New media technology has benefits
to our global communication, it affects relationships both personally and in
the workplace. “While they (Millennials)
have earned a narcissistic reputation from their “selfies” and “entitled” work
ethic, they also consistently demonstrate increased global exposure, social
empathy, and a deep desire to change the world.” (Berset-Price, 2015) Information
and news can be disseminated quickly and exponentially. One can receive news literally as it is
happening. “The expansion of the internet
has allowed global communication and information to permeate everything from
apartment walls to international borders.” (Berset-Price, 2015) Access to
endless amounts of information can help people understand what is happening in
the world. “About a third (36%) of the
people who get news on social media say it helped them better understand
current events.” (Masta & Shearer, 2018)
This omnipresence of the internet and
technology can cause the spread of misinformation. Consumers favor convenience in getting their
news and information on social media even if they have doubt about its accuracy. “Concerns about the inaccuracies in news on
social media are prevalent even among those who say they prefer to get their news there-among this group, 42% say that they
expect the news they see to be largely inaccurate.” (Masta & Shearer, 2018)
This inaccuracy in news can is dangerous as it spreads with a simple
click. It is difficult to retract stories
that have already reached a large audience.
“Nearly two-thirds (64%) say fabricated news stories cause a great deal
of confusion about the basic facts of current issues and events.” (Bialik &
Masta, 2017)
Facebook and Twitter have acknowledged that
misinformation has been spread via their platforms. They have both implemented ways to combat
inaccurate news in addition to giving the user more access to the source of the
news report or story. Facebook, “has
introduced third-party fact-checking, new labels and requirements for ‘issues’
ads and political candidates, user ratings to better sort false news reports,
and-one of the most helpful tools-Page info and ad insights, which let users know
things like where Page’s managers are located, and what other names the Page
might have had.” (Hutchinson, 2018) These can assist with cutting down on fake
news and misreporting, but most people just share the story without doing any
due diligence.
Twitter is turning their focus from
personal business interests to the responsibility of being a social media
platform that has much influence over our society. Twitter has announced that they will take
more accountability when it comes to dissemination of information. CEO Jack Dorsey states, “were committing to
helping increase the collective health, openness, and civility of public
conversation around the world, and to hold ourselves publicly accountable
toward progress.” (Hutchinson, 2018)
When we think about the connection between
culture and technology, we must see them as interconnected. “For Millennials, two things are happening
simultaneously: culture is impacting technology, and technology is impacting
culture.” (Berset-Price, 2015) We no longer have to go to a library to research
a topic. We don’t have to get on a plane
to see what a place looks like on the opposite side of the Earth. We can learn a new language via an app. All companies are hopping on the bandwagon
and creating apps to give the user a more enhanced experience. Nike created an app, “that works with a
special chip in runner’s shoes to monitor speed, distance, and calories burned.”
(Gupta, 2013) The companies that are constantly evolving with technology are
going to be the most successful.
Two companies that failed in this
department experienced the demise of their brands. Google+ saw the success of Facebook and
wanted a platform that was similar. What
they failed to do was create something that offered something new and
innovative. “Google’s vision is of a
Facebook-style network that encompasses hundreds of millions of people and a
broad range of activities. The problem
is that no one seems to want that except Google.” (Ingram, 2012) Google+ couldn’t
pull people from other social media sites and ultimately shut it down about six
months ago.
Myspace is another brand that failed to
keep up with changes in technology and ended up selling at a huge loss. Just as Google+ suffered due to lack of innovation,
Myspace did as well. “Myspace was also
slow to adopt technologies such as Ajax, which allows users to send messages without
the need to open up a new browser window; programs to import e-mail address books
into friends lists; and instant messaging.” (O’Reilly, 2011) Myspace simply
couldn’t offer what other social media sites had mastered.
In the future we are going to experience
internet everywhere in addition to artificial intelligence being accessible to
a greater amount of people. The
workplace will be increasingly digital.
Lee Rainie, director of internet and technology at Pew Research Center
states as we move into 2025, “Information sharing over the Internet will be
effortlessly interwoven into daily life making us smarter, safer, more efficient.”
(Rainie, 2018) This may make some jobs obsolete, we already have self-check
outs at grocery stores, which has eliminated the need for cashiers in some
instances. Artificial intelligence will
provide people with immersive experiences which may affect social interaction.
Masta and Shearer found that the
individuals they surveyed shared their reasons for using social media as, “It’s
very accessible” “It’s available at the touch of a button” and “I don’t have to
go looking for it” (Masta & Shearer, 2018) It will become more available
and easier with the passing of time and technology. Companies need to get ahead of the game to
ensure users accurate information and privacy.
“Where information had to be vetted before it was broadcasted, now the
burden of determining truth is on the person digesting it.” (Berset-Price,
2015) Companies need to take on a greater responsibility and follow the lead of
Facebook and Twitter when allowing the dissemination of information. Lee Rainie with Pew Research Center has
concerns of privacy in relation to technological advancements. “Privacy will be more at risk and something
perhaps only the privileged will enjoy.” (Rainie, 2018) We all deserve privacy,
there has to be increased privacy settings on social media in addition to
training as to how to use these settings.
Companies will need to have a greater team
of individuals to fact check information on their individual platforms. They should also be given fines for any security
breaches, especially ones that may have contributed to our recent political
problems. “More than eight-in-ten U.S.
adults (85%) now get news on a mobile device, up from 72% in 2016.” (Bialik
& Masta, 2017) That is a 13% increase in one year. Newspapers are becoming obsolete. The process
of news reporting is changing rapidly. Social
media companies need to play a greater role in dissemination of information and
make sure what they are allowing on their sites have had sources checked. It can’t be left to the individual who oftentimes
won’t have the proper tools to separate fact from fiction.
References
Berset-Price,
V. (2015). From Pop Culture to Global
Culture: How Millennials and Technology are Influencing Our World. Huffington Post. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-bersetprice/from-pop-culture-to-globa_b_8765928.html
Bialik,
K. & Masta, K. (2017). Key Trends in Social and Digital News Media. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/10/04/key-trends-in-social-and-digital-news-media/
Gupta,
S. (2013). For Mobile Devices, Think Apps, Not Ads. Harvard Business Review, 91(3), 70. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2013/03/for-mobile-devices-think-apps-not-ads
Hutchinson,
A. (2018). Social Media Still Has a Fake News Problem and Digital Literacy is
Largely to Blame. Social Media Today. Retrieved
from https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/social-media-still-has-a-fake-news-problem-and-digital-literacy-is-largel/538930/
Hutchinson,
A. (2018). Twitter Calls for Outside Assistance in Dealing with Abuse and
Misuse Issues. Social Media Today. Retrieved
from https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/social-media-still-has-a-fake-news-problem-and-digital-literacy-is-largel/538930/
Ingram,
M. (2012). Google Plus: The problem isn’t design, it’s a lack of demand. GIGAOM. Retrieved from https://gigaom.com/2012/03/15/google-plus-the-problem-isnt-design-its-a-lack-of-demand/
Masta,
K. & Shearer, E. (2018). News Use Across Social Media Platforms 2018. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.journalism.org/2018/09/10/news-use-across-social-media-platforms-2018/
O’Reilly, L. (2011). Four reasons why Myspace failed to retain
the social network crown. Marketing Week. Retrieved http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/four-reasons-why-myspace-failed-to-retain-the-socialnetwork-crown/3022208.article
Rainie,
L. (2018). The Future of Technology. Pew
Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2018/04/17/the-future-of-technology/
