MM 3603 - Maggie Gunnels

Technology in Children's Toys     G rowing up, I never had technology like iPhones, iPads, and even streaming services. I would go outside and play with my siblings. I am thankful that I grew up when I did. When I go out to eat, walk the Farm Road, or go anywhere in public, I see parents giving their children technology to keep them occupied. I think that technology is significant in today's world, but I believe that children should still go outside and be imaginative. It is incredible how technology is with children's toys and how much it has changed.  Some of the new toys I have seen are pretty impressive, and the ones I will be discussing involve video.  Nintendo Switch Lite      The Nintendo Switch Lite is perfect for traveling, and the battery life lasts a long time. It cost $199 and is the cheapest gaming console on the market right now. It has a very durable design and has perfect colors for children. The console has games that come with it and ...

Keep Up The Good Work!    This semester, being in a class with so many talented students, it is hard to choose a blog that was my favorite. I think everyone did well in their design and information for each blog. If I had to choose just two, I would choose Lauryn Singletary and Kalijah Smith. They both went above and beyond on their blog, and it should not go unnoticed.  Lauryn's Blog     First off, Lauryn's blog captures your attention as soon as it opens up. She used a different template for her blog compared to most others, and I think that it helps make her website stand out.  I love that she has links to her social media with the apps on the top right of the blog page. All of the colors blend well together and make for an aesthetically pleasing website.      Lauryn's blogs are well written and have lots of interactivity. All of the topics are really interesting to read. The pictures she chooses also add to the look of the blog and c...

Live Shopping May Be The Future Of Online Shopping   *Picture Contains Link*     Everyone loves to shop online these days. Whenever I have nothing to do, I usually get on Amazon and see what items I want to buy next. What is the future of online shopping?What if you could buy products on live streams and have a conversation with the seller? Luckily for you, that time has come on social media. I believe that it will become the new normal to shop online on social media in the coming years.      What is live shopping?      Live shopping is where live streaming and e-commerce meet social media. It allows merchants and companies to sell products in real-time. Merchants can sell products through natural conversation instead of a boring description. Instead of it being recorded like on TV, live shopping is live, and the seller can have conversations with the consumers. It also allows the consumers to have a connection and trust the seller because of...

   Shows That I Can't Stop Watching   In a world full of different streaming services, movies, and TV shows, binge-watching has become a hobby in most households. "Binge" watching first appeared in 2012 and was later the word of the year in 2015 by Collins English Dictionary. Binge-watching is something my family does a lot. It depends on how busy I am to binge-watch a show. I usually pick a show to binge watch in the summer to give me something to do. Below are just some of my favorite shows I have binge-watched.  The Vampire Diaries     My most bingeable show is The Vampire Diaries. I have watched this show about four times and have binge-watched it every single time. Vampires, a love triangle, and different  villains make this show impossible to stop watching. I got to visit Covington, Georgia, the town where some of the show was filmed, over spring break. There is memorabilia, merchandise, and picture sports for any fans who love this show. The Vam...

*Picture Contains Link* Netflix Around The World   When it comes to a streaming platform, Netflix is the most popular globally, with 215 million subscribers in 2022. According to their website, Netflix is available in 190 countries, and their shows and movies vary based on the country and change frequently. The United States has the most films and shows than any other country, but just because you have the most streaming does not mean you have the best. According to IMDb, The United States has a movie rating of 6.95, while Ukraine, Portugal, and Russia are tied for the top with 7.13. South Korea has the most reputable catalog with 35 Emmy-winning shows and 109 Oscar-winning films. People will change their Virtual Private Network (VPN) to allow them to have a different choice of movies and shows to watch from other countries.  I will be looking at what the top movie and shows are in Ukraine, Russia, and Portugal on Netflix in March of 2022.          Acc...

Glitter Bomb Exposing Porch Pirates      Glitter Bomb 4.0 VS Package Thieves      It is hard to come by when there isn't a moment you are on video surveillance unless you are at your own home. Video surveillance has helped police, stores with shoplifters, and porch pirates. Porch Pirates are people that steal packages off of the porch of innocent people. Sometimes these people get away with the package with no trouble. Recently, videos have been all over social media of bait packages luring porch pirates that are being filled with exploding peanuts and cameras to help catch the thieves.       A couple of weeks ago, I was on Youtube, and a particular video caught my attention. The video was titled "Exploding Glitter Bomb 4.0 VS Package Pirates." I had heard of Ring Doorbells  catching people stealing packages off of porches, but I had not heard of the Glitter Bomb. The Glitter Bomb 4.0 was created by Youtuber Mark Rober . Before Yout...

 Advertising Analysis: Social Media     Advertising is a big deal in today's world, with social media being one of the main ways for companies to get exposure and sell their products. Social media advertising has become extremely popular. Companies can pay channels or accounts to advertise their products or even pay the social media company for banners. Engaging content to attract the user's attention and then send it to friends on the app. According to Pew Research Center , 7-in-10 Americans use social media to stay in touch, get news, and entertainment. It also tells what ages are on social media and gender. This helps companies know who to appeal to and how to get their products sold and bought. Posts, hashtags, and videos are all ways companies advertise their brand and products. There are many examples of social media advertising and how they reached their audience and did their job.  Gillette's "The Best Men Can Be"     In January 2019, Gillette relea...

  Amazon Alexa      Alexa by Amazon has become more and more popular in the past few months.  Amazon Alexa, or simply Alexa, is a voice-based A-I virtual assistant. It is a lot like Siri on iPhone. Alexa is put to work by saying "Alexa" and is ready for any command. Based on statistics, Alexa will be a household item in the next few years. How did it become popular so fast, and what makes it so appealing?      Alexa's release date was in 2014 but did not get popular until two years later. In 2020, 27% of households had an Amazon Alexa in their home. According to Amazon statistics, Alexa gets smarter and wiser by the day and is a great asset to have in your home or office.      We have an Alexa in the living room and kitchen at my house. My mom likes to use Alexa for a timer when she is cooking. My dad likes to use it as a remote connecting to the TV. I like to ask when my Amazon packages will arrive. My brother uses it to help with...

 HBO Max Targeting Gen Z     When it comes to streaming services, HBO Max is one of the top choices you have the opportunity to choose. Recently, their choice in movies and shows has been targeting Gen Z and Millenials. With Gen Z being the future, companies have to target this audience.      HBO Max  was released in May of 2020, a perfect time since everyone was locked in their house due to Covid. It costs $9.99 a month with ads and $14.99 a month without ads. 43% of HBO Max users are less than 35. This helps HBO Max know what audience to target and create more young adult entertainment. About 90% of Gen Z households have a streaming service, and HBO Max wants to capture these viewers.     Most of the Gen Z shows and movies are primarily about societal issues. Everything is dark and sad, because this generation has been surrounded by dark and sad things. Gen Z doesn't care about the actors or actresses, they want what they find importan...

 My Video Habits Streaming services from 2007 VS. 2021     When it comes to streaming videos, I am guilty of spending way too much time watching. There are so many different platforms and streaming services to watch videos. Social media such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok are some of the platforms I spend most of my time on. Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney + are some of my favorites as well.    Streaming services have changed over the years, with Netflix and Hulu being the oldest. Now there are over 100 services to stream your favorite shows.  With so many different services, it is not a surprise that so many people are addicted to streaming whenever they want to.     Social Media     I spend most of my time on Youtube to watch videos. I usually watch it at night before I go to bed and sometimes leave it playing when I go to sleep. I like to watch talk show interviews with my favorite people. Jimmy...