The Social Media Site And Everything About It
One of the definitions of revolution is a sudden, sweeping change in something. The American Revolution is but one example. The 1960s counterculture revolution of much of Europe and the U. S. is another example. The social media revolution, currently, is the most recent and widespread.
Social media has transformed people from content consumers to content producers. How knowledge and information spread has undergone radical change. In the past, we were used to the monologues of broadcast media: one person delivering information to the rest of us. We know this typically in the form of newspaper articles and TV newscasts.
These norms, however, are being made to exist side by side with what this new revolution is bringing about. Now, any number people may distribute given information to the masses. Everyone is now both receiver and distributor. Hence, these people are now known as content producers.
Several forms of this are common. One well-known one is ideas or concepts designed to be easily regurgitated so that they are easily repeated often to others. Another form is print media, which is designed to be reproduced to the masses. A third form is the movement at ground level of direct dispersement, including rallies, demonstrations, and public speaking. A fourth is the mass sharing of information from advanced search-capable Internet and mobile devices.
Traditional media, also known as mass media, broadcast media, or industrial media, differs from social media in many ways. To begin, social media is less expensive and more easily accessible. Mass media normally needs more resources to be able to share information. Second, industrial media production normally necessitates learning specialized skills; normally, social media does not. In short, social media can be utilized more easily by anyone.
Third, relevancy and response time have been impacted. Whereas the time lag in industrial media often is hours or even days, in social media, it is instant. It should be noted, however, that as industrial media adapts more and more social media tendencies, which soon may not be such a difference anymore.
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.
Of course, it is hard to predict the future direction of both social media and traditional media. One school of thought is that a hybridization of the two is occurring and will continue to. In this case, it is use of both mass and social media frameworks. In fact, this hybrid is already being used more and more.
Wherever the future leads, this social media revolution is not going anywhere soon, even if its direction is unclear. Will what we know as traditional media survive or will it die out? Will continued hybridization gain steam? Will the social media site become the dominant force and consume the traditional media? Since no one is sure, stay in the loop with your local media outlets to find out.
Tagged with: social media • social media network • social media revolution • social media site • social media tool
Filed under: About AskAME
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