EDITOR ' S LETTER
WE ’ VE REACHED THE POINT of no return ; the age of social media that is ! If you ’ re in it , you ’ re hooked and once you get in , you really can ’ t get out – or can you ? Or , do you even want to ?
When was the last time you checked your Facebook page or your Instagram account ? Seconds ago , minutes ago ? How many likes and comments did you get on your latest post ? Is your engagement up or down ? If you are socially engaged , these are daily questions you might be asking yourself . It could be anyone of us , most likely all of us and if it ’ s not you , it soon will be .
In this exclusive first time , digital issue of fredi , we took to the social media landscape and found some very interesting people leading the pack . Some have been at this thing for years , while others are now just beginning . This group of savvy social media influencers have thousands of followers – some hundreds of thousands – and they ’ re impacting how their followers engage .
8 • fredi digital 2017
THE DAWNING OF A NEW AGE – ARE YOU SOCIALLY ENGAGED ?
FILOMENA ROSATI / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
In all walks of life , from celebrities to ordinary people like you and me , some are doing extraordinarily unique things with their accounts , earning a living at it or promoting themselves and advertising product . Whether it be food , fashion , photography or travel , our social media influencers share their stories on how they got started and what these platforms are doing for their business and how their lives have changed because of social media . They ’ ve proven that not all social media is bad , or ugly , but rather itʼs good and positive for them . They ’ ve learned to play the game , dodging new algorithms while still adapting and keeping their success constant and working hard to grow their fan base . Playing this game is not easy – for some , it ’ s for pure social interaction , but for some , it ’ s become their livelihood ? Easy ? Not a chance !
You ’ ll be able to read about these influencers and how they got started , what they ’ ve learned along the way and what they gave up to turn it into a thriving business . Regardless of age , sexual orientation or culture , social media has transcended all barriers . No matter where on the planet you live ( save for remote , poor countries ) people from all walks of life can communicate , and share almost anything and make friends while exchanging world views , political opinions , share the arts , their passions , culture as well as everyday life .
While the world changes , social media seems to keep up . Although there have been many naysayers whom refuse to engage , we can ’ t deny it ’ s brought the whole world a lot closer . It ’ s a little smaller than it used to be . Yet many , like our featured influencers , remain cautious knowing that once information is out there , it stays out there . Perhaps this being one of the many drawbacks that keeps people away .
I hope you enjoy these stories and gain some insight into the world of professional social media personalities . It ’ s no surprise that they found a way to put a positive spin on something that was once skeptical to many . Digital social media is here to stay . The caveat - what to do and how to use it wisely for the greater good of all involved .