Sofia Barberio

A headshot of a young woman with warm skin, long dark wavy hair parted down the middle, and a gentle smile. She has dark eyebrows, subtle eye makeup, light pink lip gloss, small gold hoop earrings, and a gold chain with a white clover pendant over a black collared shirt. The background is softly blurred.

I am a fourth-year Communication student at Toronto Metropolitan University with a focus on digital media and marketing. My work explores how emerging platforms, particularly TikTok, are reshaping brand communication strategies and audience engagement. I am especially interested in social media marketing, branding, and how digital culture influences the way brands connect with consumers.

This research examines how beauty brands use TikTok trends, memes, and trending audio as marketing communication strategies. Through a qualitative content analysis of posts from brands such as e.l.f. Cosmetics, NYX Cosmetics, and Charlotte Tilbury, the study identifies key patterns in how brands create engaging and relatable content. Findings show that humour, trending audio, and short-form video styles are the most effective strategies for increasing audience engagement, while traditional product-focused advertising performs less effectively. This research highlights how TikTok is reshaping digital marketing by prioritizing authenticity, entertainment, and cultural relevance.

Lightning Talk

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A young woman with long, straight dark hair and a warm smile, showing teeth and dimples, looks directly at the camera. She wears a black zippered top, a gold chain necklace with a heart-shaped pendant, and gold hoop earrings with white teardrop charms. The background is a softly blurred indoor setting with hints of light and blue.
Close-up portrait of a young East Asian man with short, black hair styled with bangs, looking directly at the viewer with a subtle, friendly smile. He has dark eyes, clear skin, and visible stubble forming a light mustache and chin beard. He is wearing a vibrant royal blue crew-neck t-shirt, all set against a soft, uniform light grey background.
A detailed headshot showing a person with fair skin and dark, slightly disheveled wavy hair framing their face. They wear thin-rimmed rectangular glasses with subtle rose-tinted lenses and have a neutral expression with slightly parted lips. They are dressed in a white collared shirt with a dark grey zip-up hoodie partially open, against a plain light grey background.
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