The Dark Edit

Stories, culture, design, and life online through my lens.

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about

I’ve always been fascinated by how fashion businesses create stories and build communities. This fascination inspired me to get a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from SUNY Cortland and is now fueling my pursuit of a Master’s degree in Interactive Media and Communications at Quinnipiac. My goal is to become a Social Media Manager, where I can create intriguing digital storylines for a fashion company. I’m excited to master the abilities required for this program to help bring that vision to life. This blog will serve as an outlet for me to reflect, practice new skills, assess industry trends, and analyze the subjects we cover in class.

  • Mental Models: Designing for How Users Actually Think

    January 29, 2026

    Every time we use a website or app, we don’t start fresh. Our past experiences shape our expectations about where buttons are located, how navigation works, and what happens when we click or tap. These expectations are called mental models, and they play a big role in whether a digital experience feels smooth or frustrating.

    What I find fascinating about mental models is the gap they reveal between designers and users. Designers understand how a system works internally, while users mainly care about whether it behaves as they expect. User-centered design depends on recognizing this gap and prioritizing the user’s perspective over the system’s logic. Understanding mental models is essential in user-centered design because they greatly affect usability, learnability, and overall user satisfaction.

    What Mental Models Really Mean in Practice

    Mental models act as shortcuts that help users understand how certain systems work. These shortcuts come from past experiences with similar products. For example, users often expect a hamburger menu to show navigation options, a magnifying glass to represent a search function, or a heart icon to mean saving content. When these expectations are met, users can move forward without stopping to think; they can navigate through the experience easily.

    Issues arise when products fail to meet expectations for reasons that are unclear. Designers may believe that users are open to spending time learning a new interaction. However, in reality, most users prefer familiar experiences. When mental models are ignored, users may become confused or frustrated, even if the interface appears appealing or is technically well-designed.

    When Mental Models Are Ignored: A Familiar Example

    A clear example of conflicting mental models and design choices is Snapchat’s major redesign in 2018. Long-time users found it hard to find features that had previously been easy to access. While the redesign may have made sense from a business viewpoint, it interrupted the routines users had established. The backlash showed that innovation doesn’t always mean introducing something new. Sometimes, it means respecting what users already understand. Users were not frustrated because the app stopped working; they were frustrated because it no longer functioned in a familiar way. This case highlights how ignoring mental models can quickly damage trust and usability.

    How User Research Helps Reveal Mental Models

    A key insight from this module is that mental models should not be assumed; they need to be uncovered. This highlights the importance of user research. Techniques like interviews, usability testing, and observation help designers understand how users naturally approach tasks and what their expectations are.

    I also found the idea that “the general public” is a myth particularly important. Different users have their own goals, challenges, and experiences with a product, so they also have different mental models. If designers don’t do enough research, they risk creating solutions for imaginary users. User research helps align designers’ assumptions about user behavior with actual user actions.

    Where Teams Often Get It Wrong

    Even when designers understand mental models, they often do not receive priority. Business goals, deadlines, and stakeholder preferences can lead teams to prioritize speed, appearance, or new features over usability. This is often where user experience starts to suffer.

    Ignoring mental models may not cause immediate problems, but it often leads to long-term issues such as increased support requests, user drop-off, or the need for redesigns. This shows how important it is to get stakeholder support. When teams recognize how mental models affect usability, they are more likely to support design choices based on real user behavior instead of assumptions.

    Why Mental Models Are Central to User-Centered Design

    Mental models underscore a key principle in user-centered design: products should adapt to user needs rather than expecting users to adapt. When experiences align with users’ prior knowledge, interactions feel smooth and natural. This reduces mental effort and builds trust.

    Mental models also support the ongoing design process. As products evolve, regular testing makes sure that updates still meet user expectations. User-centered design is not a one-time effort; it’s an ongoing loop of listening, testing, and improving based on real behavior.

    Conclusion: Designing with the User in Mind

    Mental models remind us that users never approach products neutrally. They bring habits, beliefs, and expectations shaped by their past experiences. When designers recognize these expectations, the experience feels more natural. However, ignoring even small changes can cause frustration. This idea highlights the importance of empathy in good design. User-centered design is about more than just usability; it involves understanding how people think and creating experiences that fit their current situation. By designing with mental models in mind, we create more intuitive and human-centered digital experiences.

