Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Daniel Nations
Social media is a phrase that we throw around a lot these days, often to
describe what we post on sites and apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
Snapchat and others.
But if we use the term to describe a site like Facebook, and also a site like
Digg, plus a site like Wikipedia, and even a site like I Can Has Cheezburger,
then it starts to get more confusing. Just what is social media anyway?
The term is used so vaguely that it can basically be used to describe almost
any website on the internet today.Or maybe not. Some people have more of
a restricted view of social media, often equating it to mean the same as
social networking (a.k.a. Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Other people don't
consider blogs to fall under the social media category.
Also recommended: The Top 25 Social Networking Sites People Are Using
Rather than define the term using a bunch of boring jargon that would
probably only complicate things further, perhaps the best way to get a
clearer understanding of it is to break it down into simpler terms. To start,
let's look at each word individually.
Reddit is a social news website and forum where stories are socially
curated and promoted by site members. The site is composed of
hundreds of sub-communities, known as "subreddits." Each subreddit
has a specific topic such as technology, politics or music. Reddit site
members, also known as, "redditors," submit content which is then
voted upon by other members. The goal is to send well-regarded
stories to the top of the site's main thread page.
Brian Solis created the following social media chart, known as the
conversation prism, to categorize social sites and services into various types
of social media.)
Social media analytics is the practice of gathering data from blogs and social
media websites and analyzing that data to make business decisions. The
most common use of social media analytics is to mine customer sentiment to
support marketing and customer service activities.
By Matthew Hudson
In the early days of social marketing, there was little competition for the
dollar. Today, there is tons. You can spend thousands of dollars on a
Facebook ad campaign, for example, and get no return on your investment.
Just like competing for space in the newspaper years ago, you are not
competing for eyes on social media. And since social media by its very
nature is a "short attention span" media, it is 10 times harder to get their
attention than it was with a newspaper ad. The ad headlines and copy are
harder to write on Twitter or Instagram than in print.
For retailers, most case studies involving social media are either about very
large organizations who have very large budgets or a food truck who tells
its customers what street corner it will be on. The fact is that for the
majority of retailers, social media is a virtual and literal black hole.
Having an account with social media does not make you "into" social media
any more than owning golf clubs makes you ready for the PGA tour. in fact,
social media users are turned off by the retailer who opens accounts and
does not engage and therefore becomes labeled as a pretender. The truth is,
it is better to not have a social media icon on your website if you are not
going to actively engage it.
The other big mistake retailers make is by using social media to talk about
what is important to them rather than talking about what is important to
the customer. As a retailer, you may think it is great to shout that you have
a sale going on - and in some regards this would be true. But if that is the
reason you are getting involved in social media it will do nothing for you.
Your goal should be to provide content that is relevant to your customer and
engages them to the point that they want to share your post to others. If you
engage social media, engage your customer. Involve them in a dialogue. Ask
them their opinions. Post a picture of two items you are considering to carry
in the store and ask your customers which one they like better. It creates a
conversation and a dialogue which leads to shared posts which leads to
engaged followers.
Plus with the example we just shared, it also leads to enhanced margin
because it might prevent you from buying that item that you end up
practically giving away to sell it.
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Highlights
Students reflect their mood on social media which creates a chance for
consultancy.
Abstract
Social networks are one of the most used communication methods of today's
world. Their use in different fields has been examined in several research
studies. This study aims to examine the effects of social media on student's
behaviors which will mainly focus on Facebook. Whether there is a positive
relationship between confidence, social media participation and social
media related behaviors will also be assed with regard to using Facebook. In
order to collect the primary data, a general scanning model was used to
observe attitudes of high school students. The participants chosen were 362
high school students from level 9 to 12. The findings highlight that Facebook
is used for communication entertainment and sharing news, pictures and
songs. In addition, their Facebook profile picture is alone and students were
aware that swearing is considered a form of misconduct, which is a good
sign. The study also indicates that students were aware of protecting their
social identity as their Facebook shares are not public. Furthermore, they
respect privacy as they do not use their friend's Facebook account.
