The Next New Thing

The next new form of media will be social media related. If someone is watching a show, movie or documentary on TV they can take a picture of their screen using their mobile device and they can upload it to an app. The app will track any feed, post or comment that are currently going on in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any social media site that you have an account on and you can have a discussion on any of the social media platforms about what you are watching. This will make watching your favorite shows more enjoyable. Instead of having to individually go on social media platforms to search for a topic that you are watching, everything will be accessible on one app.  

Our Class Wiki - So Far

I have contributed to the class Wiki by creating a page called "New Media in Music." In the Wiki, I discuss how new media has changed how users listen to music through the Internet and how people discover new music. It was a topic that no one has written about so far, and I thought it would be informative to others to write about new music services that have come about because of new media. I have included several subtopics to the Wiki page such as music streaming, online radio, music libraries, and music blogs. I have also contributed several definitions to the new media glossary. I plan on contributing more to the new media in music page and add more references.

P2P File Sharing

File sharing is the practice of transferring, sharing or distributing files through the Internet. These files can include audio, visual, computer programs and e-books. P2P file sharing is the sharing of documents through a peer-to-peer network. Other users that have the same P2P file sharing program can share documents through the network. This reduces the amount of leechers, which are people that download files but do not share the files they've downloaded to other users. According to the article, "The BitTorrent Effect" by Clive Thomas, the concept of P2P is, "Users download and share at the same time; as soon as someone receives even a single piece of Fokkers, his computer immediately begins offering it to others." An example of P2P file sharing is two users with the file sharing program, BitTorrent, one user can download a movie that other users already have downloaded on their computer.

Privacy

Privacy and confidentiality has been an issue for many people using social media websites. Posting too much personal information on your page can cause problems such as people using your information in an inappropriate manner. Posting too much information makes you vulnerable to people stealing your identity and makes it easier for people with bad intentions to find out about your whereabouts. It can make for a dangerous situation when too much personal information is posted. Also, employers are starting to search the social media sites of possible job candidates. When employers see inappropriate posts or racy pictures, it becomes a reason for them not to consider you for the position. People need to be aware that what they post online can be seen by many and the more information they publish, is just more that can be taken and possible used against them in the future.

Advice

As Baruch College's new media consultant, I would utilize social media websites to inform students of upcoming events and gatherings. Using Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites, students can post when club events, start a conversation, and post important dates. This would help promote school activities and get students to be more proactive during their leisure time in school. I would also create a Facebook page for each course in order for students to stay informed of exams, quizzes and homework. This will hopefully allow students to stay connected with other students and ask about difficult course topics, questions on the upcoming exam or just a comment on that day's lecture. Professors can utilize blogs by requiring that students post their assignments on their blogs for all to read. This method would get students to create work that tends to be better than work that is just submitted to the professor to read. These uses of social media at Baruch College will help Baruchians feel more united.

Creativity and New Media

I created a collage of my favorite singers and rappers and posted it on Flikr. You can check out the college if you click here. Flikr is an online photo sharing social media website. Music is a very big part of my life and through social media sites I can allow others within my online community to understand me better.

Creativity

     With social media websites that range from photo and video sharing platforms to microblogging services, the creative side of individuals that use social media are bound to start trends and fads that become viral. Creativity can be seen as the way someone expresses themselves in a unique manner. This creativity may or may not develop into something greater than just an individual's thoughts. For example, the creators of the social media microblogging service website, Twitter, had many doubts about the infamous #s and @s that are used on their site to inform people of a conversation they were mentioned in or allow users to read topics of conversations mentioned in people's posts. According to the article "Twitter Serves Up Ideas From Its Followers", the man behind the idea of #s said "I begged and pleaded for them to support this feature, and they said, ‘No, it’s only for nerds, no one will get it." Little did everyone know that it would become a big sensation and Twitter users adapted rather quickly to this concept.
     Creativity found on social media sites do not have to come from the creators or the team of people working for the site, it actually can come in the form of users looking to find what would make their experience on the website more enjoyable and expressing that. Being able to post in seconds and have feedback just as quickly, makes it easy for ideas and thoughts to spread. Creativity can come in many forms when it comes to social media, whether it's making a unique collage on Instagram or thinking of a new hashtag. The simplest thoughts and words can be thought of as creative if no one has thought of the idea before. Social media gives many individuals the opportunity to foster creativity through this medium of interaction within the online community. Creativity spans across a vast array of ideas and thoughts and has no limits to what is considered creative and social media has become the new outlet for these innovators.