  • Where Aesthetics Meet Analytics: Rhode Skin’s Organic Social Performance

    January 29, 2026

    In a quickly growing beauty market, standing out on social media requires more than just attractive visuals. Brands need to balance new ideas with careful planning, using data to shape their content creation and distribution. Rhode Skin exemplifies a brand that effectively merges minimalistic design with strong organic social media engagement. By focusing on authentic content, lifestyle stories, and building community connections, Rhode has created a recognizable, interactive presence across platforms. This blog post looks at Rhode Skin’s organic social media effectiveness by examining platform metrics and social listening data. It identifies key trends and opportunities and suggests a tailored organic strategy to increase engagement and support community growth.

    Rhode’s Organic Social Media Presence

    Rhode Skin is most active on Instagram and TikTok, where it focuses on short videos and lifestyle imagery. A look at Instagram Insights and public engagement data shows that Rhode’s Reels and carousel posts consistently outperform static images. These formats encourage longer viewing times, saves, and shares, which are important for social media algorithms. Rather than pushing direct sales messages, Rhode’s content highlights skincare routines, subtle product placements, and “get ready with me” videos. This approach makes the brand feel relatable and driven by creators, leading to a wider organic reach and ongoing engagement.

    Key Trends and Analytics Insights

    One prominent trend in Rhode’s organic content is its focus on authenticity instead of promotion. Posts that seem spontaneous and genuine tend to get more engagement than those that look overly polished or sales-driven. This matches how algorithms work, as platforms usually favor content that encourages meaningful interactions, such as comments, saves, and longer watch times.

    Another important point is the strong visual consistency of Rhode’s branding. The brand’s soft color scheme, simple layouts, and minimalist design support quick recognition in busy feeds. Audience feedback in comment sections and brand mentions is mostly positive, with users frequently showing trust in the brand and appreciation for its straightforward approach.

    Strengths of Rhode’s Organic Strategy

    Rhode Skin’s organic growth comes from several key strengths. First, the brand’s genuine tone makes its content feel welcoming instead of pushy. Second, its lifestyle stories smoothly fit products into daily routines rather than showing them as separate ads. Lastly, Rhode uses a subtle selling technique that encourages natural engagement before presenting messages aimed at conversion through captions, links, or stories. This method reflects how attention works online. Content that feels engaging and relatable is more likely to draw in and keep attention, which improves organic reach and builds lasting connections with the audience.

    Opportunities for Growth

    Even though Rhode is doing well, there are ways to improve its organic strategy. One important area for improvement is encouraging two-way engagement. While Rhode gets likes and comments on its posts, adding more direct prompts like questions or conversation starters could lead to more meaningful interactions.

    Another area for growth is expanding user-generated content (UGC). Highlighting customer routines, reviews, or tagged posts would build community trust and provide new organic content. UGC usually performs well because it seems genuine and strengthens social validation.

    Proposed Organic Social Media Strategy

    According to these observations, Rhode’s organic approach should focus on three main pillars: storytelling, community engagement, and consistency. First, Rhode should continue to highlight storytelling-driven content, like behind-the-scenes glimpses, brand insights, and videos focused on routines. Next, the brand should actively encourage community involvement by sharing customer content and showcasing real user experiences. Finally, maintaining a regular posting schedule while being flexible enough to participate in trends will help support organic growth.

    Measuring Success

    The effectiveness of this approach can be measured over time using key organic indicators, such as engagement rate, saves, shares, comment counts, and reach. By monitoring these indicators through Instagram Insights, the brand can adjust content styles, posting schedules, and themes based on their performance. By using data to guide creative choices, Rhode can balance visual appeal with analytical insights.

    Conclusion

    Rhode Skin demonstrates that visual content can be both strategic and effective when supported by data. By blending a clean design with data-driven decisions, the brand has built a strong organic presence based on authenticity and community. With more engagement, an increase in user-generated content, and continuous storytelling, Rhode is ready for sustained organic growth in the evolving world of social media.

