I have never been one to be on the cutting edge of communication technology. I have never had a MySpace page, my phone lacks a full keyboard and Internet capabilities and I rarely video chat. A tech-savvy friend had to urge me to create a Facebook account in high school. Back in the day, Facebook was fairly new and I didn’t think I would use it much.
Fast forward a couple years later, and I can be found Facebook-stalking on study breaks like many other students (admit it – you do it, too). What I thought was merely a trend, has now become a staple.
Social media has taken a more prominent role in our lives. It has redefined how we think about communication, not only in our social lives, but also in business relations and news coverage. I may have conceded and jumped on the social media bandwagon, but I’m not convinced these changes will lead to a social media takeover. It has more potential in some areas than others. Social media does have its place, but we should not overlook possible opportunities.
Social media definitely has a place in our social lives (hence the term “social” media). Such sites make it easy to keep in touch with friends. Users can message, chat or poke someone with the click of a button. It is also easy to connect with long-lost friends, especially if your profile name is your real name and not uknowuwantme_09.
For that person who actually does want you, social media can help him or her approach you. Facebook, in particular, has cupid-like characteristics. Thanks to information section, find out if your new interest is single, in a relationship or interested in the opposite sex (don’t you hate when that happens). I have even had a couple friends use their relationship status to ask out someone for a date. They have said something similar to, “So, can I change this from single?” It may not be the most romantic line, but I suppose it gets the job done. After all, they’re not really together until it’s “Facebook official.”
Information-sharing with social media is so easy it leads to too much of a good thing. You might tell your closest friend or roommate that you are heading to class and then work, but is it necessary to broadcast it to all 500 or so? Not only are the mundane statuses frustrating, but also the ones that reveal too much information.
Social media is not your shrink’s couch. Seek help from a real friend or professional instead of venting to hundreds of people who, frankly, don’t care.
The information overload is the reason I have yet to follow any friends on Twitter. Keeping up with Facebook statuses is hard enough. The one area I do use Twitter for is news. News networks are using social media to reach more viewers. I log on to see the latest headlines from a variety of news sources. It is a convenient way to get up-to-date information. I have also gotten news from friends who have mentioned something in a status. That may be the first place I hear about something because I check my Facebook fairly often. I not only use social media to get the news, but also to write it. As a journalism student, I have used my Facebook status as a shout-out to find sources for an article.
Social media has altered the way we get news. However, I don’t think it could ever eliminate traditional news sources. If a Facebook status is the first place I see news, I will turn to a news network to confirm it. I may use Facebook to find sources, but I cannot interview most of my “friends” because they are not experts in any field or because there are conflicts of interest. Using social media for news is like using Wikipedia for research. It is a starting point, at best.
Businesses are also using social media to reach more people. Until I participated on Drake’s Social Media Team last month, I never thought much about the business opportunities of social media. Hubbell Realty Co. built nine homes in nine days for families in need. The Drake Social Media Team posted updates about the event on Hubbell’s Twitter, Facebook and YouTube accounts. That experience opened my eyes to the public relations aspect of social media.
As in the case of news, I do not think social media will eliminate other business communications, but it is another tool for reaching consumers. The message can be tailored to reach a certain audience, those who spend a lot of time on social media sites. The business opportunities from social media should not be overlooked.
Ready or not, social media is playing a larger role in our lives. It has affected social and business interactions and influenced news coverage. Who knows how it will continue to shape society. I used to think Facebook was only for kids, and look how that turned out.
Does this mean social media will dominate every aspect of our lives? I hope not. There are times when I need face time instead of Facebook time.
Loading ...