What Does the Future Look Like

Technology, Mass Media and Culture

We live in a world where we are connected to technology 24/7. Although technology has helped us improve many things such as communication and access to resources, it has also created many problems as well. Social media has helped us connect with people who we wouldn't have otherwise, but it was also taken away personal communication and interactions that humans need. Social interactions create a sense of meaning in people's lives and personally connecting with people creates a social connection (Brody, 2017).



Photo by: Technology Easy

What Should We Do
Even though we don't have to leave our house anymore because we can do everything at home now, we still need to do some things that are better done in person than watched online. Sometimes attending an educational conference in person can help you gain a better understanding of the topic and help you connect to new people you might otherwise might not have connected with.

People shouldn't limit their communication through social media and technology, instead, they should talk to someone in person to learn more about what they do instead of emailing or texting them. In addition, when we do engage in conversations with people, our technology should be turned off so we are actively engaged and listening without distractions. We are socially connected through technology and news is shared 24/7. People should establish a schedule on when they should view and read news to limit their exposure and control how much time is spent on the Internet.



Reference

Brody, J.E. (2017). Social interaction is critical for mental and physical health. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/well/live/having-friends-is-good-for-you.html

The Rise in Citizen Reporters and Media

Because of social media, the delivery and consumption of news has changed throughout the years. Before, news was only delivered through traditional methods such as television, radio, newspaper, and word of mouth. Now, because of the Internet, there are social media platforms, websites, RSS feeds, and etc.

Citizen journalist are a new group of people delivering the news who compete against traditional journalists. They are often the first on scene for breaking and sharing news more rapidly than traditional journalists (Rogers, 2018).  Although they may not have gone through training, citizen journalists gain fans and followers through social media while developing a brand for themselves. Twitter is a microblog platform where users can share personal information or news (Zhuang, 2014). This platform is widely used by journalists who can share information and news instantly.

We consume media in many different outlets and there are traditional and nontraditional journalists who share news and information with people.

References

Rogers, T. (2018, November 11). Understanding citizen journalism. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-citizen-journalism-2073663

Zhuang, Z. (2014). The Importance of Citizen Journalists in New Media when Reporting on Catastrophes. Global Studies Journal, 7(3), 21–39. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asn&AN=100177639&site=eds-live&scope=site

Never Leave Your House

In today's society, we don't ever have to leave our house because of technology. From grocery and general shopping, to movies and food deliveries, companies are paid to deliver everything to your doorstep that you can imagine. Devices such as Siri or an Amazon echo can answer your questions or place orders when you command the devices to take action.


We expect people to react the same way that we ask our devices to respond, which is quickly and correctly so we feel instant gratification. People can now order their groceries and have them delivered to them so they will never have to go inside a store to shop. When consumers make an online purchase, they are looking for low prices and convenience (Agrawal, 2017). Movies can be purchased and streamed online through one's television and no human interaction is needed from start to finish. In addition, if a restaurant doesn't offer delivery, there are companies that hire people who will pick up your food and deliver it to you within minutes. The Internet has increased the culture of instant gratification by allowing people to have access to anything within seconds (Metcalfe, 2017).

References

Agrawal, A. (2017). 5 ways technology is changing eCommerce. Entrepreneur. Retrieved from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/288149

Metcalfe, L. (2017, September 5). The future of retail - how technology will change the way we shop [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://crealytics.com/blog/future-retail-technology-will-change-way-shop/

Connected 24/7, Do We Ever Unplug

Technology has allowed us to be connected to anyone and anywhere at any time. We live in a culture where we are drawn to our cell phones 24/7 with text messaging, apps, email, social media, and etc. When we are at work, screen time is spent on our computers and using other technology around us which is no different from what we do at home. People use technology to connect with one another, but it can also drive us apart (Steinbrecher, 2014). 

Because other tools such as email and instant messaging, people may not be socially connected as before because we are not using face to face communication. Instead, many of us choose to communicate over text instead of voice and we miss the personal conversations because we are using social media and technology to share our information. We don't know when to unplug because our devices are always on and we can't shut them down or leave them at home.

References:

Steinbrecher, S. Why our 24/7 connected society is driving us farther apart [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-our-247-connected-society-is-driving-us-farther-apart_b_5185925

Talks, T. (2014, November 10). How social media makes us unsocial. TEDxSMU. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5GecYjy9-Q

Creating Content That Matters

Creating content for a brand is very important. Readers want to find relevant information and content that is engaging and useful. This is very important when it comes to the Internet because of how SEO (search engine optimization) works. If the content does not have popular search words, then it may never end up on a google results list. The information on social media pages should also be updated consistently with new and fresh content, allowing viewers to provide feedback and comments. If this doesn't happen, then viewers will leave and it will be difficult to find a way to capture their attention again to return to your content. 

References:

The science of art that matters (2017). Mumbrella360.  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=KscmT0Diz-U

Personal Versus Professional Social Media Accounts

With new positions arising in organizations because of social media, many organizations seek applicants who have established professional skills to add to the new department but this may be difficult. Online feedback didn't exist until the Internet evolved and connected people around the world allowing them to have a voice. Managing the online reputation of companies is a something that needs serious attention because of how fast social media can work. Social media can strengthen the relationship between employees and the organization (Micu & Geru, 2016).

Social media professionals have a job that requires them to make sure the brand has one voice and that it can not conflict with their personal voice. Leaders in organizations and Human Resources Departments need to make sure policies and rules are in place to prevent personal voices to be heard instead of professional voices who represent the organization. Strategies need to be implemented when managing brands socially because we can never fully control what is posted on the Internet as it is a public domain (Jordan & Soldano, 2010). 

References

Jordan, M., & Soldano, P. M. (2010). Reputation management in the Internet age: the online challenge of monitoring and protecting a family’s good name. Trusts & Estates, (8). Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsbig&AN=edsbig.A238771361&site=eds-live&scope=site

Micu, A.-E., & Geru, M. (2016). Social Media Impact on Human Resources Management Strategies. Ovidius University Annals, Series Economic Sciences, 16(2), 340–344. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bsu&AN=121978870&site=eds-live&scope=site

Communicators are Connected Globally

Source: (Kitschke, 2017)

Communications professionals are connected on a global level through the use of social media. The technology is still rather new and it is a skill that journalists have learned to adopt because of consumers who use it. Citizen journalists have increased because of social media and they are able to develop a following just like broadcast journalists do. However, being able to deliver your communications visually is critical for journalists.

People consume many messages and information throughout the day and because of the rise in other platforms, reaching audiences will be different (Kitschke, 2017). Whether it is sharing personal news or other posts, people are also using their feeds to share news that is relevant. Many journalist are now required to write stories online and also blog as well. (Kitschke, 2017).

Journalists who use images to display their information on social media are able to capture more readers to make a bigger impact. This is a skill that journalists will need to continue to develop as reading on the Internet is much different from print. Organization who give employees a promotion for learning a new skill in technology were more eager to learn and and train others (Stam & Stanton, 2010).

References


Kitschke, Z. (2017). Why visual communication is the most important skill for journalists in 2015.

Huffpost. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/zach-kitschke/post_9445_b_7456664.html

Stam, K. & Stanton, J. M.  (2010). Events, emotions, and technology: examining     acceptance of workplace technology changes. Information Technology & People, (1), 23. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1108/09593841011022537

The Power of Digital Journalism (2015). TEDxDistilleryDistrictWomen, Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhrZHRqUaT0&feature=youtu.be