Communicating Online

     Have you ever looked at an ad and thought, Why did they choose this picture? That question lies at the heart of social semiotics, a method used to analyze visual communication. Developed from the theories of linguist Michael Halliday and expanded by scholars like Gunther Kress and Theo van Leeuwen, social semiotics examines how images communicate meaning within cultural and social contexts. It’s not just about what we see, it’s about how and why we see it that way. Just like body language in a conversation, images carry unspoken cues that shape our understanding. This method is especially important in a world flooded with political campaigns, social media, and corporate branding, where visual choices aren’t accidental but highly strategic. Social semiotics looks at how placement, size, and direction influence meaning. For example, an image placed at the top often represents an ideal or abstract concept, while one at the bottom conveys something more real or practi...

            I think the internet has completely changed the way we form opinions and talk to each other. It used to be that we heard about major issues from the news or maybe a teacher or parent. Now it feels like opinions come at us nonstop through TikToks, tweets, and Instagram stories. To me, this makes everything feel faster and more intense. Public opinion can shift in a matter of hours, depending on what’s trending or who posts what.      Social media doesn’t just share ideas, it sells them. The way something is said matters just as much as what’s being said. I think that’s why people care so much about aesthetics and tone. Pearson et al. (2021) say that persuasive messages work best when they connect emotionally with the audience, and I definitely see that all the time. Posts that go viral usually tap into feelings like anger, pride, or hope. To me, that kind of emotional pull is powerful, but it can also be manipulative if we’re ...