by Maria Lianos
Social media has changed the way we connect with people and get information. Just look back at technology and the pattern of tech evolution. Typewriters replaced by computers, telephones by cell phones, libraries by the internet… the list goes on and on.
The internet provides information instantaneously. Not only that it’s immediate, that information is available 24 hours a day and on many mobile platforms too.
Now with Social Media such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, blogs, mobile apps – anywhere you go, information can come with you.
Especially Twitter.
Twitter is massive in that it has a viral effect – information can be passed on within seconds. I remember the recent earthquake in August and within seconds we knew that it had been felt from Toronto to Virginia and beyond.
Twitter has no boundaries – geography doesn’t matter in this case. We’re all part of one global village. You can read news, engage with people all over the world and share information universally.
On Twitter, anyone can connect with celebrities, politicians, authors, musicians – there is no class division.
Twitter has become powerful in that it has allowed people to have their own voice. There is an outlet finally that enables an individual to be heard. Twitter has become the people’s voice.
You can build your own brand by sharing informative content – it doesn’t even matter who you are but what content you put out into the web.
But with this power also comes abuse.
I’ve been using Twitter for about two years now. I’d have to say that in the beginning, it was a lot more organic – you’d meet people, you’d really get to know them and have the ability to enjoy conversations without the extra “noise”.
That noise being spam.
Ah yes, spammers have increased tremendously over time and it has become quite ridiculous actually. How do you filter out those spammers altogether? Unfollow everyone and start all over again like Chris Brogan did?
Twitter has also become known for being “clique-y”. Just as in real life, groups of friends connect and share on Twitter, unknowingly making it uncomfortable for others to jump into the conversation. All this in unintentional but it’s there.
The “social” part of this medium has also become saturated with “business”. Once larger brands caught wind that social media would be good for business, the social media atmosphere shifted again.
Alongside Twitter evolving is blogging – which is a whole other post.
What do you think about social media these days? How has it changed for you?
7 Comments
I don’t know what I would do without @twitter, but I listened to someone? way back and only follow those that interest me… slowly but surely building a great list.
That’s smart Dianne, follow only those that really interest you.
This week Ben Parr wrote a piece about the rollout of the ‘new’ Facebook and stated, “Prepare yourselves for the evolution of social networking.”* The thing is I believe the evolution of social networking has become social marketing. Whether on Twitter or Facebook I am being bombarded with marketing messages to buy something, following someone and/or support a cause. And, I should do all this because my friends did.
I have found I am spending less time on either platform unless I am trying to ‘sell’ something (fundraisers, client events etc) There is really too much ‘noise’ to wade through; it makes the spam in my inbox look light.
*http://mashable.com/2011/09/21/prepare-for-the-new-facebook/
This is so true, Kate. I’ve become weary of all the marketing (even though I too am guilty). Twitter started as social networking and now has become social marketing. My next post will talk about social media fatigue LOL.
I think Twitter, and all Social Media is what each of us makes it. I can choose to click or not click on links, follow or not follow, like or not like – it’s those choices that make Social Media customizable to me.
The more I look at it for good, positive opportunities and whatever personal need I have (ie: simple chatting, crowdsourcing etc) the happier I am with it 😉
Good way of looking at it, Rebecca. Need to filter out the “noise” and focus on what we individually get out of it, which can vary person to person.
Twitter is nothing like it was when I 1st signed up (according to my “twitter number” was in March 2008). When I signed up there wasn’t any back & forth chatting…you would “micro-blog”. It’s turned into a complete chat room (not saying that in a bad way). I’m not on twitter as much as I used to be but I still love it.