Innovation in communication technology

In the last 10 years, communication technology innovation has had a significant impact on the news and media sectors. The days of relying on traditional media and news channels to reach large numbers of people and secure advertisements are long gone (Ghose and Sang 1472). Because people may receive news at the individual level without relying on a certain media organization or publisher, business models have been dramatically impacted. People may now get information quickly and cheaply regardless of their location (Ghose and Sang 1472). The emergence of new media industry players, advancement of social networking, development of smartphones, and the introduction of online advertisement has dramatically shaped the media industry which experiences transformation at rapid speed (Ghose and Sang 1472). This paper is an in-depth analysis on how social media has influenced how people consume news; the transition from web 1.0, 2.0 through to 3.0. Besides, it captures the methods people use to seek communication and the social media platforms utilized most in accessing news. Lastly, it highlights one case study of a past event popularised through social media usage.

Ways in which social media has transformed communication

It has generated a sense of urgency and the drive to share information

Since its launch in 2004, Facebook has provided a platform where people can share everything. People share their thoughts, favorite songs, locations and places they have visited on social media. Besides, the breaking news reaches the public before the traditional mainstream media broadcasts what is going around. Social media sites like Twitter and Facebook have shown people the essence of regularly sharing events through the internet. Twitter is famous for this after celebrities utilized it on everything they were involved.

In general communication, people share information instantly. The incorporation of messaging, emailing, and texting has enabled receivers and senders to take time before giving a response. Snapchat and Instagram stories have transformed the game by making information available for only 24 hours. In this context, to remember what was posted and efficiently react, one must reply quickly. Consequently, this temporary nature of communication takes away the capacity to take time and create a robust way of communication. Further, social media has made it easy for people to frequently share and update new episodes with little or no effort.

The social media has opened an inside perspective of distant places

Social media has provided a common platform for people from all corners of the world to share their stories. In addition to connecting the world, Snapchat was the first online platform to give people a glimpse of what the world looks like in distant places. The addition of story explorer and live streams makes subscribers stand in a position to get a glance of what life looks like in other cities, countries, and states.

Moreover, live feeds are best in sharing the events taking place. From a higher education point of view, it is the perfect platform to share student episodes, community outreaches, football games, etc. Snapchat gives universities a fantastic opportunity of transmitting experiences from a broad perspective of the university population. By using a Snapchat or a live feed, a college can communicate what college life entails from learners perspectives. The scholars who Snapchat what they experience in school cultivate their connection with the university and sharing experiences on Snapchat leads to an increased students interest and help prospective learners determine whether a particular college is ideal for them or not.

Social media provides full stories and not highlights

Unlike mainstream media like newspapers, television channels, or radios, which present news in briefs, social media platforms, advances the stories from the moment they unfold. Through Facebook and Snapchat, many users employ their creativity to narrate the events of their day from dawn to the moment they retire to bed (Kirakosyan and Doina 362). Instead of sharing few images on Facebook or writing a 140 character tweet on Twitter, a company, learning institution, or any other social or business organization can take advantage of Instagram and Snapchat to the episodes of various functions which took place within their premises (Kirakosyan and Doina 362). By employing both pictures, and videos, a company can share a marketing event from the beginning to the end. For instance, a firm can use the social media platform and share the launch of a new product to its audience. By sharing events in this manner, businesses create social connections with its customers and relate quickly with them and prospective clients (Kirakosyan and Doina 362).

Social media has brought breaking news to the millennial life

Twitter and Facebook have played a significant role in making news readily available, attractive, and accessible to millennials. Twitter runs popular hash tags which often advance favorite global and national events. The app and the website further highlight a series of hot topics, events, and news updates on their “what is happening” feature on the homepage (Hutchinson 4). Further, Facebook created its ”Trending” portion which emphasizes breaking news varying from technology, governance, politics, favorite national events, etc. Facebook has gone a step ahead and launched a section on its mobile app meant for trending news only (Hutchinson 5).

Social media has provided opportunities to broadcast events live

Facebook live was inaugurated in April 2016 and spontaneously changed social media. Initially, people used it extensively to share more with friends, but then its usability became applicable in more pressing matters (Hutchinson 5). Since its inception, Facebook live has ended up revealing a lot about what is happening in the society, from brutal police killings. Besides, it has offered a platform for following and discussing important issues. Facebook live advances not only controversial topics but also creates moment necessary for social change (Hutchinson 5).