  • Understanding Social Media Performance via Metrics: Lemme

    January 25, 2026

    Lemme, the wellness and supplement brand established by Kourtney Kardashian Barker, has developed a robust presence on social media, particularly on Instagram and TikTok. The brand’s social media approach combines organic interactions and paid advertising to establish its identity, expand its audience, and convert followers into customers. By drawing on concepts from essential readings, which include methods for measuring social media effectiveness, understanding attention economics, and assessing campaign strategies. We can evaluate how Lemme balances its organic and paid initiatives and pinpoint areas for improvement.

    Balancing Organic and Paid Efforts

    Lemme’s organic content emphasizes lifestyle visuals, product features, and wellness themes that aim to blend seamlessly into users’ feeds. This strategy aligns with Blanchard’s focus on fostering genuine interactions that help develop long-term relationships and strengthen brand equity. According to Social Media ROI, the key to social media success starts with engagement metrics like likes, comments, and shares, not merely follower numbers. Since these reflect authentic audience involvement and brand significance.

    Simultaneously, Lemme employs paid social strategies to broaden its audience reach and support its strategic campaign objectives. In Paid Attention, Yakob contends that paid media should be utilized to “purchase attention” when organic reach stagnates and should effectively reinforce key messages rather than disrupt engagement. Lemme’s paid advertisements frequently highlight product benefits or limited-time offers and feature clear calls to action, such as “Shop Now,” illustrating a paid approach aimed at attracting attention and driving conversions.

    Organic content fosters trust and encourages community interaction, whereas paid content extends these messages to a wider audience. A balance that embodies Blanchard’s ROI framework of connecting social efforts with quantifiable business results, such as traffic and conversions.

    Metrics That Matter

    Based on observable actions in the public domain, Lemme emphasizes a number of important performance indicators:

    1. Engagement Metrics (Likes, Comments, Shares)
      • Elevated engagement rates are fundamental to Lemme’s organic approach, consistent with Blanchard’s model that views engagement as a vital sign of social effectiveness and brand connection. These indicators reveal audience involvement and content significance more transparently than merely counting followers.
    2. Follower Growth
      • Expanding an audience indicates heightened brand recognition. In The Marketing Campaign Playbook, Thony highlights the importance of monitoring growth metrics over time to assess campaign effectiveness and adjust strategies accordingly. Consistent follower increase indicates effective audience development.
    3. Reach and Impressions
      • While not directly observable, reach and impressions are generally favored for paid content. Yakob emphasizes that paid media broadens reach and ensures campaigns are presented to the right audience, thereby enhancing both awareness and conversion goals.
    4. Conversion-Related Metrics
      • While not directly observable, reach and impressions are generally favored for paid content. Yakob emphasizes that paid media broadens reach and ensures campaigns are presented to the right audience, thereby enhancing both awareness and conversion goals.

      Suggested Improvements

      1. Combine Dashboard Metrics
        • Lemme could enhance its approach by monitoring integrated organic and paid metrics in dashboards (such as trends in engagement rate, cost per click, and conversion rate). Blanchard highlights the significance of monitoring interconnected metrics to connect social activity to ROI.
      2. Boost Engaging Content
        • Incorporating interactive elements such as polls, Q&A stories, or challenges can enhance engagement and yield more in-depth qualitative insights into audience preferences, aligning with Thony’s techniques for campaign optimization.
      3. Strategic Paid Sequencing
        • Yakob proposes that paid advertising be organized to draw attention and strengthen messaging from organic channels. Lemme experiment with retargeting sequences tailored to previous interactions to improve conversion rates.

      Conclusion

      Lemme’s presence on social media showcases a careful balance between natural engagement and paid promotion. By incorporating key ideas from Social Media ROI, Paid Attention, and The Marketing Campaign Playbook, it is evident that Lemme prioritizes engagement as a key metric for organic growth while leveraging paid tactics to reach a wider audience and boost conversions. By improving metric tracking and adopting more interactive content strategies, Lemme can further strengthen its social media presence and more effectively link its activities to measurable business results.

