Social and Digital Media + Technology

If you drive a newer vehicle, chances are that AI is already driving – at least sometimes. That’s because there are five different “levels” of self-driving technology:

• Level 1 can occasionally adjust your steering (such as for lane-keep assist).

• Level 2 can manage highway cruising and lane changes.

• Level 3 can navigate surface streets but may still require you to take over.

• Level 4 can handle pre-planned routes without human help.

• Level 5 cars are fully AI-driven and don’t have steering wheels or pedals.

Considering you can hail a Level 4 “robo-taxi” in California, Level 5 may not be far off.

– Chris Butsch, The Arizona 100

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce launched a bold “Date Oklahoma” initiative to attract Dallas residents to settle down in Oklahoma.

Using popular dating apps like Hinge and Bumble, the initiative features dating profiles for the state of Oklahoma, encouraging young professionals to consider Oklahoma for its opportunities, affordability and vibrant living.

No, this isn’t a catfish. The dating profiles highlight low living costs, scenic views and career opportunities in the state. “Date Oklahoma” is part of the overarching “Live the Flyover Life” campaign.

For more information, visit LiveInOkla.com or follow the campaign on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok.

– Staff Report, The Oklahoma 100

In a digitally advanced world, authenticity is becoming scarce.

Spending hours editing a photo or quickly applying a filter creates a shaky line between reality and someone’s carefully crafted online presence. Surrounded by posts of unrealistic expectations, social media frequently is not an accurate representation of real life and can easily become toxic to impressionable users.

Bringing authenticity back to social platforms, BeReal was launched in 2020 with the intention of reshaping how people post content by removing the pressure of perfection. With only two minutes to capture a photo at randomized times, users are encouraged to normalize being real.

– Claire Fergus, The Pittsburgh 100

Visual content has evolved significantly in recent years with the growth of social media platforms. It has become a reliable tool in any marketing campaign to improve audience impressions. Here are some tips to plan your next visual content marketing campaign:

• Be consistent with your branding – Utilize your brand’s themes, colors and logo to be easily recognizable to your audience.

• Tell your story – It can be educational, inspirational or just for entertainment.

• Assess which type is best suited for a particular content – Different types of visual content can be used to relay a particular feeling or information to the audience.

– Marie Gabrielle Patasin, C2 Communications, The Southwest Florida 100

Generational marketing is the development of specific marketing strategies to target each age demographic based on their observed consumer behaviors and tendencies:

• Baby Boomers – Inclined towards traditional advertising, but have an existing online presence too. Keep content simple and straightforward.

• Generation X – Consumes traditional and digital media in equal parts. Places great value in peer reviews and usable content such as discount coupons and limited offers.

• Millennials – Information about the products and services should be readily available online. Likes to see new innovations.

• Generation Z – Most tech-savvy. Prefers short videos and user-generated content that they can share on social media.

– Marie Gabrielle Patasin, C2 Communications, The Southwest Florida 100

Given the online and connected nature of our world today, nearly all organizations should be taking a close look at the security of corporate technical resources. While cybersecurity and compliance are related and often aligned, there are places they diverge, which may leave significant risk for companies.

Cybersecurity and compliance are both risk management tools that protect assets, people and reputations. The best approach is to understand cybersecurity risks and implement controls – and a program to manage that risk – then map applicable compliance requirements to those documented controls.

Read more about the difference and steps to take here.

– Laura Fawcett, Cybersecurity/Compliance Consultant, Guernsey

Like other social platforms, Instagram consistently looks to stay relevant to everyday users and creators. Recently the team behind the popular app has been designing and testing a new in-app creation option for talent (i.e. creators), giving them the ability to design their own pitch to brands they hope to work with and then pitch them through the app.

Deemed “Creator Portfolio,” the biggest benefit is the option to share their profile directly with potential partners. Still an internal prototype, the new development is being tested by select creators – with the goal of moving forward if all goes well.

– MaryGrace Williams, 360 Media, Inc., The Atlanta 100

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a response to increasing rates of theft and destruction of Department of Defense’s (DoD) data. In recent years, America’s competitors have launched successful cyberattacks against stakeholders in American government, critical infrastructure and private entities, including the Defense Industrial Base (DIB).