Apart from changing the way people share information, Instagram and Facebook live have opened new marketing opportunities and strategies (Hutchinson 6). Firms can use the live features to interact with both established and current customers by sharing their businesses and events live. This allows the clients to take part in a function, a concert or a roadshow and take part in company events (Hutchinson 6).

The social media in the current world has undoubtedly changed people’s ways of communication, offered more chances to established and upcoming brands, non-profit organizations, and even learning institutions and has brought various personalities into the digital generation (Hutchinson 6).

Different social media platforms have different penetrations among the American population which subsequently affect the number of users who access news through these platforms. Facebook is the most prominent social media channel among the different sites (Hutchinson 6). Approximately 64% percent of the adult U.S population use Facebook and nearly half of those get news from there, which represents one-third of the total population (Hutchinson 6). YouTube is the second biggest social site for accessing breaking news, and almost 50% of all Americans have subscribed on YouTube, and around 20% of them get daily news from this channel represent around 10% of the total population putting it at the same level with Twitter (Hutchinson 7. Around 16% of all Americans are registered on Twitter and half of them get daily news updates from the site or 8% percent of all Americans (Hutchinson 7). Reddit registers the least number of members at 3%, but 62% percent of its members get daily updates from its sources (Hutchinson 7).

Evolution of web 1.0 to web 2.0 to web 3.0

Web 1.0 represents the readable phrase of www (World Wide Web) with constant data. The version offers a minimal interaction of web users and the sites. It is only an informational portal where clients passively access information without a chance to air their views, feedback, or comments (Berthon et al., 261)

Web 2.0 represents the writable phrase of www with interactive data. Contrary to web 1.0, it gives users a chance to interact with the site, and also amongst the users. This version encourages information sharing, cooperation, and participation. Facebook, Flickr, Wiki, YouTube among others are some of the sites which employ version 2.0 (Berthon et al., 262).

Web 3.0 is an executable version of www with flexible applications and interactive features. In the web, 3.0 computers can interpret data like human beings and carefully generate and share important information meant to meet the needs of various users (Berthon et al., 262). Tivo, an electronic video recorder is the perfect example of web 3.0. Its recording application searches the internet translates what it finds to users depending on preferences (Berthon et al., 262).

YouTube and Twitter on the case of Philando Castile’s Killing

Before the trial of the police officer, Jeronimo Yanez, the man who shot dead Philando Castile several individuals posted the videos of the shooting on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube (Hitchens 11). The fast circulation of the recordings made the Minnesota governor confess that the police would not have handled Castile in the same manner if it happened that he was white (Hitchens 11). Castile’s case is not isolated, but the social media has made such events reach a broad audience who respond to them by demonstrations or put an online pressure on the government and relevant agencies to act appropriately (Hitchens 12). Castile’s girlfriend recorded the video and immediately shared it on Facebook. Within a few hours of the news, black protesters gathered on the site of the killing and at the residence of the governor of Minnesota (Hitchens 12).

The demonstrations prompted the Justice Department of the United States to commence investigations into the shooting. Yanez was arraigned in court but was proven not guilty of the killing (Hitchens 12). From past experiences, it was difficult for such kind of cold-blooded murder to reach the public domain and the responsible officers presented before the court. Thanks to social media that any individual can capture an incident of such manner and circulate it online to dictate the authorities to react (Hitchens 12). Another argument holds that similar killings to that of Castile have been happening for many years, but the difference is media coverage. In many cases, they have not been reaching the public because of the minimal penetration of the mainstream media. This implies that initially, the police cameras have been hiding a lot of crimes committed by the police force hence denying justice to victims (Hitchens 13).

Conclusion

The invention of the internet and later social media has revolutionized communication. People can communicate with their relatives living in other continents without many difficulties. Besides, social media has made it easy for various firms and other not-for-profit organizations market their products and events using minimal resources unlike what they used to spend on mainstream media. Through the social media forum, it is easier to organize and inform masses of people of the upcoming events with a lot of ease. However, the most significant disadvantage of the social media is regulation; people can post anything without taking into account how their messages affect other people. There is limited control, and people are free to post what they wish.

Works cited

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Hitchens, Brooklynn K. ”Contextualizing Police Use of Force and Black Vulnerability: A Response to Whitesel.“ Sociological Forum. Vol. 32. No. 2. (2017): 11-16

Hutchinson, Jonathon. ”Introduction.“ Cultural Intermediaries. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2017. 1-30.

Kirakosyan, Kristine, and Doina Dănăiaţă. ”Communication management in electronic banking. Better communication for better relationship.“ Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences 124 (2014): 361-370.

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