The impact of social media on student life
In the past, the communicating and free sharing of thoughts among people
were restricted by long distance, nationality and/or religion. But now, even
these barriers cannot stop the flow of information and knowledge. The new
world of social networking allows free sharing of thoughts. Online social
networks are created by websites such as Facebook, which has emerged as a
giant in this social world. So how do these networks affect our education?
How do they influence the lives of students?
But this has a darker side that has gained the attention of many parents,
and even eminent psychologists, all over the world. One of the biggest
problems is the identity crisis constant social networking produces. As said
by Professor S. Shyam Sunder, a renowned researcher at Penn State, The
types of actions users take and the kinds of information they are adding to
their profiles are a reflection of their identities.
Many psychologists are worried about the identity crisis that our present
generation may face today. The lives of people, especially students, are
largely influenced by what is posted by other people on their profiles. The
habits that students learn are decided more by what their friends do and
less by the teachings of parents or professors.
Our students have become prone to frequent fluctuations in mood and self-
control. If one of a students friends posted about his or her present
relationship with someone, then other friends are pressed to do the same
thing. Actions that attract more public attention hold more value, even
despite some of them being immoral or illegal. We even see that many
students are worried about their looks, and so they always try to upload
nicer pictures than their friends. A recent survey has stated that whenever
someone uploads a profile picture, it immediately affects the moods of
friends. It often produces stress, anxiety or fear about their identities as
people. Consistently thinking in this way can sometimes lead to depression.
The most important things in a students life are studying, learning good
habits and gaining knowledge to become a person with moral character. But
today, as we see in various studies, this optimal learning process is
seriously jeopardized by students becoming entrapped by the ploys of social
networking. Students neglect their studies by spending time on social
networking websites rather than studying or interacting with people in
person. Actively and frequently participating in social networking can
negatively affect their grades or hamper their journeys to their future
careers.
Getting too involved in social media can lead to an addiction that inculcates
bad habits. Students prefer to chat with friends for hours, and this leads to
a waste of time that could have been used for studying, playing or learning
new skills. It is often said that a long-term friendship or relationship is
developed when people meet each other, spend time and share their
experiences. But this virtual way of communicating with each other does
not lead to a natural, friendly experience and hence cannot produce a
healthy relationship with those friends. Also, these relationships tend to
terminate easily due to a lack of personal contact.
Considering all of the above pros and cons, it is necessary to develop certain
regulations over the use of such social networking sites, especially for high
school and college students. But still, students should get the choice to
spend time socializing in an effective way. It should not hamper their school
or college performance, and it should be kept in mind that social networking
sites create virtual worlds that drastically differ from reality. Students
should develop the cognitive and intuitive ability to analyze how much time
they want to spend on social media. It is left up to the students to decide
what really matters in their life and how much of this virtual life translates
to real life.
REFERENCE THIS
In the 1930's, J.L. Moreno began recording and analyzing the social
interaction of small groups. During this time, W.Lloyd Warner and Elton
Mayo also have explored the interpersonal relations at work. In the 1960's
to 1970's, numerous scholars worked to combine the different traditions
and tracks of social networking. Among these, H. White and his Harvard
University students and C. Tilley, who focused on networks in social
movements and political sociology, and S Milgram, who developed the "six
degrees of separation" thesis, have further their research on that. Other
research was also done by Talcott Parsons, George Homans, Mark
Granovetter, and Barry Wellman.
