Typing Into the Void (But for Class Credit)

One of my absolute favorite shows is Attack on Titan. Sure, it's technically about humanity fighting giant man-eating monsters, but for me, it's always been about something more than just action and plot twists. It's about resilience, identity, and refusing to accept a world that tries to box you in. As someone in the LGBTQ+ community, that hits hard. The characters in AoT are constantly fighting against impossible odds and breaking free from systems that want to control them, and honestly, that's relatable. We might not be dodging Titans in real life, but we are fighting for the right to exist openly, safely, and authentically. I also love the theme of chosen family in the show. The trust and loyalty the characters build with each other feels so similar to the strength in the queer community. We protect and lift each other up, even when the world outside feels like a battlefield. ⚔️ So yeah, maybe I'm not swinging around ODM gear... but I am out here slaying ignorance and smashing heteronormativity 😤✨

Here's the truth: some parts of data collection are going pretty well... and others? Not so much.

What's working: Once I actually sit down and focus, collecting the data itself isn't so bad. I've gotten into good rhythm of scrolling, recording likes, comments and shares, and noting the types of content I'm seeing. I'm starting to notice patterns, which make me feel like I'm really getting somewhere with this project.

What's not working: Honestly, consistency. Life is busy, and finding the time to collect data regularly has been harder than I expected. Sometimes I feel like I'm rushing through it instead of taking the time to really observe and think about what I'm recording. It's also tough to decide how much detail is too much. Like, do I need to track every tiny thing, or just the big patterns?

Why: I think it's a mix of time management and overthinking. I want to make sure I'm collecting the right data, but I'm also learning that "perfect" isn't the goal. Consistency and accuracy are. The more I work on it, the more confident I'm getting, even if it's a little messy right now.

I do have a plan for how I'm dividing this project into small daily tasks... but if i'm being completely honest, life this week is doing its absolute best to throw that plan out the window .🫠

Here's what I wanted to do:

-> Day 1-2: Outline everything. goals, sections, and deadlines. So I'd have a clear roadmap.

-> Day 3-5: Focus on data collection, nice and organized.

-> Day 6-8: Break down analysis into smaller pieces.

-> Day 9-10: Draft each section one at a time and finish with edits.

And here's the reality: I'm behind on school, behind on work, behind on sleep. Basically just behind on life in general. 🫠 That said, having a plan still matters. Even if I'm not hitting every milestone on time, it gives me something to come back to when I finally catch my breath. And honestly, progress is progress, even if it's slower than I hoped.

Long projects always sound manageable at first... and then suddenly it's 2 a.m., the deadline is tomorrow, and I'm questioning every life choice I ever made. 🫠 But this semester, I'm trying to change by building a real strategy instead of just panic-running on caffeine.

Here's my plan:

-> Break it down into bite-sized tasks. Instead of staring at a giant assignment and spiraling. I split it into small, doable pieces with mini-deadlines. (If I ca trick my brain into thinking I'm finishing something every few days, it's a win.)

-> Use checkpoints. I set a schedule for when I'll draft, revise, collect data, and finalize, so I'm not doing everything, everywhere, all at once (great movie btw 😂)

-> Check in with myself. If I'm feeling overwhelmed, I pause, reorganize my plan, and remind myself that progress > perfection.

-> Reward myself. Finishing a step = snacks, an episode of Black Mirror, an hour of PS5, or 30 minutes of mindless scrolling or match games on my phone. Positive reinforcement works, okay? 😂

It's not a perfect system (I still procrastinate sometimes 🙃), but having a plan helps me approach bigger projects with a lot less stress and a lot more confidence

Okay, so I think I understand this whole "collecting data" thing... but also, I definitely don't. Right now, I feel like a detective staring at Instagram posts like they're clues to a crime I didn't know I signed up to solve.

Here's what I'm confused about:

-> How deep am I supposed to go when collecting? Should I just grab the basics (likes, comments, shares), or am I also supposed to note tone, design choices, and vibes?

-> If a post keeps getting engagement after I record it, do I update my data later or just stick with what I had at the time?

-> And when I record "when" I collected it... how specific are we talking? Just the date? The time? The phase of the moon? lol

Basically, I'm trying to make sure I don't have to do this more than once, so any tips before I accidentally mess up my dataset would be greatly appreciated. 😅 @npfannen

If I had to define university social media strategy in my own words, I'd say it's how schools package themselves online to connect with all their audiences at once. Future students, current students, alumni, and even the surrounding community. For me as a student, it looks like this: polished instagram posts that show off the campus (Maybe a pond, maybe a swan, maybe a sunset?), student spotlights that make the place feel welcoming, and event reminders that sometimes reach me faster than email. The strategy is less about random posting and more about consistency, building a brand, reinforcing school pride, and keeping people engaged across platforms. So my working definition: university social media strategy = using visuals, stories, and updates across platforms to market, inform, and build community at the same time. Millersville does this by balancing "look how beautiful out campus is" with "here's what's happening this week.

Why do universities use social media? Easy: it's the fastest way to show off their vibe. Millersville's Instagram is basically a mix of pretty pond sunsets, smiling students, and "don't miss this event!" posts. Future students see it and think wow, college looks magical. Alumni see it and feel proud. Current students (me) see it and go, oh good, one less email to dig through. So yea, universities use social media because it sells the school and builds community. All while reminding us the geese, swans, and ducks aren't the only ones running this campus.

Okay, so here's how I experienced university content strategy as a student: it's basically a mix of extremely structured and completely overwhelming. On one hand, D2L is set up with modules, submodules, and checkmarks (very "information architecture chic" 💅). It makes me feel like I'm moving through a maze where every turn is labeled "Week 1," "Week 2," etc. And honestly? That structure keeps me sane. But then my inbox gets hit with five or more university emails a day. Events I'll never attend, safety alerts, random surveys. And suddenly the same "strategy" feels less like guidance and more like noise. Same with social media: the schools Instagram posts are polished, curated, and all about vibes, but do I ever click the links in bio? Rarely. So my experience is kind of two sided: university content strategy helps me stay on track with coursework, but also drowns me in info I don't actually use. It's like they're great at organizing content but not always great at targeting it to what students actually care about.

This is the part where I explain design using the meme "My friendship circle over the years" (Figure 4). My argument is that the humor depends almost entirely on design. The little human figures and animals are the joke, the text just frames it.

What I think this section is doing: showing that design isn't decoration, it's meaning. Without design here, the content wouldn't land at all.

What I need feedback on:

👉Do I explain the design clearly enough, or does it feel like I'm just describing the meme?

👉Would it help to compare this with a "text only" example to show the contrast?