Social Media & Cyberbullying

While there are many pros to using social media sites, there are, unfortunately, some undeniable cons as well. In my paper, I discuss the "creepy" aspect of meeting someone online before REALLY meeting them face to face, and, truthfully, this is not only creepy, but dangerous. When people honestly believe they are "meeting" someone online, it is sometimes easy to forget that anyone can hide behind a computer screen. Which, in turn, can open the door to stalking and cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is a more recent form of bullying, and has taken main-stage in teens and children using the internet. There are not many ways to prevent cyberbullying, aside from not getting on the computer and/or blocking a user. Several celebrities, including Demi Lovato, have taken a stand against bullying and cyberbullying and are encouraging young people to cut it out. While social media gives us ultimate connectivity, it does open some hurtful and potentially dangerous doors.

Here's another video I found on Social Media. In correspondance to the portion in my paper where I discuss the business and marketing aspects of social media, this video focuses on how companies should know that whether they recognize it or not, social media most likely already has affected their business in some way. (It does contain some of the same statistics as other videos I've posted).

Texting and such...

The rate at which we transmit and receive information through social networking sites has rapidly increased over the past few years. This can be, as discussed in my prior post, both beneficial and not so beneficial. The latest concern is that the lightning-speed rate at which students tweet, text, and update social media "statuses" is leading to reading/writing skill deficiency. Teachers have reported that students have begun to use popular abbreviations and text lingo in their own formal papers. LOL.

Rate of Communication

Pertaining to my thesis statement, I focused on the way/rate at which we receive information. Social media and social networking sites have drastically changed (some would venture so far as to say improved) the rate at which we communicate. Take the KONY 2012 video for example. Within a matter of months, the video (which contained highly debatable political content), had over 86 million views. Also, think back to the horrific events that occured at Virginia Tech in 2007. Through the media and online resources, as well as social networking sites, news of the events spread like wildfire. Is this a helpful or hurtful aspect of social media? Is the ability to access information seemingly instantaneously amazing, or potentially harmful? Thoughts...?

While this video is from 2010, it contains some of the same statistics as another YouTube video I posted back in April...however, I found it to still be informative/enjoyable. So, well....enjoy. Social Media at Work!

Is Marketing/Advertising through Social Networking sites as effective as companies May Think....?

While it may seem effective for companies to target audiences through Social Networking sites, statistics prove otherwise. During my research, I came across the statistic that 93% of marketers use social networking sites as a marketing tool. However, 90% of buyers trust peer reccomendations, while only 14% trust advertisements. The advertising process seems a bit backwards......Who do you trust? Think of it this way...when it comes to a weight loss product, which would you trust more-- that phony commercial for that diet pill that suggests it burns 100 lbs of fat in 1 month...or a trusted friend telling you the awesome results she's encountered on a diet plan? Hmmm....

Social Networking as a Marketing Tool...

It is not uncommon for businesses to use social networking sites as a marketing tool. The majority of Facebook users have likely noticed advertisements that pop up on the margins of their home pages. How do companies know what audiences to target? Through your posts, silly! Your pages really aren't as private as you may think. Company's look at what people post and determine your tastes and what you might buy/find interesting. In addition to companies advertising on your home page/news feed, customers can also reach out to the companies to provide feedback! This can be done through several ways, including "liking" a brand/company's Facebook page, following them on Twitter, or even signing up for an e-mail newsletter (which often contain promotions). This provides great feedback for companies and lets them know what they're doing well, and what areas need some improvements.

In a sort of correspondance to my previous post, due to social networking, we are now connected like never before. According to a guy named Marshall McLuhan (he was a bit before our time), the world, largely due to advancements in technology, was becoming a "global village." This term is used many times throughout my paper. I'd say this theory holds very true! I mean, the video posted earlier in my blog (Social Media Revolution 2011), offers the statistic that if Facebook were a country, it would be the world's third largest by comparison. McLuhan stated in Understanding Media circa 1964 that “Today, after more than a century of electric technology, we have extended our central nervous system itself in a global embrace, abolishing both space and time as far as our planet is concerned.” Nearly five decades prior to this current "social media revolution" and forming of a "global village," McLuhan, essentially, predicted our future. How 'bout them apples?

In my thesis statement, I explain that "due to the rapid growth and advancement of technology, social networking sites have expanded, which has allowed for people to easily connect with one another on a global level, increased the rate at which we receive information, and has ultimately changed the way in which we communicate." This is a key concept to keep in mind. As a nation, and, ultimately, as a world, we take social networking and social media for granted. For a moment, imagine a world without YouTube. Without Google +. Without Twitter. And....(dun dun dun)....without FACEBOOK. The world would, indefinetely, be completely different. The question is.......would it be different for the better, or for the worse? It is both a matter of personal opinion, as well as fact. The FACT of the matter is, we spend so much time checking our phones for notifications, tweeting our every thought, and living in a virtual world, that we sometimes forget to, well, essentially/literally, stop & smell the roses. At the same time, sites like Facebook have allowed us to connect like never before. Thoughts? If anyone's listening....?