The advancement of technology

Technology advancement is proven to be one of the most dramatic advancements of our generation. Companies, individuals, and institutions, in particular, are beginning to see the need of embracing technology in order to achieve their goals. One of the technologies that has revolutionized the operations of people, organizations, and businesses is social media and digital media. As a result, the focus of this research paper will be on how the two objects are employed by organizations or individuals to attain their objectives. Furthermore, the study will discuss the impact that the two items have on communication. Although the creation of digital media and consumption of information contained is open to everyone, the item that is produced or the platform used ought to be informed by social, global, legal and ethical awareness. Thus, it is worth looking at the choices that inform the creation of the same. Lastly, digital or social media has a huge influence on decision making and learning. The benefits are not only confined in a classroom settings but corporate and large organizations as well. All these concepts and things that digital and social media is associated with form the basis of this research.

Topic Discussion

Digital or social media is being used by individuals, organizations or companies to relay information, arguments or basically, communicate ideas they subscribe to in a bid to achieve certain objectives. There are many ways that these companies, organizations, and individuals use digital and social media. One of these methods includes but is not limited to, as a platform for posting advertisement. In addition to that, organizations are using social media to reach out to its customers in a bid to relay information. Organizations have large information that needs to be stored in the form of files, as such, digital media offers a platform where such information can be stored but in the form of databases (Hanna, Rohm, & Crittenden, 2011). On the other hand, most institutions have websites where customers or whoever is in need of company’s service can effectively do the same via an online platform. In addition to that, business people use social media or websites to alert their customers to latest news or events. These are some of the many ways that these organizations or individuals use social media or other media items in achieving their objectives.

There are many ways that social media is transforming communication in society. For instance, by sharing information, communicating ideas or arguments. To start with, the ease of communication, social media has enabled millions across the globe to communicate without limitation. Social media platform like Twitter and Facebook make it possible for people to interact, something that did not exist in the past or may require a large space for the same people to communicate physically. In addition to that, it is possible for people to share videos and other audio messages over a long distance. Moreover, digital media is proving to remove bureaucracy in communication, especially, in organizations. With the use of digital media, it is possible to not only communicate to the head of an institution directly, but one customer can as well rally others in bringing down an institution, individuals or a company, especially, on social media (Hanna, Rohm, & Crittenden, 2011). Lastly, the style of communication is being revolutionized by digital media, for instance, it is possible for business people to use a combination of interactive media and text in relaying information to its customers.

On the other hand, digital media has other benefits that have characterized its usage, and involve, fostering learning and acting as a useful tool in decision making. To start with, decision making, most organizations, and companies use complains or criticism that customer’s level against them to improve the quality of goods and services provided. On the other hand, for online shoppers, it is easy for customers to compare different prices, goods, and services rendered by a different institution, thus, helping them make an informed decision on which good to buy. Regarding fostering learning, digital media has made it possible to access software used to solve some problems. For instance, in calculations, engineering and in improving writing skills. In addition to that, institutions of higher learning are embracing application of digital media in the presentation of ideas or arguments (Verhoeven et al., 2012). Use of digital video and images is common in institutions of higher learning. Additionally, the world is seeing a rise in online learning and other tutorial studies in the form of videos. In so doing, learning is being revolutionized by the use of digital media in a way never seen before.

The rise in the use of digital and social media is not only attracting criticism among major players but also creating an environment where users’ can cause harm to others in relaying and creating content. Therefore, creating digital and social media content must take into consideration many factors. Additionally, legal, ethical and social ought to be put into consideration. Firstly, property rights must not be violated by whoever is trying to relay any information or sharing ideas. Secondly, global context needs to be put into consideration when creating digital content. Although, there are jurisdictions that have laws regulating digital and social media (Hanna, Rohm, & Crittenden, 2011). It is the reason that makes it fit for creators and consumers to be in line with this regulation of to avoid causing harm. Lastly, people tend to post contents that may not be appealing to others, or perceived as threatening, in so doing, it is crucial that people try as much as possible to desist from such behaviors which are unwelcoming as far as using social media is concerned.

Further Research

Individuals or organizations find digital and social media useful in relaying information in a way that helps them convince people or rather, achieve whatever objective they may have. One of the most common ways that organizations are finding digital media helpful is in self-branding. Nowadays, unlike in the past, organizations have websites, social media accounts that make it easier to sell their brand over a large area. In so doing, customers can identify themselves with a particular brand and in effect, making it easier to create loyalty among consumers. In addition to that, digital media has allowed faster transfer of information. Using digital media enables individuals and organizations to get data from one another or from consumers faster than before. Additionally, in the past, organizations had to wait for a weekend to secure a place where they would inform the public about their sales. Thanks to social media, it is possible for the same to be carried out through internet ads, social networking or via email. Although the speed of spreading information of an organization or an individual is a good thing, there is also the risk of spreading bad information as well (Hartley, 2012). For instance, a video taken from a phone’s camera and posted on social media to damage the reputation of a given company or a person can go viral within a short time unlike in the past where such thing will have been handled before it gets out of hand. These are some of the many ways how companies or organizations and people are using digital and social media to communicate information with the aim of achieving their objectives.

There are three important ways in which digital and social media has changed communication in modern times. In particular, the three aspects are; authenticity, style, and connectivity. To start with, connectivity, digital media, and social media are enabling people to send a large volume of information instantly, globally and constantly. Consequently, this is changing the way politics, culture and lastly, business operates unlike in the past where distance was a stabling block for people and large organizations in achieving effective communication. In addition to that, digital and social media are enhancing authenticity of information relayed to another party. It is very hard to alter an email, text or social media that a person or institution writes as opposed to altering a message that a person relay by word of mouth or a written document (Hanna, Rohm, & Crittenden, 2011). Thus, this is another transformation that digital and social media is bringing. Lastly, style of communication or relaying information has changed in that, digital media has made it possible for people to incorporate many aspects of communicating or passing information.

Digital and social media can help facilitate learning and or act as a platform that offers useful insight into the process of decision making. One way that organizations have been able to achieve this is by taking consideration of network intelligence. It involves taking a look at direct reactions within players that are involved in interactions. They include but are not limited to consumers, those who receive services, respondent among others. Additionally, there is another way that involves taking a look at crowd intelligence, and the company may try to look for new idea or ideas from followers. In addition to that, digital and social media helps in live testing. The method involves measuring feedback based on the idea that is being suggested. All these are some of the many ways that digital and social media can help in decision making. About learning, there is a lot of information that is available where students and other scholars can use for a better understanding of ideas and concepts (Verhoeven et al., 2012). Moreover, youtube is being used by other scholars interested in sharing information which again can help learners.

Lastly, creation and usage of digital and social media require a person with a high degree of awareness on ethical, legal, social and global contexts surrounding digital and social media. For instance, a person may have to create or use digital media in a way that conforms to a particular set of standards. In particular, there must be netiquette in its establishment and use as far as digital and social media is concerned (Verhoeven et al., 2012). Additionally, there are online codes of conduct that any person, organization or company involving himself or herself with the platform must adhere to, failure to which may lead to bad consequences.

References

Hanna, R., Rohm, A., & Crittenden, V. L. (2011). We’re all connected: The power of the social media ecosystem. Business horizons, 54(3), 265-273.

Hartley, J. (2012). Communication, cultural and media studies: The key concepts. Routledge.

Verhoeven, P., Tench, R., Zerfass, A., Moreno, A., & Verčič, D. (2012). How European PR practitioners handle digital and social media. Public Relations Review, 38(1), 162-164.