Contents
Introduction
Continuing discussion of defining social media. The first in class discourse confirmed (at least personally) my theory of social media: That it is largely a psychological construct. Each individual responded with a definition that reflected their own experiences and predilections. This is not a bad thing at all, and in my opinion demonstrates the true power of social media – diversity and awareness.
Articles
Questions
Numbers don’t lie – social media is ubiquitous in society. But how much of an effect does it really have? Consulting groups are quick to assure a social media presence is essential to any business survival, and for brand awareness they may well be on target. In terms of direct sales – perhaps not so much. Facebook’s entire business model is a hedge bet by advertisers not yet backed up by quantifiable results in product sales. Essentially it’s a repeat of the dot-com model (and we all know how that one went).
Conversely though, the psychological power of social media is undeniable. As above, you may not sell more widgets by placing ads on Facebook, but it’s likely you won’t sell any widgets AT ALL without a social media presence.
In short, awareness is the key.
How many of us in the first world make a day without checking our favorite social media site? Good old stand by example Facebook is last week’s news in the public consciousness, scoffed at my millennials, derided by Gen-X, loathed by boomers. Yet ~10% of the entire world’s population logs in each day. Nobody on Facebook anymore? Somebody’s lying.
The impact is enormous, and effects it has on everyday lives are obvious. For this question, I will focus on what is perhaps the most oft debated aspect: Privacy.
I’ve made no secret about my view that social media gets overstated a bit. Facebook and its ilk get credit (and blame) for a lot of concepts they neither invented or refined. Data mining? Please. Entities like Equifax know more about us than Zukerburg could ever imagine – and have been at it since 1899. That’s not a typo: 1899! Blaming social media for breach of privacy is no more fair than giving it credit for empowering movements in society. What has social media done then?
See also: Public awareness. Sure, there’s still the common misconception data mining is a new thing, but at least we now have a public awareness that it does in fact exist. Moreover, though social media does make data mining hilariously easy, it also gives John-Q a tool to push back with, if only just a little.
This awareness of social media I believe is far and away more powerful than the social media itself. The illusion or in some cases reality that we are watched by peers undeniably alters our every day human behavior (deny it, go ahead). I would like to delve further into the topic of awareness via in person discussion, as breaching here would need far more than allotment of one page.