LEARNING PORTFOLIO
As I have a keen interest in social networking due to my professional role, Module 3.3 has thus far been my favourite module in MED104.
Jane Armstong posted a number of questions for the group to answer relating to Twitter, Facebook, Replacing, recycling or reviving old and new technologies and media, convergence and the public vs privacy on the internet debate.
Personally my use of social networking communications is very much mirrored by a vast number of the MED104 group with Twitter and Facebook being my favourite methods of communication. Google Wave was utilized at the commencement of this unit but sadly dwindled away to nothing due to lack of interest and a preference for Blackboard where we could interact with the whole group rather than the 5 in our small group.
We were asked to discuss some of our Twitter habits which I have posted below from my post in response on Blackboard.
TWITTER
After almost 3 years being on this site I have come to the conclusion I have an ongoing love-vs-hate relationship with Twitter and use it for a multitude of reasons...
1. As a budding cyberstalker I enjoy following what my friends are up to (even if the Tweet the most inane things) as well as hanging onto every word that flows out of my favourite celebrities!
2. I enjoy finding out about whats going on in the world of SyFi as well as my many other eclectic interests such as astronomy and all things NASA and the Space Shuttle (going to see a launch next year!)
3. I use it to follow researchers for all things related to this Internet Communications Degree
4. I use it to verbally vomit whatever is on my mind (that I would not usually put in my Facebook status update for fear my friends would really think I am nuts!) although I am careful not to reveal too much for fear of lawsuits!
For my ramblings please go to www.twitter.com/deborahroberts
Regarding to who is listening/reading tweets, for me I tend to skim through and read them all and follow links that I find of interest. I also really don't care if anyone is listening or reading mine as twitter is my cyber voice to have a verbal vomit!
PRIVACY VS PUBLIC
In response to Jane’s starting thread on this topic I noted that I have personally concluded the there is no privacy on the internet and if its in writing it can be used on you in a court of law. In my view if its digital and on the internet it can be copied and therefore not private anymore - regardless how much security/threats for lawsuits is in place for the writer or recipient – for example Wikileaks.
If I want a private conversation I certainly don't do it on the internet and am wary of this due to having seen too many people do stupid stuff on the web that come back to bite them in a nasty way!
FACEBOOK
I use Facebook as part of my job but do find that it does have many different applications for business depending on the type of outcome that is the end goal, i.e. advertising, promoting new products, competitions, selling stuff etc (the list is endless).
For example my use, as defined and informed by our core marketing and communications plan (and strategic plans), is as a tool to communicate with a very specific target market that has already "bought into" the group that I created and moderate. Through this group (which is private) we hope to communicate and talk directly to them and thereby influence them into choosing our university as their first preference (I work in a marketing & communications office at a university).
We find that thinking backwards, i.e. what is the end goal, informs how we will build it and how it will work with our target market, i.e. a 17 year old is going to interact with different subject matter and branding that a 50 year old. We also stick with our Marketing & Communications plan and make sure we keep an eye on whats taking place on the discussion board and wall ensuring that all spam and porn, if found, is removed promptly as it takes up valuable space and turns off your fans!
REPLACING, RECYCLING OR REVIVING
I look at old technologies with nostalgia - my 8 year old asked me what a cassette player and typewriter were the other day (gosh I felt old when she said that)... this was whilst she was viewing her favourite website and doing a powerpoint presentation for school and Skypeing her friend about homework (all at the same time). In 20 years time she will probably say the same thing as me!
For me personally I feel that someone out there in our lovely global community of ours will always use the typewriter or cassette player or beta (and now vhs) video recorder... and there will always be that small niche business that will make cassettes and beta tapes and typewriter ribbons - selling them in their eBay store of course!
Some will be recycled - look at LP records - saw a record player recently on sale in a Target catalogue and some won't... Benefits of old vs new... well that probably depends on the user... I do feel like I am constantly being swept along on a constant ride of new technologies...
Anyway...
- my Mum loves her land line and I hate mine (only have one for my Foxtel and ADSL but its days are numbered!)...
- my best friend loves her work social club and my life is organised by Fabebook and social networking...
- and online vs classroom - well that a no-brainer for all of us (my employer won't be happy to hear that)
SUMMARIES FROM THE READINGS
Facebook describes itself on its website as “a social utility that helps people communicate more efficiently with their friends, family and coworkers” (Facebook Factsheet, 2010). This interesting article written by Westlake about Facebook takes us on a journey through Facebook’s history from its creation in 2004 as a social networking tool for American students to interact with their peers, explaining along the way the history of Facebook’s metamorphosis.
This article also goes on to explain the multitude of different interactions that can be achieved from using Facebook. Users can play games, poke each other, use it as a tool to communicate and for users in geographical diverse areas to keep in touch, create pages for special interests and even create new identities.
Westlake goes onto explain that many of the changes that Facebook has instituted over the past 6 years have not been popular and have invoked the wrath of many of its users. Examples of changes such as the introduction of newsfeeds in 2006 had left many users uncomfortable and concerned over the lack of privacy that they were exposed to.
Social networking, including Facebook has also changed the way we interact with each other online with Westlake looking at how the differing generations interact with the social networking tools as well as with each other.
As things change so much over the internet, Facebook, as of August 2010 had over 500 million active users world wide (Facebook Statistics, 2010).
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