Week 4: "MyFace" or "Do you know what I did 5 seconds ago"

Facebook the New MySpace
by Shaun Buzza, 18/03/2010

When it comes to media; newer, faster, bigger and more accessible has arguably been seen as better. This ranges across a wide spectrum of everyday media devices including mobile phones and social networking sites. When deciding what the most optimal device to us is, there are a number of factors and feature in which we look for. The concept of convergence is when media tools such as video; news and information, web access are combined together with a greater level of accessibility. All our media devices are being driven towards this understanding of convergence, where we want all of these tools at our disposal 24/7. As well as convergence, the general public is greatly influenced by the world around them. We want to be able to use social networking sits, for example, that are being used by the majority of the people around us, and it is popularity and usage that will determine how successful an application is.

So when considering what mobile phone we will upgrade to, or what site we will use to keep in touch with friends or family, we have to ponder the pros and cons of each device or application and interpret this information to produce and outcome. An example of this can be derived from the mass population of Facebook, as opposed to its spiritual predecessor MySpace. Christine Rosen discusses in her article “Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism”, the evolution of social networking and in more detail the distinguishing features between social networking sites. Facebook was able to take they core features and concepts of what social networking consist s of and refined them into a more streamlined and accessible package that included a convergence of more extensive media tools. As long as these features received the continued support by users, you have the perfect environment for a successful social networking franchise.

References

Rosen, C. (2007). "Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism," The New Atlantis, Number 17, pp. 15-31

Week 3: Branding Me: Viral Marketing, Buzz & Word-of-Mouth

All Eyes on You!
by Shaun Buzza, 12/03/2010

While we consider social networking sites such; as Facebook, MySpace Bebo etc, to be a recreational pastime, little do we realise the implications of what we do with our online personas. Every movement we make can be traced and tracked by our friends, family and colleagues. Goff man (1959), who studied career outcomes associated with IM (Impressions Management), was one of the first to acknowledge individuals to present themselves in an acceptable manor to others, stating that; “that individuals can be strategic in their impression formation”. If we are able to maintain awareness to the social factors that construct and preserve our personal image, we can presumable come across socially well perceived and of favourable appearance. While this may not concern a lot of people in regards to how their friends perceive them, it certainly plays an important role regarding of professional and business personas.

It is not uncommon in modern society for potential and existing employers to acknowledge and individual’s online identity. While online employment and job posting has been made possible through web 2.0, it has been the expanding use of Social Networking sites in particular that has taken the world by storm. On one hand we can be dressing up our online CV and portfolio with all the gloss in the world, and on the other paying little awareness to the posts or pictures we upload on our Facebook account. Those with an understanding of the settings of Social Networking sites are able to apply bans and restriction on personal content, but where the general public is concerned privacy can become an issue.

References

Bardon, D. (2010). Online Social Networking for Business: An Interview with Konstantin Guericke, Marketing VP, LinkedIn. Information Today, Inc. http://www.infotoday.com/online/nov04/bardon.shtml


Chen, L. C. P. (n.d.). Individual Online Impression Management: Self-Presentation on YouTube.