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?

 Social media as we know it has provided us with a world inside the world , meaning that a person no longer needs to live their home to find out what is happening on the outside, they are able to get all that information at a click of a button; hence my agreement with social media changing in the near future.

 Due to the fact that there will be technological upgrades in the near future in order to stay up to date with the trends social media has no choice but to change and adjust. In changing the information it contains as well as how it is obtained should change to being more factual and relied upon.
At the instance of updating there will be specific trends that are to be followed, one of the trends will be easily and readily accessible as well as up to date with every situation that goes on worldwide on a daily and timely basis. Another trend is being made fully reliable; pages like Wikipedia, which is at many times opinion based, will be improved to the point that it is fully reliable, all due to the fact that in the near future factual information will be greatly relied on.

 On the other hand, new technological updates as well as creations that will be displaying social media will be accessible in the near future. One of the technologies would be accessing social media on any electronic device which doesn’t have to be web base example your television, have a specific station that links all your social media pages together, you will be able to sign in with your remote, at that stage you don’t have to wait on your computer to upload, you will be able to access it anywhere in your home.

 In all the future of social media looks promising as long as it is upgraded to accommodate the new technologies, stay with the trends and adhere to the changing environment.

"According to Malcom Gladwell, a well-known author in the area of social media, social media are built around weak ties and real social change can never come from loose networks of people that do not know each other. Do you think that social media has the potential to bring about real social change?"

    I have to agree with Malcom Gladwell in that real social change is brought about by people whose beliefs and values are so strong that acting on them is the true means by which social change is realized.  I believe that social media has an important role and play, and that sites like Facebook and Twitter are good platforms for spreading information and enlightening the world on tough social issues.  These sites are a means to get large numbers of people to realize the issues in a timely manner, however, it’s not the means by which significant social change occurs.

    Changes to important social issues are made when people are motivated through sites like Facebook and Twitter to act.  People who are passionate and committed to a cause must work together socially and in unity.  It’s through these efforts that they have the ability to bring about real social change.  It’s my personal opinion that the weak ties of social media have a role to play but are not the sole means by which social change is realized.

    On the other hand, it has reduced the need for face-to-face interaction for friends and family that are already close. For example, my sisters often Facebook chat me from the next room in my home. Social media sites such as Twitter, have helped create an environment where regular people are able to stay in tune with their favourite stars, politicians, artists, musicians, friends and much, much more. This has created a large amount of social change.

    Social media sites allow for total freedom to make it a public matter whatever you feel you need to. The level of convenience it offers will continue to cause change in social interaction. Social media sites will only further find ways to link us to the rest of the world, only making it easier and more accessible.

Social media has allowed everyday citizens to become authors, editors, and publishers of news and information. Do you believe that social media has increased the quality of news and information or decreased it?

    Social media allows everyday people to express themselves in ways that were never possible before the Internet. People have the chance to be authors and editors and are able to share with people all over the world. The ability to do this has changed how society reads the news and gives them new ways of getting information. The change and development of social media has increased the quality of information and news.

    Social media has been helpful for citizens as well as companies and organizations. It has given many people opportunities to share videos, pictures and text. Citizen journalism has allowed people to share their views and ideas about anything. They can write whatever they want and have their voice be heard. This information is easy to access and create. It is quicker than television or radio to find what you are looking for. Another reason why it increases the quality is because the actual news stations benefit from it. Citizens can send various forms of media to the news channels; they will then use that information and benefit the quality of the news.

    Many news channels and radio stations have used social media to increase promotion opportunities. These companies have given people the opportunity to comment on their reports and videos. This gives them ideas to improve the quality of the news and what the audience is most interested in. Social media has influenced news and information making it more engaging and developed.

    Social media has also is some ways decreased the quality of news and information. The quality of news cannot always be accurate because the author can be anyone. Citizen journalism is created in a way where anyone can post anything, unlike traditional media where only the professionals can. When trained and educated people are giving the news you know that it is factual, but you cannot trust everything you read online. Everyday citizens can edit and publish information, which is not reliable.

    Overall, I believe that social media has increased the quality of news and information. This is because there are more positives and it is very beneficial to society. Citizen journalism is affective when the author of the piece of media is basing their information on facts and true ideas. This way you know that the information can be trusted. Social media has given everyday people the opportunity to be a part of something huge. This is positively changing the way we look and listen to the news.

Is Social Media A Fad?

Social Media has become a part of fabric of communications for individuals as well as many businesses. It creates an immediate availability to information and individuals from almost anywhere in the world with the growth in smartphone technology. It is interesting that some have such a need with social media that it has adjusted their behaviour. A recent story on the local news had people and doctors addressing depression issues because of the lack of what they perceived as the right levels of interaction through social media venues they used. There is great responsibility that comes with access.

It is clearly the future of where business is going. However, it is more of the new medium in which people find out about businesses.

People will still always do business with those that they know, like and trust. Social Media simply makes it easier for businesses to connect with their prospective customers so they can be "known, liked and trusted" with their customers' business and money.

Social Media is seen as the newest wave of "creative destruction" when it comes to marketing and advertising, as more of our consumers are sceptical on typical advertising and marketing (i.e. Yellow Pages, radio and TV ads) and are more likely to go off of friends' referrals on Facebook, Foursquare and Twitter before deciding to do business with a particular company or venue.

It is something that will always evolve because it is another way to of communication. They are used for many things like finding old friends, meeting new people, and staying in touch with family. Not only is it used for creeping on other people’s lives but as long as there is a platform for people to promote themselves and their businesses, it will be everlasting. Photos are taken, videos are posted, and you are able to see conversations between members. This brings more interest into knowing more about a person’s life without them telling you. As technology gets upgraded so will social media, it will never get old.

So, is social media a fad? With facts like this and the ever-changing fast pace of new changes in the world each day, it can't be. 

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