Massy Distribution hosted a ‘social media talk’ in light of Child’s Month, where they presented 15 students from St Elizabeth Technical High School’s (STETHS) Social Media Club with the tools needed to traverse the digital sphere.

Taking place at the ROK Hotel in downtown Kingston on Friday (May 17), the event included a panel discussion featuring influencer and talent manager, Cassandra Henry, and social media influencer Drezel Simmonds.

Tazhna Williams, public relations representative at Massy Distribution, organised and hosted the event with the focus being “the good, the bad and ugly” of social media and its impact on the youth.

“It was important for us to jump on board with this initiative as we are in the age now where social media impacts and influences our little ones,” she said. “At Massy, we are all about doing things from the heart. [We] encourage persons, we are family oriented and we see that it is important for us to bolster our young ones and so this was a no brainer,”

Williams gave a presentation that elucidated the prevalence of over-using social media, cyberbullying, negative self-image the comparative habits that social media propagates and much more.

Henry gave a rounded take on how social media is both a useful and harmful tool, giving the students her perspective since she uses social media as a tool in her line of work.

She gave an anecdote on how she met Jamaican social media influencer, Tanaania Tracy before the COVID-19 pandemic, and commenced assisting with her social media career. “She would ask me about my opinion on things, and I would assist…I just saw little things that needed improvement and we just came together and got it done, ” she said.

Henry dismissed the notion that social media cannot influence users, as she sees first-hand in her job how her clients influence their followers, mentioning Keticia Chatman’s (TC) slang “angle dat” or Christina Nelson’s (Dancing Rebel) dance moves that have gone viral across the globe.

What you present on ‘socials‘ matters

“If you’re going to do corporate you have to clean up a bit,” She said while mentioning various talents she has worked with over the years. She mentioned how difficult it was to shape some of her clients, curbing their behaviours and assisting them in building their image and brand, starting with how they presented on Social Media.

Leaving the kids with some tips, one poignant advice given was, “You have to block out the negativity… we just have to be better people and think twice before we post anything.”

“Be kind, and if you slip up, say sorry,” she added, recollecting social media errors made by TC, Tanaania and Rohan ‘Quite’ Perry in the past.

Guest speaker Drezel Simmonds started her address by dishing out some business-positive affirmations and business advice to the students.

“Social media is two things, a good force and a negative force,” she said.

The ‘good’ Simmonds highlighted were opportunities for growth, garnering wealth, meeting creative forces, learning yourself, and building your network.

Entrepreneurship

Simmonds spoke about her journey into hair care, explaining how she cut her hair off, to used her products while showing people how they work. She also crocheted swimwear, which she noted was time-consuming, however, it did help her pay off her university tuition.

She started modelling her crochet swimwear online, marketing her pieces on herself, “You know mi have a nice little figure,” she said.

“Normally when I have a business I don’t come out and say, ‘Oh, this is my business’, because not everybody on social media wants to see good for you,” she said. “I act like an ambassador for myself…[and] I paid off all my college tuition to get two degrees.”

Cyber-bullying

Simmonds also wanted to clear the air on her recent social media debacle where folks were angry at her for spending too much money (J$400,000) in MegaMart and mentioning her ‘inappropriate’ dressing (mini-shorts and T-shirt).

“MegaMart had a buy one and get two free…you couldn’t beat that,” she said. She also defended her attire, stating that it was an impromptu stop after visiting a river. “You can’t know someone’s life from a 60-second video…you don’t know what people are going through…so be kind.”

She takes it all in stride, mentioning how much money she makes from her bullies, “From the hater clicks the like, mi bingo,” Simmonds laughed, showing her indifference towards those who may consider themselves cyberbullies.

She left students with a key message of mindfulness, “Whatever you want people to perceive you as, that is what you present on socials…[so] be mindful of what you post.”

A few question-and-answer segments occurred where students posed a myriad of questions after each presentation.

Massy Distribution CEO Janine Chen, who could not be in attendance, still availed herself for a telephone interview where she expressed gratification in being able to facilitate such an important event, with STETHS students in celebration of Child’s Month.

“Every year we look at what we can do differently… it was important to us that we did something outside of the corporate area (Kingston, St Catherine etc.),” she said. “We wanted to do something in the space of social media because that is relevant for them (young people)… it resonates with them and fills a need.”

“‘He who feels it knows it’,” Chen said when mentioning the social media influencers invited to the event. “We were very fortunate to work with them since they would have been able to share their experiences, both positive and negative, but also to extrapolate that social media is not only about communication”

“Businesses are evolving, so we have to do whatever we can do to kind of cultivate their entrepreneurial spirit… I think that is something that is good, and important,” she added.

Her advice for young people is to “Get the input and advice with persons with experience, work within the rules and guidelines of social media… as much as they can equip themselves with the knowledge on the best way to use the internet.”

The event ended with lunch provided by Pizza Please. CEO Pietro Giuliani said it was his honour to be a part of the initiative with Massy Distributions.

“Having people visit from outside of town, and experience something that for the moment is unavailable outside of Kingston, ” Giuliani said.

When asked what advice he would give students on how they traverse social media spaces, Giuliana stated: “From a business point of view, consistency. From a personal perspective, extreme care and attention to personal and private information that they might regret sharing in the future.”

“So be very scarce and stingy with that you share online,” he added.

WATCH below a message to Massy from STETHS Social Media Club for hosting them: