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?

In my opinion I feel as though social media has increased the quality of news. This is because news is getting easier to access everyday. With social media, it allows anyone with a computer, smartphone, iPod’s and etcetera to access breaking news anytime of the day from all over the world. As well as being able to share the latest updates on a story to your friends and family, keeping everyone knowledgeable of what is going on around the world. With social media and the news coming together, people are given the opportunity to either read the article or watch the broadcast and being able to search up the specific news you want to read or watch.

An importance of the increased quality of the news would be those devastating disasters that happen all around the world. For instance earthquakes, hurricanes and other nature disasters that have affected entire towns, without social media, many people would not know about these instances. Many companies joined up with the social media tool, twitter to notify everyone and would tell the world that for every tweet sent out about the disaster, they would send so much money towards fixing up what happened. Not only did social media help raise awareness to the events, but also allowed people to share and post pictures and videos of the tragedies faster than the “traditional” way the media would cover a story.

The traditional media such as newspapers, and the 6 o’clock news takes time to gather all of the information necessary and prepares a well laid out report. Where as social media and the news can be spread as soon as something is heard. In the end, traditional media has seen developments to their broadcasting methods. Making the news easier to find out in a faster, more efficient way to the world. Although everyone is starting to prefer this way better, it’s not bad to sit down on a morning enjoying a nice cup of coffee and enjoy relaxing while reading a newspaper. The world is evolving and so is social media. 

What is your perception of social media, do you think it is a fad or the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution?

My perception on social media is that it isn’t just a fad because of how far everything has come. I believe that it is the biggest shift since the industrial revolution by the amount of ratings the latest social media products have gotten. As we continue to watch all of the technologies grow in the market, every product becomes more convenient, easier and more accessible to Facebook, twitter and messaging apps, as well for every day-to-day use. It has allowed friends, family and loved ones to stay connected with each other from all over the world. This may include Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, text messaging and Skype. From personal experience I am grateful that we have all of the different options in social media that are used to stay connected for cheap, reliable use. Although all of these social media networks seem as though they are all positive feedback, there are some downfalls to them. This includes the cyber bullying that happens everyday to innocent children. I feel that the owners of the social media sites do not try their hardest to end this, and for the future I feel that the next improvement to these networks should not be about changing the layout but by making a stand to end the cyber bulling. A positive look at social media besides keeping in touch with family would be from a business standpoint. Many businesses now a days use the Internet and different sites to advertise their work. Whether it is clothing stores, fast food places, or even law firms or real estate offices. Using sites such as Facebook and Twitter to advertise up coming events, new listings for houses etc. This is the new way to advertise at no cost, putting their business name out into the Internet. As we go on with the improvements of social media apps, we continue to depend on them more and more. Sometimes resulting in abusing the technologies and social apps and relying on them too much can create one to lose their communication skills.

            I, myself as a teenager, I always have my phone on me to keep in contact with parents and friends. Although looking at both the positive and negative effects of the social media in today’s society, I still believe that, no it is not just a fad and it will continue to escalate into more inventions for the social world. 

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