Modeling Reality With Virtual Worlds

     Virtual worlds have become a means of escaping from reality for many. In the virtual world life tends to be less hectic, more exciting and more or less things go the way you want them to. In the article "I’ve Been in That Club, Just Not in Real Life" by Dave Itzoff he writes "I walked a few blocks to my apartment on Avenue A, turned on my computer, directed a small, pixelated representation of myself to enter a small, pixelated representation of Cake Shop, and rejoined the show." Now, Dave can sit back in the comfort of his own apartment and still in the virtual sense, be a part of the crowd. Virtual worlds have become more advanced and have sparked the interest of many out there. They can be used for several different purposes such as interacting with people that are interested in the same things you are, help brands, musicians, and shops gain publicity, and fostering free spirit and creativity. In Mark Tutton's article, "Going to the virtual office in Second Life" he mentions that"Virtual community Second Life is seeking to tap into that market by creating a new tool that allows businesses to have virtual meetings on their own computer networks." Which is a more productive way of utilizing virtual worlds.
     Depending on who you ask the pros of virtual worlds will vary. I believe virtual worlds can inspire creativity and imagination by allowing users to create their own worlds and avatars that reflect their creative side, provide an escape from the hardships reality, and can build a unique community with which you find comfort and belonging to. A major con of virtual worlds is that it can be addicting and take over a person's real life. Virtual worlds that people create will always be better than reality because it is one's own perfect imaginary world. The sense that they can have whatever they want, when they want in that virtual space can be an addicting concept that can drive people away from reality. They can easily loose sight of the reality.
     The future of virtual worlds will most likely be more sophisticated and advanced than it currently is. It would be nice to see virtual worlds play more of an active role in people's lives in ways that will make their real lives easier. Meshing the two worlds and finding a balance would allow people to experience the best of both worlds, which I believe can be possible as more innovative concepts are introduced to society.

Blog About Twitter

Twitter, discussions on Blackboard and in-class discussions both have there similarities but mostly differences. Twitter and Blackboard discussions are both ways to communicate through posts. However, during Blackboard discussions you can write as much as you want unlike on Twitter where you are limited to 140 words per tweet. Blackboard discussions involve a lot more thought in each post but on Twitter due to the word limit, I usually post the first thought that comes to mind in order to keep the post short and simple. A more thorough discussion can be held on a discussion on Blackboard than Twitter. However, an in-class discussion is where people can fully interact and engage in real conversation which is usually a more effective way in getting your message across.

Social Networking Sites

Myspace, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are all social networking sites that have drawn in millions of users throughout the world. I have an account on all four of these social networking sites. Myspace is a lot different from what it used to be, it is now a social networking site focused on music. I find the site easy to navigate and has an appealing layout and design. I have used Twitter for a few months now and I find it very useful in receiving quick updates on current events and news in the music industry. I like how the Twitter feeds are continuous on one page and are short and simple to read due to the 140 character limit per post. Facebook has more going on in terms of their feeds that users receive on their homepage. It is a mix of posts, videos and pictures that all expand out, unlike Twitter where it only expands when clicked on. I've noticed a lot more advertisements on feeds than a few years ago when I started using Facebook, for this reason I do not use it as much. However, I do enjoy the Facebook private chat which is what I am usually on when I do go on Facebook. Instagram is an online and photo sharing social networking site. I enjoy going on Instagram because I find it interesting to see what people are doing through a picture or video rather than through words. Visuals are more enticing to me than regular posts. I tend to use Twitter and Instagram on a daily basis. Facebook I use in moderation and I have not used Myspace ever since it has changed into a social networking site that concentrates on music.