A research study shows that 96% of students claim to use the internet for
various reasons such as chatting, text messaging, blogging, and surfing the
web. However, all students claim that education is the move prevalent topic
discussed. Often, while online, approximately 60% of students' research
and discuss college plans, options, and future careers (Manzo, 2009). Most
adults fear when students use the internet it makes them more influenced to
crook. However, new research claims that teens are using the internet to
interact with people they know rather than strangers. From research, 43%
of students claim the use of online networking made their relationships
closer because the internet assisted in making plans and staying in touch
with friends. There was a small 5% that have friends who were found
online and had no face to face interaction (Jayson, 2009). Within the last 5
years with the expansion and popular demand of Facebook.com a lot of
research has been looked into about who and why people become members
on the social networking website. Research shows that people who use
Facebook look for people they have previously met offline rather than
looking for new people (Ellison, Steinfield, & Lampe, 07). Other research
about Facebook shows that almost all users have the highest connection to
their past high school friends. This is the reason why social networks are so
helpful because people can stay in touch online as they move around the
world with past friend.
For almost everyone online these days, social networking is the best way to
keep in touch. People not only keep in touch with their current classmates
but old classmates, current co-workers, family, people half way across the
world and many others. One interesting area of research about it is how
race and ethnicity are associated with each site. In a new report, it was
found that Facebook, Myspace, and Xanga users can be predicted based off
of their race, ethnicity, and parents educational level (Northwestern
University, 07).
Blogs allow for students to work outside the four walls of the classroom.
English teachers finding the use of blogs to improve the journaling time for
students (Richardson, 2003). Student journaling otherwise known today as
blogging is a very powerful skill for relevant and present writing.
Richardson (2003) goes on to discuss the availability for students to wrestle
with concepts post class time. This interaction with one another in a journal
environment causes student to consider various processing methods
displayed in various individuals. Blogging increase exposure to content and
reflective learning is improved. Ferdig and Trammel (2004) found that if
students work with the material through blogging with other students
enhancement of learning can occur. The dialogs back and forth continue to
reinforce various points of view from peer to peer. The reflective nature of
blogging is not found in the teacher posting a question and all students
respond in multiple forms. But the power comes from the student to student
dialogs spontaneously through back and forth debating. Blogging ultimately
creates different forms of social networking. No longer does the flow of
information come from the instructor. This multiple form of participation
reverses the flow of knowledge from student to student and from student to
teacher (McBride and Luehmann, 2008). This cyclical nature of knowledge
motivates the students because they feel responsible for the information
and reflection. Also there is a finished product left for others to glean from.
No longer will the students turn on a formed paper to later be thrown away,
their blogs can be retrieved for further discrimination of knowledge.
As the students build information networks the students become authors for
public edification (Reinhold, 2006). This provides worth to students time
and effort as they collaboratively carry products to fruition. The reader side
of their cycle through a completed product is found by the research system
the students have to endeavor and also by peer editing to create thematic
tones in their finished work. This reversal of knowledge then moves the
classroom from a passively learning environment to a healthy active
learning environment. The student becomes both able to interpret
information and an adept participant in the construction of new knowledge
(Forte and Bruckman, 2007). Students are motivated active participants as
they see anyone can change anything. The information the students
construct may or may not be linear due to their points of view. This active
learning environment establishes ownership and worth as the product
concludes.
Social networks can help students accumulate and maintain bridging social
capital. This is the form of social capital which is closely linked to the
notion of "weak ties" that seems well-suited to social software applications,
as suggested by Donath and boyd (2004), because it enables users to
maintain such ties cheaply and easily. Haythornthwaite (2005) discusses
the implications of media that "create latent tie connectivity among group
members that provides the technical means for activating weak ties" (p.
125). Latent ties are those social network ties that are "technically possible
but not activated socially" (p. 137). Social networks might make it easier to
convert latent ties into weak ties, in that the site provides personal
information about others, makes visible one's connections to a wide range
of individuals, and enables students to identify those who might be useful in
some capacity (such as the math major in a required calculus class), thus
providing the motivation to activate a latent tie. These weak ties may
provide additional information and opportunities, which are expressed as
dimensions of bridging social capital that speak to interaction with a wide
range of people and the more tolerant perspective this might encourage.
Facebook seems well-suited to facilitate these experiences, in that detailed
profiles highlight both commonalities and differences among participants.
