Display

In social media, the content, advertisements, posts, and visual elements presented on a platform's interface are visible to the user. This is referred to as 'display. ' The platform's feed, user profile, and ad space effectively become canvases for the platform on which to engage, inform, or elicit interaction with the user.

When the user sees these spaces and the content contained within them, they should look good, and the user should want to interact with them. For social media platforms, a 'display' is often linked to the display advertising that is used as a revenue source. This type of paid promotional content appears in various formats while attempting to blend seamlessly with the platform’s overall content and structure.

Like a magician, a platform aims to get the user to pay attention to its 'displays' while maintaining visual integrity. From a technical standpoint, how a display functions is tied to ad space and the platform's algorithm. From a creative standpoint, what happens is tied to visuals and narrative.