Before I say this, I want to make sure I have your complete, undivided attention (insert pause to clear mind). Okay, here goes...SOCIAL MEDIA IS HERE TO STAY. Whoever said it was just a fad obviously does not understand the direction human communication is taking. We, college students, basically use texting and Facebook as our primary means of communication, with an ocassional phone call or e-mail here and there. Studies have even shown that we are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms and anxiety from lack of social media. One study, done at the University of Maryland, challenged 200 students to abstain from social media for only 24 hours. After this time frame, students admitted to their addiction and spoke of the negative feelings that spawned out of being separated from their online social presence (http://wapo.st/bmNt7a).
Just last year, I watched a video in class called "Social Media Revolution." In this video, several stats were thrown at me about social media, but the one that stuck with me was that if Facebook were a country, it would be the seventh largest country in the world. Recently, I watched the updated version of this video (proof that social media is constanly changing), and the statistic now claims Facebook would be the third largest country. Point blank: if this many people are engaging themselves in social networks and the number just keeps growing, how can social media possibly be just a fad?
I totally agree with your standpoint. I also think the study you referenced is really interesting. Being addicted to technology is a new dilemma sweeping our nation. People do not realize that they can actually become addicted to things like Ipods, cell phones, computers, and even social media outlets. When you come to think of it...how many times do you log onto Facebook a day? How much is too much? We must make sure we don't become too dependent on these sorts of things or social problems could be created.
ReplyDeleteLike Lainey said, we are becoming addicted to technological devices that give us access to social media marketing outlets. At this point, because social media is still growing and changing we are unaware of what this type of addiction could do to us as individuals, us as a society, or even the economy. Lately the economy has been in a recession and I highly doubt that is due to the emergence of social media marketing. Who knows though, with the decrease in newpaper publications and mainstream media advertising, areas of the economy could be negatively affected by the uprise of social media marketing.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the stance that we have become a nation of technology addicts, and the desire to make our lives that public is a little unnerving to say the least. The availability of ones private life online, as silly as it may sound, is probably the largest marketing tool today.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up great points in your blog. College students use the internet everyday to stay connected with their friends. I will admit I could not go a hour without my cell phone. It's sad to say but most people our age use the internet as their main way to communicate. Businesses who don't use social media marketing should start so they will gain more customer feedback.
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