The CMMC is the DoD’s attempt to get a handle on the sensitive data they share with their private partners. Although the CMMC is complex, navigating it shouldn’t be. With the right plan and team, this requirement can be achieved.

Learn why CMMC exists, who it affects and what to do about it.

– Matt Watson, PMP, CISSP, Guernsey Cybersecurity Consultant

Looking for playful and fun fonts that don’t look too tacky? A majority of fonts targeted towards children are chaotic and non-uniform, making the design disorganized and hard to read.

Below are some font combinations that are playful but also visually tidy, making it easier on your eyes and everyone else’s:

• Coiny is a bubbly, round font that is easy to read and pairs well with Quicksand.

• Patrick Hand SC  is a structured, handwritten style font, but still retains legibility while its pair Comfortaa is round and clean.

• Delius Swash Caps has a decorative flair and goes well with Bellota.

– Sarah Jay, Jones PR

Have you ever needed a go-to font pairing that’s clean and easy to read as placeholders for designs? Maybe you just want easy, go-to fonts that aren’t Arial or Times New Roman.

As a Graphic Designer, I have discovered that having go-to font pairs makes drafting things easier and more streamlined when you cut out options.

My top three recommended clean and modern font pairs are Roboto Condensed & Raleway, Dosis & Poppins and Montserrat & Nunito. These three pairings are great for everyday use whether you’re making a presentation, using filler text in a design, to-do lists or simply taking class notes.

– Sarah Jay, Jones PR

Cyberattacks can have severe impacts on businesses and employees, including the loss of data, money, important documents and classified information. Alias Infosec, a cybersecurity and digital forensics company, recommends these tips to stay secure when working remotely:

• Use company-issued devices that are equipped with firewall and antivirus software and refrain from using public computers.

• Routinely update software on all devices.

• Connect to a virtual private network (VPN) to securely send sensitive data.

• Set up two-factor authentication.

• Connect to secure Wi-Fi.

• Use strong passwords and update them often.

If you’re victim of a cyberattack, contact Alias Infosec to investigate the incident quickly.

– Jack Phillips, Jones PR

When creating a design, the typefaces you choose are extremely important. Every typeface can portray an idea or feel that will help you target your desired audience and get the most effective response. Below is a list of three great font pairs that can be used to appeal to different audiences:

• Goldman & Barlow Semi Condensed is a great sporty combo to attract young men & athletes attention.

• Tangerine & Lora is an elegant pair that grabs young ladies’ interest and draws them into the design.

• Fredoka One & Comfortaa is a great pair to target kid audiences with, while also avoiding looking tacky.

– Sarah Jay, Jones PR

Twitter’s latest innovation may change the social media game for writers and content creators.

Notes are Twitter’s answer to many users’ long-voiced frustrations about being limited to only 280 characters per Tweet (up from the previous 140-character limit), and the chaos that threads can sometimes become.

At first glance, the long-form content option is similar to writing blog posts with the ability to include photos, videos, GIFs and embed Tweets within a Note.

Twitter is already making changes based on the advice of its beta testers including adding author bios, writer profiles, block quotes and my favorite, an edit button.

– Taylor Lawrence, Jones PR

Cyber attacks affect individuals and businesses daily and are becoming increasingly common. Two common types of cyber attacks include phishing and password attacks.

Phishing involves sending fraudulent emails to unsuspecting users. Similar attacks include smishing scams using text messages and quishing using QR codes. Phishing communications appear legitimate but can cause damage to files and devices.

Password attacks happen when hackers try to steal passwords. It’s important to use strong passwords, update them regularly and use two-factor authentication.

If you suspect you are a victim of a cyber attack, contact a cybersecurity company such as Alias for immediate incident response.

– Jack Phillips, Jones PR

Guernsey is the first and only company in Oklahoma, and one of only eight in the nation, authorized to conduct Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Assessments of companies, as an anticipated requirement of the Department of Defense (DoD).

The certification comes after Guernsey’s cybersecurity practice completed the DCMA DIBCAC’s CMMC 2.0 Level 2 Assessment, achieving the status as an authorized CMMC Third-Party Assessor Organization (C3PAO). C3PAOs are organizations authorized by the CMMC Accreditation Body to conduct CMMC assessments on Organizations Seeking Certification (OSC).

