4 answers
Olivia
Student
Pembroke, New Hampshire
1
Question
Asked
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How does the study of communications impact the ways social media sites are constructed, as well as what content is pushed forward the most?
I’m a high school senior who has been fascinated by the inner workings of social media for years.
I want to understand the psychology and impact it has on other people.
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4 answers
Christa Semko
Senior Director, Global Communications at Dell
19
Answers
Round Rock, Texas
Updated
Christa’s Answer
Social media platforms are built around the core communication principle of truly knowing your audience. Developers and marketers study how people interact, what grabs their attention and what keeps them engaged. This is why the content you see on the platforms feels so personalized...they’re designed to show you content you’ll love based on your behavior. Features like likes, comments and shares are rooted in communication theories, creating a two-way dialogue that keeps users coming back for more.
The content you see is also carefully curated by algorithms that prioritize what resonates most with users. Posts that spark strong emotions are more likely to be pushed forward because they drive engagement. Social media also taps into psychology - think about our need for connection and the fear of missing out (FOMO), which keep us scrolling. By studying communications, you can understand not just how social media works, but why it works the way it does...and even learn how to create content that truly connect with people.
The content you see is also carefully curated by algorithms that prioritize what resonates most with users. Posts that spark strong emotions are more likely to be pushed forward because they drive engagement. Social media also taps into psychology - think about our need for connection and the fear of missing out (FOMO), which keep us scrolling. By studying communications, you can understand not just how social media works, but why it works the way it does...and even learn how to create content that truly connect with people.
Igal Levy
Professional writer, math teacher
24
Answers
California, California
Updated
Igal’s Answer
This sounds like an awesome thing to study and research!
I was a Communications grad student for a while. This is different than journalism/marketing etc. It was social science, which I think is what you're asking about. I'm not sure if that kind of department is that common anymore, but certainly there are sciences that could cover this topic; sociology and anthropology come to mind, and maybe social psychology.
If this is something you're interested in, I think it's a great subject to focus on. You'll just have to figure out what university has a department and a major that fits what you're looking for. You should be able to do that via Internet search, and then by zeroing in on particular schools, departments, and professors. That could give you some ideas about where to apply. And also you'll be able to find material that those professors have published on your topic of interest.
I was a Communications grad student for a while. This is different than journalism/marketing etc. It was social science, which I think is what you're asking about. I'm not sure if that kind of department is that common anymore, but certainly there are sciences that could cover this topic; sociology and anthropology come to mind, and maybe social psychology.
If this is something you're interested in, I think it's a great subject to focus on. You'll just have to figure out what university has a department and a major that fits what you're looking for. You should be able to do that via Internet search, and then by zeroing in on particular schools, departments, and professors. That could give you some ideas about where to apply. And also you'll be able to find material that those professors have published on your topic of interest.
Lauren Stapleton
1
Answer
Raleigh, North Carolina
Updated
Lauren’s Answer
Hi! I Studied Marketing/Communications in college and have found a career in digital media where I get to indulge in both my interest in social media and psychology! More below :)
Studying communications really helps you understand the “why” behind how social media works — not just what people post, but why platforms are built the way they are and why certain content blows up. When you combine that with psychology, it gets even more interesting, because so much of social media is about human behavior — what grabs attention, what makes people click, share, or comment.
A lot of the features we see on social platforms — like the endless scroll, likes, and algorithmic feeds — are based on psychological principles. They’re designed to keep us engaged, and communication theory helps explain how those messages are being sent and received. It’s all about connection, influence, and emotion.
On the content side, communications gives you the tools to create stuff that resonates. Algorithms push content that gets engagement, so if you know how to tell a compelling story or tap into what your audience cares about, your content is more likely to get seen.
That’s what I love about digital media — you can actually see how people interact with content in real time, test things, analyze data, and constantly learn what works and what doesn’t. It’s the perfect mix of creativity and strategy.
Studying communications really helps you understand the “why” behind how social media works — not just what people post, but why platforms are built the way they are and why certain content blows up. When you combine that with psychology, it gets even more interesting, because so much of social media is about human behavior — what grabs attention, what makes people click, share, or comment.
A lot of the features we see on social platforms — like the endless scroll, likes, and algorithmic feeds — are based on psychological principles. They’re designed to keep us engaged, and communication theory helps explain how those messages are being sent and received. It’s all about connection, influence, and emotion.
On the content side, communications gives you the tools to create stuff that resonates. Algorithms push content that gets engagement, so if you know how to tell a compelling story or tap into what your audience cares about, your content is more likely to get seen.
That’s what I love about digital media — you can actually see how people interact with content in real time, test things, analyze data, and constantly learn what works and what doesn’t. It’s the perfect mix of creativity and strategy.
Laura Gomez Madrigal
Marketing
10
Answers
Heredia, Heredia Province, Costa Rica
Updated
Laura’s Answer
This is an excellent point and also key to carrying out campaigns focused on success and also on the well-being of people. From marketing, we have the responsibility not only to meet the business objectives that are set, but also to maintain a human commitment, ensuring that values always prevail and conveying a message that contributes to humanity, not one that destroys.