“Young people told to stay at home amid coronavirus, but where is home?” is an article written by Emily Davies, published by The Washington Post. For many college students, the shutdown of universities created a divide. Should they go home to families, or should they stay in their apartments with their friends? The article by The Washington Post tells the story of Yvette Smith, a graduate who was studying in Washington D.C. at American University at the time of the announced quarantine lockdown. Smith decided to move home to her parents’ Chicago house instead of quarantining in her D.C. apartment.
Like Smith, many college students experienced the same issue. Smith told The Washington Post that she appreciates the meals and company, but she does miss being an adult. With her mother telling her to do her homework, Smith feels herself “regressing.” However, Smith did not want to be alone during the pandemic, as is the case for many college students. College students across the United States had to choose to return home to their childhood homes or to find a place to stay where they could be by themselves, with their friends, or with their partners. The article provides insight into how young adults and college students are feeling about the quarantine.
The article by The Washington Post was released on their website, Snapchat, and Facebook. Initially, the article caught my eye on Snapchat, the social media that I use most. I decided to pick this story to analyze because I related to it. My older brother, who had moved out a year ago, is now back home with my parents and I because he did not want to be alone in his apartment during the quarantine. After doing some searching, I found the article again on Facebook and found the press release on The Washington Post’s website. I do not use social media often, so I do not have access to Instagram or other social media platforms. Below are the pictures of the story that appeared on my Snapchat screen.
Why Does Social Media Matter?
Although Social Media may not be the “go to” platform for everyone, it does have its benefits that can be overlooked. Social Media allows a person to become a Persistent Storyteller. With constant updates, fact-checks, and multiple platforms to review, information is easy to spread with social media. According to the article “News Use Across Social Media Platforms 2018,” about 68% of American adults get their news from social media. Some people still believe social media to provide inaccurate information, but most news sources provide their own accounts that post links to their official website, so no misinformation can be spread. Although not all news companies are experts at publishing to social media, majority of news companies provide timely updates and reviews of their stories. Being a persistent storyteller not only means having the correct facts, but it also means having the correct audience. According to the “Everything You Need to Know About Marketing” blog, Social Media allows people to see emotion and be more involved with the stories and brands that are published because it is coming to them rather than them trying to find the subject. Being a persistent storyteller allows users of social media to be factual correct and emotionally aware.
Although I am not a huge social media user, I do find social media useful. Since I am a college student and I am on a budget, subscriptions to The New York Time or The Washington Post, or other major newspaper companies may not be affordable. Following these newspaper companies on social media allows me to keep up with the news for free. Although I do not have access to all articles, I still get the important news. Like every college student, I have a very busy schedule since I balance classes, homework, and social time. Viewing news on social media allows me to view excerpts of articles without having to read the entire article. Social media allows me to get quick, easily accessible news so I may remain up-to-date on the news while also maintain my very busy schedule.