Conclusions
With the use of the internet and social networks, students are now more in
charge of their learning more than ever before. They are creating
relationships and taking those to the next level by this online environment
where they can speak about classes and educational plans. Giving the
students this opportunity is not only motivating but an exciting way to show
their knowledge. The use of E-portfolio's is almost a requirement in any
post undergrad program. The ability to compile and have all previous work
available at the click of a mouse is a great way to impress employers at
interviews. It is also a good way for reflection of teachers and students
about their previous accomplishments. Instant messaging is a quick and
convenient way for students to communicate. This can be used for
socializing outside of school but also asking questions. Having the ability to
message another classmate who is awake and work through the problem
helps the students complete their work instead of giving up. Social
networking is a huge benefit for students inside and outside of the
classroom. Not only are they in constant contact with peers if needed but
they have the ability to return to previous work and reflect upon with
others.
Online social network sites may play a role different from that described in
early literature on virtual communities. Online interactions do not
necessarily remove people from their offline world but may indeed be used
to support relationships and keep people in contact, even when life changes
move them away from each other. In addition to helping student
populations, this use of technology could support a variety of populations,
including professional researchers, neighborhood and community members,
employees of companies, or others who benefit from maintained ties.
While the use of the interview has unlimited benefits there are of course
drawback. The communication is ruined. In younger kids the abbreviated
words and emotions are commonly used. But it has been found that as they
mature they quickly drop the abbreviated words. These are the students
who are adapted and used the technology and how to work it inside and
outside of the classroom. New technology which is always changing is a
difficult thing to learn with anyone regardless of education and intellectual
level. The use of technology in the classroom is almost too much for
teachers because they are unable to keep up with their fast paced students.
E-Ports while easily accessible have problems when students are not honest.
Determining a person's work these days is difficult because there are so
many ways to cheat or filter information to pass it off as your own. The
students could grow and learn so much but these drawbacks seriously
hinder the way students perceive the educational system. Students these
days not only have problems with school and the different technology
within their classroom but face severe emotional problems. Cyber bullying
is a rather new concept but is severely dangerous. Kids who are picked on
have either way to be even further humiliated or have a way to take out
their anger others. Parents and educators need to work together to prevent
cyber bullying so our students can focus more on education while in the
classroom and not on negative social experiences.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CURRENT
INFOMATION TECHNOLOGY IN RELATION TO COMMUNICATION.
Introduction.
Marshall McLuhan speaks about "Global village" in 1960's and his quote
became reality in today's living.
Communication
Cost effectiveness
Greater availability
Websites are open for communication in every minute of the year. This
means that a business can be open anytime anywhere giving a customer the
capability to make purchase from different sites and different countries.
Greater access to the ICT has helped to build the bridges between different
cultures giving them opportunity to exchange views and ideas. Also, educate
both sides of communication bridge thereby increasing awareness and
reducing prejudice.
Creation of jobs
The best advantage of ICT has been a creation of new and interesting jobs in
IT sectors. Computer programmers, web designers etc. have great
employment opportunities created through the advancement of technology.
Education
Disadvantages.
Lack of Security/Privacy
Though IT may have changed and more convenient, it also brought along
privacy and security issues. From email hacking, phone signal interception
etc. people are worried that personal information may become public
knowledge. IT keeps changing almost every day which means that the
individuals must be up to date in IT to secure their jobs. There is also risk
factors with the systems computer viruses, malware, spam, Trojans etc.,
attacking.
Unemployment
While IT may have streamlined the business process, it has created job
redundancies and subcontracting. Using the computers instead of human
resources employers save huge amount of money but employees are losing
their jobs as not needed anymore.
Social media
The network pages are open to everyone including teenagers and young
children's which can affect their mental and physical health by watching
and playing violent games. They became addicted to the phones, iPod,
gaming consoles forgetting about outside activities and communication in
the society.
Cyber bulling