Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and snap chat are some examples of social media websites. Social media is a chain of applications and websites that are intended to enable users to receive and share content fast, efficiently, proficiently and instantly. Although most people think of social media as applications on tablet or smartphone, the truth is that it all started with computers. The way people do their daily tasks has seen a transformation with the ability to share opinions, photos, videos, and events rapidly. Business enterprises have also adopted the use of the new technology to aid in the marketing strategy. Politicians who use these social media websites have been able to reach many people with less effort, all they need is a device with an internet connection and their message reach millions within a minute. A good example of a public person who uses the aforementioned social media websites is the United States president, Donald J. Trump. This essay seeks to give a complete analysis of his Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts and the interpretation of people on his posts and tweets.
Twitter is a social networking website, which enhances communication of people through the publication of short messages that are available and visible to other users of the network. The short messages are called tweets. This social networking website was created in the year 2006. Approximately 4.5 million people were said to be using Twitter by 2008, making it the third most popular social website after MySpace and Facebook. Donald J. Trump is sometimes referred to as the ‘twitter president' for his love to tweet (Bouie and Jamelle 39). He joined the network in March 2009 and after he announced his intention to run for the presidency, he becomes more influential on twitter which seemingly became difficult to assume his tweets. According to him, Twitter has been remarkably effective on his campaigns for presidency and moments after his win. Trump's twitter account has 47 million followers which he says that it allows communicating his thoughts without letting other people do on his behalf.
He has often been seen in public and in social media criticize the traditional media which he says it lack trust and credibility. Trump sent a tweet that says, "I doubt I would be here if it were not for social media." He defended why he uses Twitter most of the time and said that he would not have won the election without using it. Trump refer social media as a "tremendous platform" that allowed him to speak directly to voters without involving the unfair media coverage (Ott and Brian 65). Some concerns about his use of the Twitter account to convey or react to world politics has not gone unnoticed. Trump tweets concerning North Korea has been received with a different interpretation. He warned of unleashing "fire and fury" upon the nation and that the North Korean administration "will not be around much longer". Although his tweet could be a warning for North Korea to stop arming themselves, Trump was interpreted by Pyongyang that his tweet was a clear declaration of war. It is clear that those people that do not agree with him may take the tweets negatively and according to them, Trump portrays a negative image.
Facebook is another social media platform where people create and share information such as videos, quotes, and photos of themselves and others and can be able to respond to comments made. Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg while he was taking his studies. It is the most popular social media site, which is being used all over the world. Donald J. Trump has also been active on Facebook where he posted on issues affecting the Americans and various ways he shall handle them. Recently he posted saying that the relationship between the United States and Russia is worse than it has ever been, and that includes the cold war. People commented on the post and interpreted that he means war with the Russian's. One person says, "you are talking about one of the many empty promises he made". During one of Trump's presidential campaign session in 2016, he said that Americans would be first, and there would be no more wars (Graber, Doris and Johanna 87). Another person comment says, "We are at war with terrorist and it will never end". This clearly shows that Trump's posts are interpreted and understood differently. Mostly, he is likely to get the support of his post from his fellow Republicans' and some opposition from the Democrats. Therefore, the image Trump portrays on his Facebook post can be subjective and objective, and it all depends on who reads his post and what he posts.
Instagram is an online networking site that allows sharing of photos and videos on individual's account. Donald J. Trump Instagram account is ‘realdonaldtrump' and has 8.6m followers (Bouie and Jamelle 78). What is more fascinating is that he only follows 8 people despite being followed by many. On one of his post, Trump put a photo of him and Giaccio, an eleven-old –boy mowing at the Rose Garden Lawn. The photo attracted almost half a million likes, showing how people acknowledged his walk with the boy. Some took to comment that it was not safe for the child to mow without hearing protection gears. Boston said, "is not that a child labor?" Beccsters555 comments and write, "This kid will always remember mowing the lawn with president Trump". Some people see it as a value of humility and leadership while others view it to mean something else. Trump shows how he spends the free time he has, probably with kids, but people have their own interpretation that he is actually supporting child labor by letting Giaccio mow. Therefore, it might be right if said that, people will always understand and interpret things differently on most occasions. The comments made by Boston and Beccsters555 are good examples to show variance in understanding and interpretation on the same issue.
Social media platform has not only been widely used to share social information but also as a business marketing tool. Millions of goods are advertised and sold through the social media websites with Facebook being the most popular in this. Leaders and politicians have not been left behind, and they have shared their thoughts as well on the platform. The United States president, Donald J. Trump is one such politician who has constantly been in touch with social media especially twitter, to a tune of being called ‘the twitter president'. What people post on these platforms may not necessarily bring out the whole meaning of the tweets or post, and sometimes they are misinterpreted. Individuals have been accused of spreading wrong or incorrect information on social media which has made people to occasionally doubt materials shared in these sites. However, its use has brought a new experience in the world people are living in, allowing a real-time sharing of events, thoughts, opinions, and photos. Individuals should always use social media for the constructive rather than the destructive purpose.
Works Cited
Bouie, Jamelle. "How Trump Happened." Slate (2016).
Graber, Doris A., and Johanna Dunaway. Mass media and American politics. Cq Press, 2017.
Ott, Brian L. "The age of Twitter: Donald J. Trump and the politics of debasement." Critical Studies in Media Communication 34.1 (2017): 59-68.
