Week 13 Clear Social Media

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This week's lesson on social media presented a variety of information and statistics regarding it's usage. One type of information that I found particularly interesting was the distinction between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0. Honestly, until this week, I never even realized there was such a difference. The difference? Our textbook defines it as Web 2.0 being about collaboration and information sharing, with Web 1.0 being mostly transaction oriented. As you can see in the illustration above, much has changed in just ten years. 

Social media, content that is peer produced and shared online, has played a significant role in that change. It has allowed many people all over the world to engage and participate with others like never in human history. Here's a video showing the impact and the variety of sources of social media.




One other aspect of interest for me was the power that these outlets have had to influence businesses, society, and even the government. Most notably is the blog or web log. Our text stated that blogs have prompted the new design of insulin pumps and have been responsible for exposing various product flaws. The authors of some blogs have been featured on major television news outlets like CNN and Fox News. The late Andrew Breitbart is a perfect example. He was really just a conservative blogger that slowly rose to political fame through the power of his readership. Breitbart is known in particular for his role in the ACORN scandal, the firing and re-hiring of U.S. Department of Agriculture official Shirley Sherrod, and breaking the news on Rep. Anthony Weiner. I'd say that's a pretty huge impact from such humble beginnings.

Finally, the biggest impact for me this week was the need for businesses to harness social media for a competitive advantage. Taking a look at the top firm's in the world, you immediately see they have immersed themselves in trying to connect to their customers. The best way is through Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. It has become a format to not only speak to existing customers but, more importantly, to speak to potential customers. 

The power of social media is best summed up by Jeff Bezos, CEO at Amazon.com. He said, " If you make customers unhappy in the physical world, they might each tell 6 friends. If you make customers unhappy on the Internet, they can each tell 6,000 friends.” Now, you have to agree, there is a lot of power in those numbers!


Until next time, GO GATORS!