Realize The Social Media Discussion
Revolution can be defined as the sudden, radical change in something. Our most famous example here in the U. S. Is, of course, the American Revolution. Another example well known to Americans is the 1960s counterculture revolution here and in most of Europe. An up-and-coming revolution currently taking place is the social media revolution.
Social media has changed people into producers of content instead consumers of content. In other words, the tail wags the dog. The way information and knowledge are spread has radically changed. The norm used to be broadcast media monologues, which is where one person disseminates information to the masses. Such familiar modes of this type are TV news broadcasts and newspaper articles.
However, these norms are fast becoming forced to coexist with what the revolution is bringing. Known as social media dialogues, this is where many people disseminate said information to the people. Everyone becomes recipient and disseminator. This is why they’re referred to as content producers.
There are several common forms of this phenomenon. One well-known form of social media includes concepts or slogans made to be so easily remembered that it galvanizes others to repeat them often. Print media created to be redistributed to the masses is another form. Dissemination from electronic media such as Internet and mobile phones with advanced search capability is a third. Another example is grass-roots direct action dissemination, such as public demonstrations, public rallies, and public speaking.
There are some major differences between social media and mass media, also commonly referred to as traditional, broadcast, or industrial media. First, social media is relatively inexpensive and more accessible. Broadcast media usually requires more resources in order to share information. Second, traditional media production usually requires special training, whereas social media usually does not. In essence, the latter can be operated by anyone or adapted to be easily used by anyone.
Third, response time and relevancy are more impacted, whereas, the time lag in social media can be instantaneous. In industrial media it often takes hours or even days. However, it should be taken into account that as industrial media takes on more and more of social media’s tendencies, there might not be such differences much longer.
Fourth, the idea of permanence is very different between the two. In mass media, once an article is printed and disseminated, it cannot be altered. Retractions, corrections, and apologies might be necessary, but the article cannot be changed. However, in social media, changes can be made instantly.
It is interesting, however, to note the similarities between the two forms of media. Both types of media can be dispersed to a worldwide audience or to a local one. A blog posting may reach no one ‘ or it may reach everyone. TV news broadcasts may reach the same ranges of people.
The future direction of social media and traditional media is, of course, unknown. One hypothesis is the hybridization of the two. In this scenario, what is known as community media is the use of the frameworks of both traditional and social media. In fact, this hybrid is already being commonly used in some corners.
Regardless of what the future holds, the social media discussion is not whimsical. It is here to stay, though the direction is still unclear. Will hybridization continue to evolve? Will traditional media as we know it survive? Will the social media site evolve so much that it consumes both the traditional and the hybrid? Stay tuned to your local media outlets.
Tagged with: social media • social media network • social media revolution • social media site • social media tool
Filed under: About AskAME
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