Effects of Social Media - Assignment Example

Effects of Social Media Media refers to the means or channels used in conveying a message. Newspapers, internet, television, radio, or printed matter that provides the public with news, entertainment, information, together with adverts are some of the examples of media. Social media on the other hand is the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. Examples of social media are blogs, social networks, video, podcasts discussion forums, RSS feeds, social media releases, and photo sharing. According to the Canadian government, social media users highlighted categorically: age, gender, linguistic groups, urban and rural dwellers and so on. In 2007, 94% of people aged 15-24 used the internet (Perse, 2001). Majority of baby boomers, age 45 to 64 used the internet too. Shown too is that men use internet more often and for longer periods than women do. While relying on the same statistics, internet use is higher among Anglophones compared to Francophone. Results derived from this survey reveal that people living in urban areas comprise of the most internet users pared to rural dwellers. This is partly due to lack of high-speed services in rural areas. Sources from Media Kitty say that in all countries around the globe journalists use media to write, photograph, film and show/broadcast their story material. Other general primary media users are the youth and researchers. Media use is prevalent when particular information needed to reach certain audience is necessary. Such a scenario occurs when there is report on political outcome, in an increasingly competitive market, or simply during communication. Incase of a state of emergency like a curfew, flood or disease outbreak, media plays a vital role in informing citizens of a country on how to react to such news. Media's use in many places ranges from offices to homes and while travelling as well. For example, a sales agent will make his sale while in the enterprise premises using the internet; a travel agent will have most of his client make bookings and reservations through the net while a researcher will make his research at the comfort of his sitting room. Another media use location is the television and radio broadcasting stations. Channeling and broadcasting of mass information takes place here. The result or purpose of social media varies differently. According to Gwenn O’Keeffe, both positive and negative impacts among the children, adolescents, and families noted in her survey: Her research shown that for some teens, social media is their primary way of interacting socially, rather than at the hood or a pal’s house. It goes ahead to reveal that a large percentage of this generation’s social and emotional development occurs while on the internet and cell phones. Through web-based social networks like e-mail and instant text messaging, online communities rise up where a gift economy and reciprocal altruism are encouraged through cooperation. Social networking tools, Facebook included, are increasingly the scholarly research object. The websites are starting to tap into the power of social networking philanthropy. They are providing diverse form for individuals to communicate digitally in which such communities of hypertexts allow sharing of information, news, and ideas (Beaty, 2007). On matters of education, teachers and students are using social networks as a communication tool. Teachers and professors are using social networks to their advantage by posting assignments, tests, and quizzes as well as creating chat-room forums and groups to extent classroom discussion. Science and technology has radically improved through social networking. This is evident in Julia Porter’s study on how new biotechnology firms have enhanced sharing of information and knowledge with one another. They say they are able to “increase both their learning and flexibility in ways that would be possible within a self-contained hierarchical organization”. Today, hundreds of college and university students and graduates use social networking services to network with professionals for internship and job opportunities. A number of companies have benefited from some social networks all over the world through creation of social network hosting service. In this way, companies advertise, market their products online, and/or get views on their new products or services (Sparks, 2009). Although social media has played a very important role in changing our lives drastically, some issues have cropped up. According to Perse (2001), privacy pins or concerns with social networking services raised alarms amongst users and on the hazards of giving so much personal information and risks of sexual predators. People use these sites without putting into consideration data that may be lost, exposed to unwanted viewers like cyber thugs or viruses that may affect the user’s software. Relative freedom afforded by social sites has caused concern regarding potential of its misuse by individual patrons. In October 2006, a fake MySpace profile created by Lori Janine Drew in the name of Josh Evans led to the suicide of Megan Meier. In that case, a social media network caused death. Social media has also contributed to online bullying also referred to as the cyber-bullying. It is a relatively common occurrence and can cause emotional or mental trauma for the victim (Bryant, 2009). Consequently, social media is accessed from some of these places namely; television at our homes which provides with a wide variety of information, cell phones whereby messages are conveyed from one point to another and in social places where people access newspapers and magazines. In conclusion, individually, information from social networks has resulted in increase in knowledge and skills acquired in different aspects of media use. Electronic mail as a form of social media has influenced organizations with tendency to cluster in the middle realm of media richness, which considers the capacity of media to support interaction. Groups have used media to enhance their communication using teleconferenced meetings, cell phones and chatting. References Beatty, A. (2007). Studying media effects on children and youth: Improving methods and measures, workshop summary. Washington, D.C. National academic press. Bryant, J. and Oliver, M. (2009). Media effects: advances in theory and research. New York. Taylor and Francis. Perse, E. (2001). Media Effects and Society. L Hillsdale, New Jersey. Erlbaum Associates. Sparks, G. (2009). Media effects research: Abasic overview. Toebben. Cenngage Learning. Read More