Social Net'g

     Social networking has become a new means for individuals to connect and communicate with one another. This form of networking has even extended to businesses and organizations as a way for them to reach out their target audience and new potential customers. Start-up companies that are not well known can gain publicity through social media marketing campaigns and frequenting social media sites to familiarize people with their company. Through social media websites, I have learned of companies that I otherwise would not have known about and have made purchases from these companies.
     Social media websites can be used in many ways to promote a company, brand or organization. They can gain a new market niche by creating social media ads that are targeted towards a specific audience. They can promote events, promotions and deals that are currently going on to attract more people to their activities. Aspiring artists, dancers or anyone in general who believes that they're talented and would like to gain recognition for this, can promote themselves. Singers such as Justin Bieber and Colbie Caillat have gained stardom from being found on YouTube. This also makes it easier for talent scouts to look for talented individuals.
     However, there is a down side to social media sites. When people are behind a computer screen they tend to become a little more brave and are more inclined to write or say hurtful and mean things, this is known as cyber bullying. According to Young, from the article "They're Back and They're Bad: Campus-Gossip Web Sites" gossip sites give "a chance to talk about the damage that sexism, racism, and homophobia can do." Another, down side to social media sites is the extent to which people share personal pictures, information and posts about themselves which can be damaging to their reputation in the eyes of their future employer. Which is probably why, according to the article "Who Cares About Facebook Privacy? Students Do", "researchers, Danah Boyd and Eszter Hargittai, report that most Facebook users modified their privacy settings at least once in 2009" a majority of those people being young adults between the ages of 18 and 19.
     I believe that social networking will only become more advanced as time progresses. Society will soon learn to adapt to new advancements in technology and social media sites will develop as well. I look forward to seeing what social media has in store for us in the future and how much more advanced it can get.

Blog v Wiki

     Today, blogs and Wikis have become a new medium of communication and a valuable source of entertainment and information for many. Blogging is a way for individuals to share personal thoughts and feelings to an online community and gain insight and opinions from others on a certain topic. Wikis are web pages on various topics that users can collaboratively edit, modify, and delete content from.
     Both sources of new media have gained popularity among individuals and online businesses. Wikis allow users to edit open source documents in a collaborative manner. This makes the days of having to piece together different sources of information from various websites, done with. Wikis allow for a simple and manageable way to organize and provide others with information on a certain topic. However, Wikis do not allow just any content to be uploaded and published. According to the article "How to Use Wikis for Business" by Goodnoe, he states "Thousands of people police the site (or at least those areas in which they have expertise), fact-checking and editing as necessary, so the quality of the content generally remains high." Inappropriate and irrelevant content generally is spotted and deleted on Wikis to ensure that users are viewing pertinent information on a certain topic.      
     Blogs are personal thoughts and feelings that users share with the online community. It can be compared to a modern day journal or diary. Blogs can be written about essentially anything and people can comment and give their thoughts on the blogger's piece. Due to the freedom that users have to write about virtually whatever they please, there has been controversy in the past over defamation issues. Like in the case of, "Liskula Cohen, a 37-year-old model and Australian Vogue cover girl was surprised to find herself winning a “Skankiest in NYC” award from an anonymous blogger" from the article "Stung by the Perfect Sting" by Dowd. This matter was brought to court and Cohen won the case. Unlike Wikis, blogs are not monitored as much and content on these blogs will often mention names, places and almost anything that one pleases to write about. Blogs can be used for collaboration by people continuously commenting on a certain topic and having the blogger write posts that incorporate information that users have commented on his/her blog on.  
     Blogs and wikis are both a unique way of communicating and forming an online community centered around specific topics. Convergence is an important factor in both these forms of new media. Convergence in terms of how people interact with each other on blogs and Wikis play a major role in how successful these new forms of communication become. Without convergence many forms of communication that are relevant and popular nowadays would not be what it is today without convergence of today's networked world. 

Social Media: Strengthening or Weakening our Communication Skills

Social media has become a major part of our younger generation. It is quite common to see teens spending more time with their friends on social media sites rather than in person. Which begs the question, is social media strengthening or weakening the communication skills of our younger generation. Are our teens growing up in a society where social media has completely cluttered their minds and the thought of talking in person or on the phone has become awkward for them? Or is it creating a generation of creative writers and thinkers? Through my research, I hope to discover how social media has affected the communication skills of our younger generation.