Week Five at Tallaght Training Centre

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 Night 9: Why Social Media Works (And Why You’re Addicted to It)

Remember that YouTube video we watched? Yeah, the one that basically told us we’re all doomed because we’re glued to our phones like zombies. Here’s the thing: social media works because it’s designed to mess with your brain. It’s all about dopamine hits, keeping you scrolling, liking, commenting, and sharing while you forget you were supposed to be in bed three hours ago.

Why It Works:


  • Dopamine Addiction: Every time you get a like or a comment, your brain goes “Ooh, that feels good!” It’s the same hit you get from eating chocolate or finding €10 in your jacket pocket. Social media companies know this, and they exploit it like mad. 
  • FOMO: The Fear of Missing Out is real, my friends. Social platforms make you feel like you’ll be the last to know about the latest meme, trend, or random cat video if you’re not constantly plugged in.
  • Endless Scrolling: Ever noticed how Instagram, TikTok, and all the rest never seem to end? Yeah, that’s on purpose. You could be scrolling through cat memes until the sun explodes, and the content just keeps coming.

How to Survive:

  • Limit Your Time: Set a timer. Seriously. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself in a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories and dance challenges at 3 AM.
  • Be Selective: Follow accounts that actually give you value. If your feed is filled with nonsense, you’ll feel like nonsense.
  • Remember the Algorithm Doesn’t Care About You: It’s just trying to keep you online. Be smarter than the system, or at least pretend you are.

Night 10: Taxonomy and Building a WordPress Website (AKA The Art of Organizing Chaos)

Alright, now that we’ve tackled social media, it’s time to talk about taxonomy and WordPress. I know what you’re thinking: “What the heck is taxonomy, and why do I need it?” Well, let’s break it down.

Taxonomy: The Nerdy Way of Saying "Organize Your Stuff"

Taxonomy is basically a fancy way of organizing your content so people can actually find what they’re looking for on your website. Without taxonomy, your website is like that junk drawer we all have you know, the one filled with random batteries, old receipts, and a key you haven’t used since 2009.

Here’s why it matters:

  • Categories: These are the big buckets where you put your content. Think “Blog,” “Shop,” or “Portfolio.” It’s like creating sections in a library, so people don’t have to search for a novel in the cookbook section.
  • Tags: These are the little labels that tell people what a specific post is about. It’s like adding sticky notes to your pages so people can quickly see, “Oh, this is about marketing,” or “This post is 90% jokes.”
  • Hierarchies: This is where you get all fancy and create parent and child categories. Like, “Shoes” is the parent, and “Sneakers” and “Boots” are the kids. Keeps things neat, right?

Building a WordPress Website: Easy Mode (Kind Of)

Now, onto WordPress, the platform that lets you build a website without needing a PhD in coding. It’s user-friendly, powerful, and more customizable than a Subway sandwich. But here’s the kicker: just because it’s easy to use doesn’t mean you should slap everything together without a plan. Here’s how you can actually make a website that doesn’t look like it’s from 1999.

  1. Choose Your Theme Wisely: Your theme is like the outfit your website wears. Choose something clean and professional, unless you’re going for that “chaotic internet gremlin” aesthetic (which, to be fair, could work for some).
  2. Organize with Taxonomy: Yep, we’re back to taxonomy. Use categories and tags to make your content easy to find. If people can’t navigate your site, they’ll click away faster than you can say “bounce rate.”
  3. Add Plugins: Think of plugins as superpowers for your website. Need to optimize for SEO? There’s a plugin for that. Want to add a cool contact form? Plugin for that too. Just don’t go overboard, too many plugins can slow your site down, and then you’re stuck waiting forever for it to load like you’re back on dial-up.
  4. Check Mobile Responsiveness: If your site looks like garbage on a phone, fix it. Most of your traffic will probably be on mobile, so make sure everything looks smooth on a tiny screen.

The Takeaway: Whether you’re organizing a website or getting lost in the social media abyss, remember that you’re in control (most of the time). So, build a site that’s clean, professional, and easy to navigate. And when it comes to social media just don’t let it turn you into a dopamine-chasing zombie.

Stay tuned for more updates and don’t forget.


WEAR THE STREETS.


Kevin Braney 

Urban Attire

Urban Studio 

urbanatt1re.shop

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