In Your “Face”

Recently while aimlessly watching Food Network, which sadly comsumes a large part of my life, I came accross a very interesting commercial…

Hope you thought it was as peculiar as I did that this was a commercial for Dentyne gum, but thats besides the point. Its pretty cool huh? So this led me to start thinking about social responsibility and if we were more responsible for our interactions in social settings before all the technology (computers, cell phones, etc.) or more responsible after when so many outlets are available to us?

Take for example the movie trailer for  He’s Just Not That Into You
where Drew Barrymore is excited that a guy myspaced her, to which her male colleague then responds that “myspace is the new booty call” . After seeing this and thinking that its probably true (good thing I don’t have myspace :)), I came to the conclusion that we are held accountable for every move and decision when it comes to social media now adays. Before, if he didn’t call, he didn’t call, end of story. But now, he could text you, myspace you, facebook you, etc. How available we have become!

So what do you think? Think we were more responsible for our interactions when all we had was a home phone to call and plan a soiree with a few friends? Or are we more responsible now when one can invite you through a facebook event or text you to remind you and make last minte plans?

Response to Online Applications

Tonight I explored 50 Online Applications and Sites to Consider by Chris Brogan.  I feel like I must first start out by saying… WOW I am utterly amazed by the vast amount of social media applications out there. It also amazed me how so many people are connecting in so many different ways, technology in this sense is truly brilliant.

Some cool sites I did not know about or use:

• plurk- “social journal”
• seesmic- video conversations
• digg- creates competition and gives stats
• librarything- connect, share, and read books with others
• twitter search- type in keyword to find conversations
• skitch- copy/paste images right from a browser window!!
• vimeo- had some really cool videos

Sites I knew and loved:

• facebook- popular social networking
• twitter-create conversations
• wordpress- where I blog
• delicious- still exploring this actually, but like it so far…
• pandora- I have this on my phone and am in love forever, my Justin Nozuka radio station is my favorite
• youtube- who couldn’t love this, so many interesting videos

Sites I did not like (mostly because they were not what I have listed below):

• sphinn- looks cheap and like it contains many advertisements
• readdit- too messy

Things I found helpful on new sites:

• When the “about” or information on a certain website is easily seen or accessible.
• When they state how they are different.
• When it is evident they are connected to other sites.
• Most of all, when they are well organized and not overcrowded and messy.

A couple of questions developed while I was looking at these sites:

1. What is a good basic definition of hosting, I’m kind of confused here?
2. Why are such sites as twitter, delicious, myspace, and facebook so popular?

BB Readings: Sept. 25th

The first blog that I checked out for our blackboard readings today is Katie Paine’s blog on measuring PR.  I think one of the main posts that interested me the most was the post linking me to the information on how social media is used by nearly 70% of adults.  I found this post very interesting because it points out that there are so many different forms of social media out there today.  I was thinking with a narrow mind because I was only thinking of the new arenas that I have learned about in class such as twitter, blogs, and PROpenmic. Outside of these outlets are facebook, youtube, and even ebay that I was not even considering because I participate in them so regularly.

On that note, we also read Paull Young’s post on his Charity:water social media case study.  One point that Paull noted was that facebook was far less effective than twitter and I think the very fact that I took facebook for granted as social media in the before paragraph is a good indication why this outlett was uneffective for the case study.  To embellish, I go to facebook every now and then, maybe not even every day just to see if someone has written on my wall or posted pictures of me etc. because I do not recieve emails, or I might visit the site for a specific reason, like to message someone for example.  The only time I look at birthdays is if I have some free time and see the link on the side. More particularly, on the new facebook it is even harder to find the birthdays so I am not as accustomed to this.  With twitter, on the other hand, all it is composed of is the statuses of different people so that is what I am going there to find and to view, plus it is not complicated and is updated regularly for me.  Therefore, I enjoyed this post and the information found between facebook and twitter. Lets hope all social media does not grow this “lazy” with me…

“I’m only brave in text”

Lately I have been noticing a trend… whether good or bad I will let you decide. Here is what has been on my mind on the subject of bravery in text.

Whether it be through blogs, facebook, instant messaging, twittering, or even text messages people are becoming “brave” through these outlets. Many feel able to express their “true selves” and ideas through the sources listed above. Why? Maybe we are more willing to address someone if we cannot see how they can physically and emotionaly react… or maybe we’re just tired of being in a bubble and these are our vices?

Now, how does this begin to affect PR I’m beginning to wonder? Are companies going to be more willing to say in text and blog they are one way but truly be a different company when they come into contact with a human being?

Let me know your thoughts, I’m finding this topic very interesting…