinformation, and data misuse. Never harass others, manipulate audiences, or ignore ethical mistakes.

9. List 5-10 core concepts that you will follow as a practicing social media professional. 

Transparency (Vistasocial.com)

Authenticity (Optsus.com)

Privacy protection (Medill.northwestern.edu)

Accuracy (Godaddy.com)

Accountability (Godaddy.com)

Inclusivity (Housingfirstmn.org)

Ethical AI use (Sproutsocial.com)

The American Red Cross (ARC) is one of the most recognized nonprofit organizations in the world, known for its disaster relief, blood drives, and community support. On social media, it has a massive presence across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. While their posts get thousands of likes and shares, many of these numbers are vanity metrics, which means they look good but don’t always show if the organization is truly connecting with its audience.

According to the American Red Cross social medias, the group uses multiple platforms to share updates, stories, and calls for donations. They also have a social listening team that tracks thousands of posts per day, helping them monitor disaster responses in real time. Even though ARC’s follower counts are huge, likes and impressions don’t always mean people are donating blood, volunteering, or contributing funds. To truly succeed online, ARC should focus on boosting both engagement and behavior-based metrics that show real action.

On FaceBook, the Red Cross could improve reach and engagement by posting more video content, especially live videos during major events. Facebook’s algorithm favors video and live posts, and these create emotional connections with viewers. They could also use polls or question prompts like “What motivates you to donate blood?” to increase comments and shares. Q&A's always receive good feedback and good viewer interaction. the "share rate per post" is a powerful indicator of how well a message spreads organically. Emotional storytelling posts like videos of families reunited after disasters are more likely to be shared. A lot of people always feel the need to help others, especially when it comes to reuniting families, they would love to see that. The organization can also monitor conversion rates from Facebook links to donations or volunteer sign-ups. By using Facebook’s built-in fundraiser tools, they can make it easier for people to donate directly from posts.

On Instagram, ARC could run a “Day in the Life of a Volunteer” series using Reels and Stories. Visual storytelling fits perfectly with Instagram’s audience. Using hashtags like #GiveBlood or #RedCrossResponds and encouraging followers to tag friends would help grow their following. Partnering with student influencers or healthcare workers could make their content more relatable and spread awareness among younger audiences. Blood drives at school are always very common and is a tradition to a lot of people. A lot of people are used to blood drives, and there are so many people who donate, even if there is nothing in it for them. instead of just counting likes or followers, the ARC should track more meaningful data. One advanced metric of instagram is the engagement rate. The engagement rate is the percentage of followers who like, comment, or share. The ARC could increase this by creating interactive polls, quizzes, and Reels that encourage participation. Another key number is the click through rate, from Instagram Stories or the bio link to donation pages. Adding strong calls-to-action like “Swipe up to schedule your next donation” could directly turn social media engagement into real-world results.

On X, short threads explaining real stories, such as how a single blood donation helped save lives.Real Stories could attract retweets and clicks, a lot of people are more than willing to come together and donate money or blood. Pairing visuals with hashtags like #HelpCantWait can make posts more engaging. Consistency also matters, since X's fast-moving feed rewards frequent posting. X formerly known as Twitter, sometimes get a bit controversial because they do like the ability to censor a lot of things. That is the one negative aspect of X, in my opinion it is not intended for all ages because it is very easy to access things that are not meant for all ages.

The American Red Cross already has one of the strongest nonprofit presences online, but to make its social media truly effective, it needs to look beyond vanity metrics. By focusing on engagement, storytelling, and behavior-driven outcomes, ARC can turn followers into active supporters. After all, every like is nice, but what matters more is every donation or volunteer sign-up that can help save a life.

References:

How the Red Cross Uses Social Media for Disaster Response and Engaging Donors (Medium)

American Red Cross Social Media Hub

To me, social media is more than just apps or websites because it’s a space where people can connect, share ideas, and interact with each other instantly. It allows anyone to post updates, pictures, videos, or opinions, and get immediate feedback through likes, comments, or shares. I think of it as a kind of digital community where people can express themselves, follow topics they care about, and even learn from others around the world. Social media also influences culture, trends, and how we communicate daily. While it can be overwhelming at times, I see it as a powerful tool for connection, creativity, and conversation.

I would say about myself as a social media user who enjoys a balance of entertainment and learning. I spend a lot of my time on platforms like TikTok, mainly watching memes and funny videos that help me relax and take a break from school and work. I think humor and lighthearted content are a big part of why social media is so engaging, and I definitely enjoy scrolling through trending clips just to see what’s new. At the same time, I use social media to explore my personal interests, especially when it comes to cars. I watch videos that explain car models, features, maintenance tips, and reviews, which helps me learn practical information in an simple format. I drive a Honda Civic, which is a pretty basic car, so it is very easy for me to find information on it. I'm always looking up what I should be doing to preserve the life and improve the look of my car whenever I am on social media. Overall, I’d say my social media use is a mix of entertainment and education. It allows me to stay connected with trends, laugh, and also expand my knowledge in areas I care about.

I would say one of my biggest strengths in understanding social media is my ability to engage with and interpret memes. I enjoy memes because they are simple, easy to understand, and often communicate ideas or humor in just a few seconds. They help me quickly understand trends, jokes, and cultural references without needing to spend a lot of time reading or analyzing. I think this makes me good at keeping up with the entertaining side of social media. On the other hand, my biggest challenge is that there is so much content online, it can be overwhelming to keep up with everything. Platforms are constantly updating, trends change daily, and there’s a mix of both entertaining and educational content competing for attention. Sometimes I feel like I miss out on things or get distracted scrolling endlessly. Balancing entertainment and staying informed is something I’m still working on improving.