(B4) Effects of Media Contents in the Audiences

“Hey, would you please text April and see if she’s coming home for dinner?”
“I can’t. My phone’s upstairs.”
“That’s it! I knew there was something different. You’re making eye contact. I’m so used to looking at the top of your head; you’re always looking down at that screen.”

That’s a conversation between a mother and her daughter in an episode of Chasing Life. 

 

What impact will the audience have from social media?

Retweet. Follow. Favourite. Friend. Unfriend. Like. Pin. Share. Reblog. Check in. Selfie.

These are the few lingo every social media addict would know. In this Internet generation, social media has impact us in every aspect of life. Everywhere I go, I see people and their little gadget in their hand; even in cafés where people used to hang out, catch up, doing real talking; now, they are doing their catching up WITH their phones IN the café, and it’s so ridiculous.

The positive impact of social media is that we can acquire information at the tips of our hands. There’s no reason for you to not know about certain subject when you can Google it anytime, anywhere. Social networking allows us to connect to people and communities. I have befriended people across the pond solely because we share the same interest in certain TV shows. With social media and social networking sites, the saying “the sky’s a limit” is an understatement. Astronaut even tweets from space!

On the contrary, social media addiction is definitely a negative impact on the audience. Word’s going around that taking too many selfies is a mental disorder. That remains to be proved though. But the Generation Y are to engrossed over social media till they are addicted to it. This is the generation where the norm is taking a photo of your food and post it on social media sites before eating it, checking in every place you go. We are so full of ourselves that some of us actually care if how many people wishes you “Happy Birthday” on Facebook. However, sharing too much information about your daily life and whereabouts is dangerous. Social media sites are taking this opportunity to use the users’ information to their benefit. Our privacy isn’t that private anymore. Do you think in the near future, we would all be in social media rehabilitation?

What impacts will social media have from the audience?

The number of social media and social networking sites has bloomed over the years; I could barely catch up with it. The social culture has influenced the latest updates to Oxford dictionary. “Selfie” was announced Word of the Year 2013 by Oxford Dictionaries. Facebook and Twitter are always updating their page to satisfy the audience (the irony when it causes many backlashes). Restaurants, companies have resorted to social media sites to increase their customers. “Like” our page and you’ll get a discount on your next meal.

Will the government/state change with this change in technology? Malaysia?

DEFINITELY.

The population will be more educated and connected with the advancement of the technology. Many government agencies have their own Facebook or Twitter page. Surprisingly, I had a pleasant experience of inquiring information from a certain government agency through Twitter. They are efficient compared to traditionally calling the hotline number where the line was down for several days. I thought Malaysia is making a progress with the involvement of technology and social media.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-alloway-phd-and-ross-alloway-phd/narcissus-takes-a-selfie_b_5307389.html

http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/press-releases/oxford-dictionaries-word-of-the-year-2013/

http://www.examiner.com/article/social-media-vs-social-networking-what-s-the-differenc