    1. Looking Through My Versions: An Overview of the Topics I Have Been Writing About

      December 7, 2025

      I have been writing a longer post lately about a topic that has been on my mind for years: how social media subtly influences the self-perception of young women and girls. Not in the stereotypical “social media is terrible” sense, but rather in the realistic, messy, intimate way that the majority of us encounter it.

      One of those late-night scrolls that leaves you half awake and half captivated is how it all began. The photo dumps appear effortlessly disorganized. The “no makeup makeup” looks, which undoubtedly required forty-five minutes. I was left wondering by the sobbing selfies, the supposedly intimate “close friends” posts, and the flawlessly flawed mirror images.

      Are we acting out a version of ourselves for the algorithm, or are we expressing ourselves online?

      In a lengthy piece I am about to publish shortly, I have been analyzing that question. It delves into topics that young women seldom discuss aloud, such as comparison, filters, the need to be relatable, and the emotional balancing act involved in continuously creating a digital persona.

      I wanted to make a few teasers that fit the vibe of each platform before it goes online. They are not really promotions, but rather little representations of the larger concepts I am investigating.

      Instagram Teaser

      This teaser is not “technical,” but rather gentle, sympathetic, and visually appealing because Instagram relies on both emotion and aesthetics. It talks about identity, girlhood, and the hyper-curated feeling that we can all relate to.
      Instead of lecturing, this version aims to make individuals feel seen.

      X Teaser

      X moves quickly. People scroll rapidly. The best posts are frank, incisive, and a little too real, like ideas that come to you at one in the morning. This rendition makes use of that energy.

      Linkedln Teaser

      On LinkedIn, I searched for something grounded and meaningful. The tone is more thoughtful than sensitive, yet it remains honest. It frames the matter as a cultural and digital communication issue, rather than a personal rant, which is consistent with how people consume information on that platform.
      A More Personal Reflection

      Writing this post made me realize how many distinct versions of myself exist online. There is the polished me, the hilarious me, the “close friends” me, the vulnerable me who only writes on certain days, and the version I do not share at all because it seems too raw.

      And I know I am not alone, so many young women have the burden of constantly being watched, compared, and filtered. It is tiring but not in the way you would expect.

      The more I research this topic, the more I discover that authenticity online does not imply being entirely unfiltered. It is about finding some form of harmony between who we are and who we appear, even if the two do not exactly match.

      I am excited (and slightly nervous) to upload the entire work shortly. It has an honest vibe to it. It feels personal. And it seems like something many of us have been silently navigating.

    2. My Head’s Been Feeling Crowded Lately (So Here’s What I’m Doing About It)

      November 16, 2025

      The Weight of a Constantly “On” Mind

      Lately, I’ve noticed my brain feels packed.

      Like it’s always “on.” Even when I’m supposedly relaxing, there’s this constant hum of ideas, a mental to-do list swirling, images flashing, and creative thoughts popping up. Additionally, there is the constant pressure to keep up with everything online, at school, and in life.

      And honestly, it’s completely draining me.

      When Creating Stops Feeling Creative

      It really hit me the other day while I was editing something on my laptop. I just stopped and thought, when was the last time I actually enjoyed making something? Not racing against the clock, not stressing about perfection, but just creating because it pleased me?

      How the Internet Steals Our Attention

      Living online, especially in the social media/fashion/creative sphere, it’s so easy to feel like your attention is getting pulled in a million different directions. Everything moves so rapidly, it’s all so loud, and everyone is begging for your time. It’s like the internet has main character syndrome.

      I’ve been pondering a lot about how our attention spans work, and how easily they’re snatched away, how difficult they are to maintain, and how quickly they get drained. And I’ve concluded that the more I’m exposed to everything, the less deeply I actually feel anything. I know that sounds like hyperbole, but it’s completely accurate.

      Choosing to Slow Down

      So, this week, I decided to try something different:

      I eased up.
      I took in the process.
      I allowed myself to have only one thought at a time instead of juggling a dozen.

      And it was liberating. Like finally having some breathing room.

