Need I say more!!!

Today as I was perusing through my class blogroll (great stuff.. really.. you should check it out)   I came across a post on PFB is Listening. The post , entitled Time for Social Media- Yes, but barely! really got me thinking about the idea of the amount of  time needed to be active in the social media arena.

The truth is … it takes aaaaa loooottt of time.

I always wondered why I was so hesitant about involving myself in the different social media platforms on the web, and the truth of the matter is that I never really took the time. There never seemed to be enough time in a day where after, work, class, chores, homework, and my favorite tv shows, to add another element to my day.

Taking the time to check a Myspace page or Add a comment to someones wall on Facebook , never appealed to my agenda. However, I will admit that those who do take on the social media beast are extremely knowledgeable and savvy about almost all the social media programs on the web. Their extended knowledgeable about what’s new and what’s hot, makes them a great commodity in today’s society.

I believe my desire and interest to be one of those people, is the reason I decided to enroll in a social media class. It forces me to step outside of my comfort zone and make time for new medias. My dedication to this blog has been an incredible achievement for me. All of a sudden I feel like I am apart of an entirely new community. A community filled with others who share my desire to become more than just recipients of information , and become distributors of information.

Over a month ago a classmate wrote a blog post from Tangents in a Virtual PlayGround, about the industries new request for new media experts. She made an excellent point on how many companies and organizations want new recruits to have 5+ years in the field of new media in order to be considered. But in relatiy new media is always chainging an evoling in order to accommodate….new media.

However I believe there does need to be a level of experience when dealing with new media. We have discussed in class, how many organization are still a little skeptical about social media and web 2.0. So the desire to employ someone who has proven their expertise in new media would seem perfectly understandable.

It is important for those who consider themselves ‘new media experts” to truly be knowledgeable about the subject. Because it there is more unsettling for an organization to hire someone that hasn’t proven themselves as a social media expert, other than having a Myspace or a Facebook page.

I recenty was reading on of my classmates blog The Hoya SuperSnail, and it got me thinking. She relived how over the past three months, blogging has given her power that she has never felt before. Even though this blog was started out of a class assignment, I believe that so many great things have come out of it. First it has caused me to think critically, “on the fly”, as well as helping me find my writing voice. And secondly it has given me a platform to express my ideas and feelings.

My classmate also revealed how she uses her blog as a reflection tool. Her blog allows her to see herself from the outside looking in. This has been one of the most powerful actualities for myself as well. Blogging, can be extremely therapeutic. While one might have a readership of only 2 or 3 people (every month total) it can be extremely resourceful for the writer, who uses their blog to dispense thoughts. I call it a “journal on the web for all to see”. This blogging experience has been unlike any other. I went from someone who only checks her email online to someone who is now looked upon as a expert on social media. How did that happen?!! LOL!

In the future I plan to use this blog to write about issues that are affecting our communities and the family dynamics in America. I believe that taking my own personal angle while blogging will cause my blog to be more successful because I will be able to truly express myself, without the shackles of school assignments.

As our world continues to change and evolve, through the expansion of the internet, it is an unfair assumption that the powers that be will automatically assimilate. There has never been a time in history when the government was on the same page as the rest of the country , at the same time. History has proven time after time that the people, the citizens of a country are the real policy makers and legislative changers. In the area of the internet , this truth remains the same.

The way the government and the internet has interacted since its inception has been minimal. Other than having crappy websites or websites with just enough information that tells you to “write your representative” the government has not been as technologically savvy as some would hope.

It reminds me of a child teaching its parent how to send and check emails. After some time curiosity builds up and the parent wants to join the world as it is happening today. But the only way they can understand their way around a Hotmail account is if someone who is familiar with the application is able to show them the ropes.

I don’t believe our government has gotten to that point of curiosity yet. However with trailblazers like Barack Obama, who has shown the power of the social component on the internet by the amounts of money he has been able to fund raise for his campaign , has started to promote a small amount of curiosity among his political comrades. (I wonder is it only because money is involved?!)

But what I think many people should be asking themselves is why Obama’s campaign was able to infiltrate the internet world with such acceptance and gusto? And the answer is that he had not allowed himself to become tainted by other peoples skepticism . Similar to many people who are really, really, really, interested in the social networking world, they walk to the beat of their own drums. And I personally feel that by the time the government feels that its ok to jump in, and the waters fine, these current social media junkies will have moved onto another task.

]]> http://ourcommonground.wordpress.com/2008/04/23/its-ok-the-waters-fine/feed/ http://ourcommonground.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/children-and-social-media/ http://ourcommonground.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/children-and-social-media/#comments Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:19:01 +0000 najjabee http://ourcommonground.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/childern-and-social-media/

I had an epiphany today .

