The Social Media Conundrum

Lush Cosmetics made headlines last month when they decided to quit social media to raise awareness about the damaging effects to people's mental health that it has been shown to have. "I've spent all my life avoiding putting harmful ingredients in my products. There is now overwhelming evidence we are being put at risk when using social media. I'm not willing to expose my customers to this harm, so it's time to take it out of the mix," Lush co-founder and CEO Mark Constantine OBE stated.You don't have dig very deep to find a plethora of articles about the damage social media has on mental health. From the addictive qualities that make social media akin to playing the slots—to the disappointment and depression caused by FOMO (fear of missing out)—to the fake filters that present a misleading picture of who we really are—social media wreaks havoc with our lives.You also don't have to dig very deep to find "Social Media Designer" as a job title or in the list of essential skills that a graphic designer should have when applying for a job. Graphic designers have always found work where consumers interact with content. With 4.48 billion people using social media worldwide, there is no doubt they need skills in this area. All kinds of classes and bootcamps are available to get certified in social media marketing and they can add this skillset to their resume and portfolio.Recently, a bi-partisan probe has launched a probe into Meta Platforms (formerly known as Facebook) to look into the harmful effects Instagram has on kids and the techniques used to increase the frequency and duration of engagement by young users and the harm caused as a result. New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined the coalition and has said the company continues to put profits over safety and we need to protect our children and young adults. A Meta spokesperson claims they are continuing to add features to deal with the negative issues caused by their platforms including prompts to "Take a Break" and ways to nudge them toward other types of content. It's yet another conundrum; how can they possibly protect their users while at the same time profiting from them?The question is huge, how does a graphic designer work ethically and responsibly within the minefield of social media marketing? All and any ideas are welcome.https://thehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment/arts-culture/582898-lush-cosmetics-quitting-social-media-to-bring?amp&fbclid=IwAR31-FU0Nzg4Upke0mPcq_lVZKJF_Sxny5CJ9mJju066NAs-Wgt5eV0xdVMhttps://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/lush-cosmetics-quitting-social-mediahttps://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/instagram-investigated-coalition-of-states-effects-kidshttps://lancastergeneralhealth.org/health-hub-home/2021/september/the-effects-of-social-media-on-mental-healthhttps://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/it-or-not-social-medias-affecting-your-mental-healthhttps://www.statista.com/topics/1538/social-media-marketing/#dossierKeyfigureshttps://backlinko.com/social-media-users#social-media-usage-statshttps://khn.org/news/social-media-is-harming-the-minds-of-our-youth-right-maybe-not/

Social Media Ethics—Opening Pandora's Box

Back in the day when I was first out of school and looking for a job, an entry level graphic designer could usually find work if they could put together pamphlets, flyers, direct mail packages, and other sales and marketing materials. Today, there's a long list of other skills piled on top.Graphic designers looking for work these days will not only bring added value, but may land the job based on their ability to write and distribute marketing copy for social media, track social media statistics, and develop social media strategies. And yes, they should also know Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, some coding and animation skills to put together a strong layout that will engage audiences.But what about the ethics involved in Social Media? Creating original content is the front facing side of things. Issues like respecting copyright and authorship is the easy part. On the other side, questions about who they are doing business with and issues of privacy and censorship run rampant. Facebook recently celebrated 15 years and their Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg, admitted, “We did not anticipate all of the risks from connecting so many people."Then there are the studies that show that designing for apps is akin to designing for slot machines—aimed specifically for addiction. Graphic designers who end up in UX/UI and product design must wrestle with their conscience, much like those who created advertising for tobacco once did.Let's not forget about censorship and surveillance. As graphic designers navigate the world of social media in posting and creating content, they must also keep in mind they are working in a fishbowl with every engagement. In doing so, they should be mindful of not only content, but also context and how their own identity is being perceived. As they create digital footprints for their clients, what are they creating for themselves?The social media landscape is indeed a Pandora's box for anyone who engages—graphic designers, especially those just starting out, need to be especially aware of its implications while building their careers.Sources:https://www.futuristgerd.com/2019/02/is-facebook-unethical-by-design-a-case-study-on-digital-ethics-power-responsibility-and-regulation/https://www.fastcompany.com/3046149/applying-the-addictive-psychology-of-slot-machines-to-app-designhttps://www.thenation.com/article/jeffery-lane-digital-street-book-review/