Demographics and taste go hand in hand

Johanna Blakley discusses the way social media views people and the different stereotypes they use.  She states how women are increasing in numbers when it comes to running social media. However I do agree that women do spend more time on social media then do men. Therefore, women may be a better suit for advertisement companies. Hiring women could help companies with understanding what people like and want the most. They could also help with being able to convey that message in a way that it could appeal to a bigger audience through different interests. She states a claim that social media no longer focuses on the demographics of people and relies on the individual’s taste. I believe that Johanna Blakley was on the right path but may have missed a few important points.  I do believe that some advertisers focus less on demographics and more on interests. For the simple fact that interests or as Blakley states taste is more important, it is difficult to tell if someone may be in a certain age group or of a particular race. When you think about it, you may ask yourself a question like why demographics were ever important anyway and why not just use interests. Advertisers seem to be more concerned about being able to manipulate you into buying a product. It is easier to be manipulated by understanding your taste rather than your demographics so why not focus on taste.

 I feel Johanna Blakley fell short of her explanation.  When you interpret and break down advertisements, you see that most of the time if not all of the time the advertiser is trying to appeal to a particular audience as well as interests. Whether that audience is young adults, men, families, women, people of particular religions, or political identifications, demographics are still used. Demographics are not solely out of the picture but they are now combined with interests. In a study in the Journal of Consumer Research, it used beauty products to get the attention of women. Gender being a demographic was the focus as well as the interest of beauty products, so in a sense these two things go hand in hand. The study explained that advertisers are looking to manipulate or affect the consumer in a way they feel like they need to get this product. The study also explained how the advertisement of the beauty products played on the self-esteem of women. After viewing advertisements in particular beauty ads, you are most likely to view yourself compared to the image used in the product leading to the consumption of the product and the goal of the advertiser accomplished.