To learn more about CMMC and what Guernsey’s authorization means for Oklahoma businesses, visit the Guernsey Blog.

– Ashley Glass, Jones PR

Your company’s data is one of your most valuable assets. Do you have a plan to protect your business from cyber threats?

Digital forensics experts at Alias are ready to assist in the event of an incident by quickly investigating the hack, remediating the situation and helping you get back to business. Alias also provides detailed incident reports that focus on what happened and what your business can do to protect yourself from attack in the future.

If your business needs immediate help – or to learn more about how Alias protects businesses from ransomware, data encryption and more – visit aliasinfosec.com.

– Andrew Aston, Jones PR

Video shoots can be daunting with many moving parts making it easy to feel like you may have missed something. For your next shoot, remember these four simple tips to stay on track for a successful video:

1. Set up a planning call with key members involved.

2. Develop a set of questions and/or script. Pro tip: for interviews, don’t share your questions ahead of time to avoid rehearsed answers.

3. Create a shot list for b-roll to ensure you capture everything needed.

4. Set a schedule and stick to it.

Don’t forget to capture some behind-the-scenes photos, as well.

– Ashley Glass, Jones PR

Penetration testing is the evaluation of a business’s security system by simulating an attack from an outside source. This assesses how strong the security of your systems and networks are to ensure they’re doing their job.

For businesses, penetration testing performs a complete scan of the entirety of your security system. With the results, businesses can determine what changes need to do be made, where to make them and how to avoid similar incidents in the future.

Without penetration tests, businesses are at risk of exposing private information – which, if found by a hacker, could cost thousands to get back.

– Carolyn Taylor, Jones PR

Despite their intelligence, hackers are lazy and want to make money – even if it’s a small amount. In fact, when choosing who to attack, they don’t. They leave it up to code to see where it can find an “open door” of opportunity – usually found with businesses who don’t have secure firewalls up – and attack from there.

According to Alias CEO Donovan Farrow, “if you have internet, you’re a target.” For small businesses, this means you’re at risk for a customer data breach that could cost you thousands of dollars.

Learn more about cybersecurity options and protect your business today.

– Carolyn Taylor, Jones PR

Is your business on top of the latest cyber security trends?

Stay in the know on cyber security tips, tools, and more with the “Secure AF” cyber security podcast by Alias. Join host Teddie Underkoffler as she covers a variety of cyber security topics with coworkers and special guests.

In the digital world, businesses are fighting a constant battle to ward off increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Every new tool added to your arsenal could be a difference-maker for your company’s security.

No matter where you are on the cyber security knowledge ladder, there’s a “Secure AF” episode for you.

– Jack Phillips, Jones PR

TikTok continues to grow at a rapid rate and many brands are looking to join the social platform. One mistake brands may make is joining TikTok too soon without a plan in place.

Before taking the leap of creating an account, make sure you approach TikTok with a strategy that aligns with your objectives. Here are a few baseline tips to get you started:

1. Do your research and be strategic with your hashtags

2. Stay on top of current trends and act quickly to execute.

3. Post often and engage with other users.

And always remember to have fun with it!

– Ashley Glass, Jones PR

A new year oftentimes includes resolutions related to health, trying a new hobby or setting financial goals. What about practicing good cyber hygiene in the new year?

Alias, a cybersecurity and digital forensics consulting firm, recommends the following cybersecurity best practices:

• Update devices regularly

• Set strong passwords

• Connect to secure WiFi

• Use multi-factor authentication

• Attend security awareness training

These simple steps significantly decrease the chances of a cyber-attack, including ransomware or data encryption. If you suspect your device or organization has been comprised, contact Alias Infosec for incident response or visit aliasinfosec.com for more information.

– Jack Phillips, Jones PR

Over the past year, you’ve probably heard the extreme buzz surrounding NFTs – a popular way to buy and sell digital assets.

An NFT, or non-fungible token, is an Ethereum-based asset that can prove ownership of items such as art, collectibles and even real estate. These tokens are secured by the Ethereum blockchain and can only be owned by one person at a time.

It may or may not be a good idea to hop on board, but nevertheless, NFTs are emerging as prominent elements of an increasingly digital-based currency. You can read about the key benefits of NFTs here.

– Trey Adams, The Pittsburgh 100