Third annual Social Media Week at K-State features events in artificial intelligence, social media careers, content creation and more
Monday, Feb. 26, 2024
MANHATTAN — Kansas State University will host the third annual K-State Social Media Week March 4-8 with a series of virtual and in-person events and discussions designed to inspire, educate and empower students to harness the full potential of social media in their personal and professional lives.
This year's event brings together industry leaders and researchers, social media influencers, university faculty and students to explore the latest trends, strategies and best practices in social media career development, content creation, online community building, and emerging tools and perspectives. Visit the K-State Social Media Week website for a schedule of daily events and registration links.
"K-State Social Media Week is an exciting opportunity for our community to come together, share insights and learn from each other as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of social media," said Jana Thomas, event chair and professor of practice in the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication at K-State. "Our event team is thrilled to bring together a diverse lineup of speakers and participants who are passionate about the power of social media to inform and inspire. There's something for everyone during this week-long event.”
Highlights of K-State Social Media Week 2024 include:
• Panel discussions featuring leading voices in social media technology, emerging media, digital storytelling and community building.
• Career exploration with social media experts working for some of the world's biggest brands in entertainment, health and wellness, sports, technology, adventure-lifestyle, gaming, retail and more.
• Content creators sharing strategies for media and influencing that result in shareworthy content.
On Monday, March 4, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. CST, the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication will host a roundtable of social media strategists, content creators and digital marketing experts at the K-State Alumni Center about the dynamic world of professional social media. The discussion will be led by K-State alumnus Cameron Banning, who works at TikTok.
"Coming back to K-State and sharing my work experience has been such a joy," said Cameron Banning, team lead and brand partnerships manager at TikTok. "I was once in these students' shoes, so my work with K-State Social Media Week has been to motivate and inspire them as others did for me when I was a student."
On Tuesday, March 5, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. CST, the K-State Department of Computer Science and the Huck Boyd National Center for Community Media will co-host a panel discussion in the K-State Student Union's Forum Hall about the intersection of artificial intelligence and social media. Leading digital experts and researchers will explore the profound impact of AI on the way we connect, communicate and consume content online, including key themes of AI-powered personalization, user privacy and data security, content moderation and ethics, misinformation, and future trends and innovations.
"AI is making a major impact in many areas of life, including social media," said Scott DeLoach, professor and department head for the computer science department. "Understanding what AI is and is not will be critical in producing and consuming social media effectively in the future. The AI and Social Media panel discussion during K-State Social Media Week will help students uncover the opportunities and dangers of these world-changing technologies."
Registration for K-State Social Media Week is free and open to the public. Join the conversation on social media using #KStateSMW, and stay tuned for updates and announcements leading up to the event.
