How do you think social media will change in the future? What other trends would you add to the mix? Are they any specific technologies that you think will gain popularity or emerge?

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How do you think social media will change in the future? What other trends would you add to the mix? Are they any specific technologies that you think will gain popularity or emerge?

When I think about how social media has changed since I have started using it there are so many things that are different. Back when I was first using the computer or watching the media shows, there was nowhere near the amount of things being talked about. Just in a matter of 10 years social media has changed so much and drastically, there is no doubt about it that it will change in the future. In fact we should all assume and expect change to come.

The sites I use the most would probably be Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. I was younger than I am today obviously, so I would like to see these sites as well as other media sites change with their audience and target market. With Facebook for example, when it first came out the demographic was a younger one, however that demographic have since grown with the site. I would like to see them make some changes such as make it more adult friendly and easier to figure out. The layout of it seems like it is always changing – making it more confusing to some.

As for the trends in social media, I could see these sites being more interactive. With today’s generation, it seems like everyone is on some type of media site which means that they aren’t out and about actually visiting people. To give one example of this, I think if Facebook could come up with a webcam program such as Skype, I think that it would make it more of a face to face interaction from the comfort of your home.  

     Now for the technical changes. The tech changes that will gain popularity, I believe, would be, those that will allow you to access social media sites on any electronic device such as the iPhones, Blackberry’s and the Android smartphones. Yes on certain phones you can go on Facebook but I think that if that was expanded it will really take off. 

     This is the final post for the semester and I look forward to seeing how social media changes for the good and the bad. :)

Do you think that social media has the potential to bring about real social change?

When I think of this topic, social media and social change, it definitely makes me think about things. In today's day and age everyone is on some type of social media site whether its Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, etc. Although these sites are more commonly used by a younger generation, I know some older users that are using them also. As a result from these sites such as Facebook, it allows people to stay connected with one another- friends, family, coworkers, and even enemies. It allows families to stay in touch with each other. Coming from personal experience with family that lives far away from me or in other countries, it helps us let them know how we are, what is going on with ourselves and keeps them posted about anything else. It really helps keep family connected in touch by using Facebook's chat, message, commenting on things or even liking stuff. Even though it helps keep us updated on things, it is not the same as a face to face conversation or going to get a cup of coffee with some friends. Another good example would be Twitter. While Twitter's popularity has recently increased, more and more people are Tweeting about whats on their mind whether its what you're listening to or what your weekend plans are. Twitter is different from Facebook in the way that it allows normal everyday people like you and I to talk to our favourite Actor/Actress, Singers/Bangs, and even other celebrities. Without this social media site, it would be almost if not impossible to communicate with them on a daily basis and it allows us to read what they are up too. Most of us would probably think they are all living their glamorous lives but for the most part the celebrities on Twitter are just normal people who do the same as us saying their favourite songs, their plans or even post a picture or two about where they are. It helps us get more of an incite about that lifestyle.

Social media sites are continuing to bring real social change as it grows and gets better. I really believe that we wouldn't be who we are today without it.

Do you believe that social media has increased the quality of news and information or decreased it?

My response to this question would be that, yes, social media has increased the quality of news and information but as also decreased it.

My reasoning for this would be that both negative and positive points seem to come with the territory. A positive point would be, that with this day and age it is so easy to get caught up with things by either on the internet or the news. It is so easy to put information out there on those blog sites and get in touch with it because of the easy access like on phones, laptops, tablets and the desktop computer. A negative point to that would be that there are so many people out there that call themselves journalists when all they do is post incorrect information. You need to ensure you are actually providing accurate things.

Because blogging has become so popular lately it has giving people like me, who don't necessarily read the newspapers, to get up to date information on important topics which I like. However as a result of that it has make the demand decrease for newspapers, and again there are people who will just blog and post anything without finding out whether it is true or not.

So bottom line would be that there are ups and downs to social media and we just have to be aware of the fact that not everything we see or read is the truth.

Social Media.. a Fad ?

When it comes to the words, 'Social Media', there are many different definitions that can come to peoples minds. For my those words represent a way to express something or to communicate with different people or others in general that are around us. Nowadays there are many different ways to part take in social media and there are also more and more different social media websites.

One example of this would me with Facebook. Facebook is a large company that has been around for the last eight years (2004-present), and it has in a way taken over the world. Our generation is becoming more obsessed I would say with similar sites like Facebook. It can be used for the good by connecting or re-connecting with family and friends or even for the bad by causing trouble and fights with one another. You can post comments/statuses to your 'Wall', post your favourite photos to share with 'Friends' and 'Like' comments/photos. YouTube is another social media website, which is very similar to Facebook in the ways that you can comments on things and you can like or dislike certain things. The only main difference from Facebook would be that on YouTube you are uploading a video. There are so many different types of videos available on YouTube as they are categorized into different groups, for example you can pick People if you would like to watch videos related to that category, and etc.

Another large social media website that has become more popular within the last year or two would be Twitter. It is a site that allows people to say what they are thinking or what is going on with them at that moment in 140 characteristics. When you use twitter and post something it is considered to be 'Tweeting'. Twitter also allows you to follow as many people you'd like to whether it is people you don't know, family/friends or celebrities and you can also be followed yourself. A media site that was popular almost 10 years ago, MySpace, has gone downhill since Facebook was introduced however it is still being used by people. Mainly Celebrities or musicians to promote their music.

With all these new media websites coming out and improving, I can not see those sites ending or going away any time soon. More and more people are joining in and jumping onto the social media bandwagon.