Multi-Generational Interview

I interviewed a small group (5) teens (one 10^th, two 11^th, and one 12^th graders) for the multi-generational interview project.  All of the students currently use and have been using Facebook for a range of ½ years to 5 years.  Three of the five had used MySpace but became bored with it and moved on to Facebook.    Three had used Twitter in the past but no longer use this media, all knew the difference between Twitter and Facebook.  One currently uses Skype and one also use ODVO.  When asked how much time the students spend on social sites, they all responded “the whole time they are up”.  The students did not know what “blogging” was.  Each respondent indicated that they go on social sites to keep up with their friends and find out what’s going on.  Each of the student stated that they did not pay attention to the ads on the sites, but when asked for detailed information about the ads, each was able to give very specific information about ads that pop up on their sites (One girl was offended that pregnancy ads always pop up on her site). 

I believe that my generation chooses different social networking sites, which they perceive to be more professional, i.e., LinkedIn, blogging.  I personally, am not a good representative of use of social media as I have resisted it use and still do not see its benefit to me.  I have become more active in social media due to this class; however, I don’t feel that I will significantly change my position.  I believe I will go back to email as my primary source of communication.  Whereas my spouse has been a blogger before MySpace and Facebook existed, his use of social media limited to blogging on subject sites of interest i.e., technology, investing.

I feel the social networking industry has done an outstanding job creating specific niches targeted at its intended market.  If you ask most people in my generation, they would not dare have a MySpace, Twitter or Facebook account, but finds LinkedIn and blogging acceptable.  The specific sites also allow marketing at its intended audience.

I personally spend a lot of time on the computer to accomplish my everyday task, Word, Excel, and other technological tools.  I try to designate a specific time to check and respond to email.  Strictly from a time management point of view, in my opinion, social networking does not lend itself to optimum utilization of time.  As I write (used to be as I speak), I am perched at my computer across the table from my spouse who is perched at his computer.  As we spend more time on computers and less time communicating face to face or by phone, social networking should be termed anti-social networking.   If either or the other speak or ask a question you get silence or “wait let me finish this thought”.  While we are in one another’s physical presence, our thoughts and attention is devoted to others, people we don’t even know.  Is this social networking?

Online-Offline Media Integration

The purpose of the SeaWorld campaign was to build relationships, awareness, and promote driving visitation to the park.  This campaign was event specific and used a blog site to solicit comments related only to that event.  Because the blog was really event specific, it did not appear to be successful as there were basically less than 10 posts to the blog. 

The purpose of the Charleston Park Blog seems to be to educate the community to a more sustainable way of gardening.   This site appears to be more consumer oriented and less market focused.  I find this site very useful and customer friendly

The purpose of the Random Buzzer is clearly designed to promote the specific books and nothing more than a Barnes and Noble site with only the select books.  Clever marketing tool but very transparent.  The only purpose is clearly to sell books. 

All of these sites utilize blogs to solicit comments from their followers; however Random Buzzer goes a step further and create a mini social networking site within its website with about 63,700 followers.  With as many followers, Random Buzzers’ strategy appears to be effective.  Nevertheless, I personally feel the Charleston Park method is more useful and helpful.

Social Media Elements Case Study

The case studies of Best Buy and Zappo used two completely different social media elements to develop their message and reach customers/employers.  Zappo was primarily geared toward their employees, and was very effective in creating what appears to be a very desirable workplace.  Not much focused on how that translated into customer sales, however the numbers speak for themselves.  Who wouldn’t want to do business with a company who treats their employees that well?

Best Buy, on the other hand, did concentrate on customers.  Their 24/7 availability to customers via tweeter must be a gold mine for building a huge customer base.  Whereas Microsoft and Apple currently have the availability via social networking, it is for their customers only.  I can envision more companies expanding this service to non-customer in an effort to gain new customers.

Is Social Networking The Best Method of Communicating for Children?

My short and simple answer is no.

Surely, social networking will survive in some manner, but certainly not in its current state.  There are too many social networking medias, it is much too distracting, and greatly contributes to lower productivity in the workplace.  (http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20110711-inquiry-shows-excessive-facebook-use-at-dallas-city-hall.ece?action=reregister)  Employees think it is their right to spend time on Facebook and other social networking sites, regardless of whether what they are doing has anything to do with the organization’s business.  

Social Networking will lose its zeal when many people find that their personal information is floating in cyberspace with no one in control.  We have gone from a period of having unlisted phone number to “hello world, anybody, here all you need to know about me as well as what I am thinking!”  (http://www.dallasnews.com/business/columnists/pamela-yip/20110605-storing-your-personal-data-in-the-clouds-requires-research.ece?action=reregister)

Social Networking have our children, (already generation ADD), on a fast road to ADD++  (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1153583/Social-websites-harm-childrens-brains-Chilling-warning-parents-neuroscientist.html). Look at the trend; twenty years ago we had to wait two to three days to hear from someone; (U.S. Postal Service).  Ten years ago, we had to wait a few hours before we could hear from someone; (email).  Now we have instant contact, with people sitting on social networking sites all day just waiting to hear people rant and rave about nothing and everything.  You tell me, are children better off today than children were twenty or even ten years ago?   

Social networking sites have exposed our children to a world we fought so hard to protect them from.  The only difference is we don’t know who or where the stranger is (http://www.nsteens.org/Videos/SocialNetworking).  Is that really ok?

Social networking sites should be called “Advertising Overload Sites”.  You can’t go on any site without being bombarded with advertisement.  The sites have developed a method to take advantage of you by selling your attention to the highest bidder.  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBQ7MKlOJic) Who is really benefitting from social networking?

One social media campaign which appears to be successful in getting its message out and advancing its agenda is Generation Texas (www.gentx.org).  Generation Texas is a social media networking commissioned by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to encourage student to obtain a higher education or become career ready.   The site provide video testimonies (http://gentx.org/story/meet-oscar-15/) from students and supporters (http://gentx.org/story/meet-senator-wendy-davis/) which serves as an encouragement to other students.  This campaign, although very new, has seen tremendous growth among students, colleges and universities.

As a newcomer to social networking, my position on this issue would easily classify as that of a novice.  Nevertheless, I am continually exploring this subject matter, and experimenting with ways to utilize social networking to communicate information to communities, parents, and students.  As my skills in this arena develops, I envision a better understanding and utilization of social networking media and tools.