      Creating with Intention, Not Pressure

      I started noticing the complexity in my writing, not because I was forced to, but because I wanted my ideas to feel intentional. I centered my attention on one point, instead of attempting to cram everything in. And the surprising thing? When I stepped back and stopped striving for “flawless,” my writing (and truthfully, my entire mental state) felt much clearer.

      A New Era of Mindful Creativity

      It made me recognize that creativity doesn’t have to be this non-stop performance. It doesn’t need to be in full force all the time. Sometimes the best thing to do is to pause, tune in to yourself for a moment, and produce something that feels authentic rather than rushed.

      I think I’m embarking on a new chapter, the age of slow, mindful creativity.

      Less mental clutter, more purpose.
      Less strain, more presence.
      More crafting because it feels good, and not because the world is desperately battling for attention.

      If your head’s been feeling jam-packed too, consider this your cue to slow down with me.

    3. The Efficacy of Brevity: Defining a Voice in a Saturated World (AI Generated)

      November 9, 2025

      The Dilution of Discourse

      The exponential increase in accessible communication channels has inadvertently led to a dilution of discourse. As individuals and entities contribute to an ever-expanding pool of content, the distinctiveness of any single contribution tends to recede. This phenomenon suggests that the quantity of output often correlates inversely with its perceived significance, making it difficult for an authentic ‘voice’ to emerge and establish influence.

      Strategic Deliberation over Constant Output

      To establish a distinctive presence amidst this communicative overload, a strategic shift from constant output to deliberate articulation is required. This involves a conscious decision to pause, analyze, and synthesize before contributing. Such a contemplative approach allows for the refinement of ideas and the construction of messages that possess clarity, conciseness, and substantive weight. The goal is to maximize impact through economy of expression rather than sheer volume.

      The Imperative of Precision

      The principle of “saying more with less” is fundamentally about precision. It advocates for the meticulous selection of language, ensuring that every word serves a definitive purpose and contributes to the overall coherence and power of the message. This disciplined approach minimizes extraneous information, allowing the core idea to stand out with greater prominence. In an environment where attention spans are fragmented, brevity becomes a critical asset in conveying complex ideas effectively.

      Authenticity as a Differentiator

      Ultimately, the development of a compelling voice in a noisy world relies heavily on authenticity. Attempts to mimic prevailing trends or to appeal to the lowest common denominator often result in messages that lack genuine impact. Conversely, communication rooted in unique perspectives, well-considered insights, and transparent intent possesses an inherent gravitational pull. It is this genuine resonance that allows a voice to transcend the ambient noise and achieve meaningful engagement.

      In conclusion, the efficacy of communication in a saturated world is increasingly tied to its conciseness and authenticity. By prioritizing deliberate articulation, precision, and genuine expression, individuals and organizations can navigate the complexities of modern discourse and establish a voice that truly resonates.

    4. The Art of Saying More with Less: Discovering My Voice in a Noisy World

      November 9, 2025

      When I realized that simple writing is not easy.

      I am reading On Writing Well truly resonated with me. Zinsser’s instruction about reducing phrases to their simplest form reminded me that writing effectively is far more difficult than it appears. I have always enjoyed words and the rhythm, originality, and personality that they convey, yet I sometimes get lost in them.

      Zinsser says, “Clutter is the sickness of American literature,” which stung a little. I started noticing how many filler words I use when I am hesitant or attempting to appear smarter than I am. I understood that successful writing is not about decorative words, but it is about believing that your thoughts are strong enough to stand alone.

      Context Over Everything

      Gary Vaynerchuk’s “Content is King, but Context is God” brought everything together for me. As someone who works in social media, I see this regularly with a fantastic article that goes viral not because it is flawless, but because it is timely. It feels appropriate for the audience.

      The same goes for writing. Zinsser reminds us to constantly know who we are writing for, while Gary Vee emphasizes the importance of knowing where they are, which is mentally, emotionally, and digitally. Writing that resonates stems from empathy, not ego.

      Fewer words, more meaning.

