Social Media Society

The blog post today deals with one of my favorite areas of communication...Social Media. Now, those that don't know much about social media may just view it as an outlet for an endless supply of "selfies" or postings of today's brunch and while some may use it for those sole purposes, in reality it can be quite beneficial. In fact, there are positions with top companies and organizations that deal specifically with social media and having the knowledge of these tools may just put you over the candidate who can't tell their Pinterest account from Instagram. We'll look at some examples of how social media works today and how it is a way to communicate from everything to the presidential election to what movie will be number one at the box office and just what is in store for the newest possibilities to communicate online.






When breaking stories hit, the first place it normally hits is online. Think back to some stories you first heard about online, chances are it was something that peaked your interest or got your attention. Some stories don't have to be serious or hard-hitting, but it must be interesting to go viral or in other terms "break the internet" with the abundance of online chaos it causes. Let's look at a few cases where social media has come into play into areas of breaking stories, news, and entertainment.


In November of 2013, SEC college football rivals The University of Georgia and Auburn University were gearing up for their annual match-up at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn was coming off a historically bad season in 2012 but with a new coach the team was steadily climbing the rankings. Georgia led by a senior talented quarterback was an odds on favorite to win the game but not many if any could have predicted the finish that would take the internet by storm.

 

Auburn player Ricardo Louis makes remarkable game winning catch to create a viral social media sensation.
(GIF/Photo Credit: gifbin.com)

The tipped pass for a game-winning touchdown soon shot across online and was talked about everywhere online from ecstatic Facebook statuses from those watching the game, live videos from those in attendance, shocked tweets by fans and sports journalist, and of course the eventual GIF's from the popular site BuzzFeed  with memes that soon covered all social media sites. It was something in the sense that "broke the internet" and something that took notice from all over the country.

Auburn Tops Georgia On Instantly Legendary "Marshall Miracle"

Are you kidding me?! posted on November 16, 2013 at 8:17pm EST

Logan Rhoades BuzzFeed Staff posted about 4 months ago

How about the entertainment industry? Social media plays a crucial role in the way movies are marketed, I talked about a few examples in my last blog posting (found here!http://laureltaylor247.blogspot.com/2014/04/smart-phones-tablets-and-social-media.html) but how much does the role of social media really play in the success of the film/project? A few examples might show you the answer.

It's no secret that I love movies so obviously I enjoy keeping up to date on actors and films I can't wait to see in theaters. With the use of social media, I can follow my favorite actors and directors on Twitter and Instagram and with the use of phone apps such as one created by Entertainment Weekly I can find out first hand information as soon as it becomes available. Social media is vital to promoting a film (also albums and television shows), look at the screen next time you are watching your favorite weekly show or checking out a movie trailer on YouTube, chances are you will see hashtags (#) a sign that was created by twitter and is a key tool for promotion. The whole point behind a hashtag is to get trending on Twitter, if your product is trending then enough people are talking or in this case tweeting about the product to get it noticed.

                             (Above: Popular film franchise The Hunger Games hashtag publicity)

Creating hype is a necessity for some films, especially with independent films that may lack the promotional budget of a major blockbuster film. Social media creates a basically free outlet for promoting your product, it's fast and if eye-catching enough will get the effect (aka the attention to your product) that is needed. Eccentric film director Harmony Korine made headlines last spring when his provocative independent film Spring Breakers hit cinemas. The film starred former Disney darlings Vanessa Hudgins and Selena Gomez along with ABC Family starlet Ashley Benson. But, the star who got everyone's attention was none other than acting chameleon James Franco. Photos of Franco surfaced on social media sites including Franco's personal Instagram months before the film's release. Clad in tattoos, dreadlocks, and gold teeth, Franco's character "Alien" came to life and caused quite the stir. With the film's release, social media took notice and many went to see the film just to get an onscreen look at Franco and their thoughts were shared via Twitter, Instagram and the official Facebook page. The film was relatively unknown in terms of publicity until the pictures of James Franco in character surfaced. The film became a cult hit with Franco receiving praise for his role but the film likely would have not created the sensation had it not been for social media.

                                                         

                                               

As we can see social media plays a huge part in society and not limited to any one event. In the last election, both Presidential and Vice President candidates utilized social media and sites encouraged voters to post pictures after they had voted on election day as well as hashtags throughout the election process. Social media is crucial in staying up to date, especially in the world of communications.

Now, as with every aspect of technology there is a downside. You must be careful about what is posted online. Information you put will likely be online even after you deactivate an account and don't forget the magic of a "screen-shot". That negative tweet you wrote after a bad meeting then deleted? A very strong chance your co-workers or boss could have already taken a picture of the tweet via smartphone. Numerous firings have occurred due to inappropriate pictures, sayings, or derogatory posts online. Think about what you are posting, very critical in the case you are mad or upset, the last thing you want is something getting posted and it effecting your work and/or personal life. By now everyone has heard of the term "catfishing", look to former Notre Dame defense star Manti T'eo who became a national laughingstock when it was revealed he had been part of a social media dating story gone wrong when it was essentially exposed he had a fake girlfriend which started online. The event was detrimental to his character and his career. Be smart and be careful when posting any information on social media.

                                                                  

Social media is a wonderful and creative tool that lets you reach millions, used the right way it can be extremely beneficial and fun to use! Join a few sites, learn how to use your accounts, connect with old and new friends because in the end social media is all about connecting.

Do you use social media? What is your favorite form? Are there any stories that you heard about first through social media?

Post your thought below and thanks for reading! Be sure to follow along for more communication related posts!

LT