How are we going to teach our children to behave in the new social meda world. Parents already have a hard enough time trying to control what their children are watching on television and keeping them away from drugs. But now they have to learn how to teach their children about social networking sites.

We finally live in a world where the young really does knows more than the elders. Most of these new web 2.0 tools have been created by young people, and thus older generations are left out of the loop. Older people are just starting to understand how to work with web 1.0 . LOL!

As the internet continues to grow and modify itself, parents are stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to teaching their children about being responsible on this new social world. I believe that new media literacy curriculum’s should be implemented into the school systems. Teachers, parents, and administrators need to be aware of the strength behind the new web 2.0. They need to be able to teach students what type of behavior acceptable online.

So commonly do we hear about teens and tweens posting pictures of thmselves on the internet without any reservations. This type of behavior is not healthy. If we don’t teach children the proper way to interact using the internet, it will prove extremely detrimental. It is my goal to come up with a plan that both teachers and parents can use to advise children on proper social media use, and in addition teach them about social media as well.

I was recently thinking about the situation with he New York Gov. that got caught cheating on his wife. The situation was definitely bad, but I actually felt worst for the pro. Here she was trying to make a decent living (snicker) and here comes this old man , whose suppose to understand the discretion needed to keep operations running smoothly , and he blows your whole cover!

Now everyone who know the girl, from her door man to the boy who bags her groceries at the local food market, now knows that she has sex for money. HOW EMBARASSING!!

Now dont get em wrong i dont condone this type of professional or behavior, but the reason why I feel bad is because she was thrown right in to the hot boiling water. I personally do not feel she deserved to be crucified by the media and others.

But my biggest concern out of the whole situation was how she was identified. For days the media only knew her her “girl 6″ . But after a couple of days of good journalism (yeah right!) she was identified by name and picture. How? Because of her Myspace profile!

This is on of the reason I don’t really like the whole social networking , scene. I fell that if this young lady had not posted anything about herself, including pictures or anything, no one who have been able to identify her so quickly.

These social networks leave people so open, so vulnerable. And once you put something on these websites it automatically becomes public information and anyone can use it for their own benefit. This situation confirmed my suspicions about these social networks like never before. Luckily on here Im only a name !!! Or am I ?

Dear Internet:

So I understand you are really expanding. Your new updated version Web 2.0 is allowing you to reach people who never really experienced your power. Can you believe that politician’s are using you to expand their campaign initiatives. They are using tools like Facebook, Myspace , etc. to connect with citizens. But are they really connecting?

How is it that by a politiicans creating a Myspace pages and Facebook profiles make a them a “peoples- candidate” . I understand the connection that some might feel knowing that a political figure has joined their world, or interest, but what does that say about their political agenda. Absolutley nothing.

While I feel that it is important for political candidates to connect with constituents, I don’t think that using web 2.0 is going to take the place of that one on group interaction. People still need to hear and connect to what their candidates are saying in order to get a better understanding of their agenda.

As we reviewed the Dean campaign in class I began wondering how did he stay connected in all those new media tools he’d all of a sudden was becoming apart of . And the answer is probably someone on his staff played “Dean” on those newtork sites , in order to give the impression that Howard Dean was truly internet savvy.

That doesnt work for me

I’d rather be able to go see a candidate speak rather then have his assistant write a blog post. Wouldn’t you? I believe it adds to credibility and sincerity. Just a thought

Today, for the first time I was able to check out Global Voices Online , and I absolutely loved it. The web site compiles various blog postings from bloggers around the world. I had no idea that a website like this even existed. I felt very enlightened once I was made aware of its existence. So in I looking over the entire site, I decided to focus on Nigeria. Just by the current postings, it was as if I were watching the news. The postings consisted of news and happenings taking place in and around Nigeria. It was apparent that the different blog postings had been written by experienced bloggers. The language of the blog was not that of someone (like me ) whom had just begun their blogging expedition.

Nevertheless, for a moment I felt connected to the Nigerian people. I almost felt compelled to leave a comment about some of the topics bloggers had written on. But I didn’t.LOL! However I did began to realize the strength of resources can truly bridge the world. We know that the media only gives a screwed view of international now with websites like Global Voices Online, we can get the facts from the people who are experiencing and vice versa. Experiencing this site takes me back to the idea of “pen pals”. Remember those? When people actually wrote letters with a pencil and some paper? Well this website, gives me the same feeling as having a international pen pal. Maybe I will connect with someone on this website and share my experiences later. You should do the same!!