      Bill Gates once stated, “Content is King,” but what struck me was that he meant meaningful content is the type that instructs, entertains, or connects. I believe that the best writing, like the best social media posts, has one goal, and that goal is to make someone feel something genuine.

      This week reminded me that writing, whether it is a blog piece or an Instagram caption, requires honesty. It is not about impressing others, but it is about expressing oneself. When we simplify, we do not lose creativity; rather, we allow it to breathe.

      So, going ahead, I am challenging myself to write with intention rather than dress it up. Because, in a world filled with noise, clarity is more than just refreshing; it is powerful.

      This was written, created, and designed without the use of any AI.

    5. Writing for Me… but Also for You?

      November 2, 2025

      Paradox of the Audience

      While reading William Zinsser’s On Writing Well, I could not help but pause while reading Chapter 5, “The Audience.” He offers seemingly contradicting advice, which is, “Do not lose the reader,” and “Do not write for the reader.” At first, I laughed because it felt like the jargon talk that is discussed in writing. But as I went more into the chapter, I discovered Zinsser was not contradicting himself. He was explaining equilibrium.
      In Chapters 3 and 4, Zinsser promotes clarity and simplicity, which includes removing clutter, avoiding inflated academic tones, and believing that clear writing is the most professional type. This, of course, benefits the reader. As he states, “The secret of successful writing is to remove every sentence to its purest components.” Readers should never have to decipher your meaning; you should make it simple for them. However, in Chapter 5, his instruction shifts inward, and his suggestion is to stop trying so hard to please others. Zinsser states that the best writing occurs when you forget about your audience and express what you truly believe and feel. It is about honesty, not performance.

      Finding My Own Voice

      As a communication and social media student, I found this concept unexpectedly liberating. I will always be writing for someone else, like brand managers, audiences, clients, and even algorithms. Every caption, blog, or campaign is typically designed around “what will generate engagement.”

      But Zinsser reminds me that good writing does not begin there. It all starts with genuineness. When you write about what truly interests you, your enthusiasm automatically draws readers in. Whenever I am writing about a topic that I truly enjoy, I find that I am just typing away and I lose track of time. On the other hand, if I had to complete a writing assignment in college about a topic that I am not interested in, I would procrastinate more, or I would feel like I have to add something to it to draw the reader’s attention. But he puts it in a perspective that, “You are writing for yourself; do not try to guess what the editor wants.”

      That is precisely aligned with Steven Pinker’s “The Source of Bad Writing,” in which he claims that many writers suffer from the curse of knowledge, believing the audience already knows what they know. Zinsser and Pinker agree that writers must respect their readers’ need for clarity while still trusting their own intuition and distinctiveness.

      Writing for Today’s Distracted Reader

      Zinsser wrote “On Writing Well” decades ago, yet his advice remains relevant to the digital age. But what I enjoy is that he still keeps the facts about what makes. a good writer, but he still updates it. Readers today are even more distracted, as Maria Konnikova points out in “Being a Better Online Reader,” describing how individuals now skim rather than read deeply.
      This is why Zinsser’s message is ageless. Writing that is authentic to you keeps people interested because it cuts through the noise. If I write only to please, my words lose significance, and the readers could tell the writing has no personality. If I write honestly and passionately, even the fast-scrolling audience can sense it.

      My Takeaway

      Zinsser’s “contradiction” makes perfect sense. Write for yourself to discover your voice. Edit to ensure that the reader understands your message. As someone pursuing a creative job, I am finding out that both are equally important. Great writing, like great content, occurs when confidence and consideration come together. Just because a person adds fancy words to their writing does not make that piece of writing any better.

    6. Becoming the Best Version of Myself Through Media, Meaning, and Motivation…

      November 2, 2025

      Introduction: Finding My Path

      Gabriella Rinaldi, who adds a new perspective on pop culture and digital branding to the batch. Her family often refers to her by her full name, but she is better known as Gabby to others. She is a proud Virgo who recently turned 22.

      Family Roots and First Milestones

      Gabriella is her family’s first four-year college graduate and the first one to go away to school. As one of four girls in a traditional Italian family, the thought of her moving away to school was first received with a simple no. Gabriella, on the other hand, was motivated to attain independence and pushed for the experience, despite the fact that she relied heavily on her loving and supportive parents.

      Discovering a New Direction

      She graduated from SUNY Cortland in May of this year with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication. This was not her original goal as she started college as an Early Childhood Education major. While the controlled, planned style of teaching appealed to her, she quickly discovered that her genuine passions were elsewhere and made the move. Gabriella felt overwhelmed by the prospect of graduating, but she chose to put her energies into getting a master’s degree.

      A Passion for Creativity and Communication

      She is drawn to interactive media and communications as they provide a valuable outlet for her creative side. She finds the entire profession intriguing and encouraging, viewing it as an opportunity to become the best version of herself and love what she is doing.

      Inspiration from Pop Culture and Branding

      Gabriella draws professional inspiration from engaging celebrity social media marketing and branding. She cites Charli XCX’s “Brat” album launch as a recent example of “perfection,” which resulted in a viral “Brat Summer” trend and a distinct “cool energy.” She admires Kourtney Kardashian’s visually beautiful design and social media initiatives. Gabriella, a lifelong Justin Bieber fan, also emphasizes the importance of his social media-driven surprise album, Swag, being released. She describes how this technique resulted in tremendous streaming debuts, number-one chart positions in over 100 countries, and albums that swiftly surpassed one billion plays.

      Looking Ahead: A Future in Social Media

      These instances are a major reason Gabriella wants to be a Social Media Manager. She thrives on having a platform to generate captivating material for an audience, which she already does by making and sharing collages and moodboards from her Pinterest boards with her friends on Snapchat. Gabriella is eager to express her artistic side and thoughts.

    7. Why We have All Become Scroll Zombies and How I am Learning to Read Again…

      October 26, 2025

      The Attention Span Crisis

      I have noticed that my concentration is deteriorating. I can spend hours organizing Pinterest boards or scrolling on TikTok, but when I try to read a lengthy piece, my concentration wanders halfway through. It is as if my brain is wired for perpetual refresh mode, needing the next swipe, click, and notification.

      Nicholas Carr’s “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” made me understand that this is not just my problem. Carr shows how the internet has physically changed the way we think and read. He claims that humans have become “mere decoders of information,” rather than deep readers. That seems terribly accurate. I used to like getting lost in books, but recently, I get lost in tabs. Even when I am reading something artistic or cultural, for example, like a blog post about Brat Summer or a new product that the Kardashians are coming out with, I generally multitask or scan for the highlights.

      The Way We Read Online is Changing


      Maria Konnikova’s “Being a Better Online Reader” explores recent scientific advancements. She emphasizes that we not only read differently online, but our brains also analyze digital content more quickly, but on a surface level. Scrolling encourages skimming, and hyperlinks continuously distract us from the content. That struck a chord with me because I live entirely online. As part of my creative process, I continuously read captions, articles, and comments. However, Konnikova’s study suggests that digital overload may be educating people to prefer rapid responses over deliberate thoughts. As someone pursuing a profession in social media and branding, it made me wonder, if we are consuming material so quickly, how does it influence how I design and create it?

      Writing Clearly in a Busy World

      Steven Pinker’s “The Source of Bad Writing” dramatically transformed my perspective on communication. He discusses “the curse of knowledge,” the theory that writers sometimes assume readers already know what they know, resulting in confusing, jargon-filled writing. That is something I did without recognizing it. When I write pieces for Rinaldi Electric or The Juice House, I occasionally forget that not everyone knows the context of a campaign or caption. Pinker’s approach is simple yet effective, which is get out of your own brain. Ask for comments and read your essay aloud. It is not about sounding smart, but about being understood.

      Learning How to Read and Create Again

      These texts challenged my entire relationship with the internet. The internet world allows me to express myself, such as through Pinterest boards, posting on social media, and pop-culture narratives, but it also causes me to lose focus. Now I am attempting to slow down. To read more deeply. To apply the same effort I devote to producing a collage or dissecting a campaign to how I read and write. Because originality and clarity require equal attention, whether it is a TikTok caption, a blog post, or a story that stirs up emotion.