I follow a lot more people on Twitter than who follow me (Twitter handle @erin_leigh_east in case you want to follow). And I am okay with that considering I am a Twitter novice. But the people and organizations I follow can be broken down into categories. I follow musicians or bands, celebrities, a few friends, news sources, magazines, local businesses, and Lehigh University.
I mostly follow celebrities and bands. Although my news sources are getting up there. I follow Time magazine, Today, Wall Street Journal, and many others. It's nice to look at them and see what stories are running. It helps me to stay connected with the rest of the world. Usually more research is involved, but it's nice to know the current events. As for celebrities, it is all over the board. It ranges from the cast of E! News to Taylor Swift to Olympic athletes. It is for pure entertainment value to follow the celebrities. I especially love when the dance moms tweet live with the show. But it is interesting to see what the celebs endorse and want to bring to the attention of their fans.
Twitter was just starting to become a thing when I was in high school. It is fun to see what they are up to and read their thoughts on Twitter now that we are all out in the world. I only stay in touch with a few of them, but I still follow the ones I am not close with on Twitter. You just never know when they are going to say something good or funny. It is also interesting what goes on on other college campuses.
My favorite local business that I follow is not currently local to me. It is a cupcake shop that is in my hometown. They won Cupcake Wars on Food Network and her cupcakes are delicious! She is always posting pictures or endorsing her business and having giveaways on her Twitter and Facebook. If anyone is ever in West Reading, PA go to Ady Cakes.
There are so many people and organizations to follow for Lehigh University. I follow the Dean of Students, LU Athletics, Bethlehem Police, Asa Packers Ghost and so many others. It is just a good way to stay connected on campus. Someone will let you know what is going on around you.
Twitter has become a fast paced interaction with everyone that I know and don't know, and I am starting to really like it. I am finally getting the hang of it, so hopefully more tweeting can take place!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Mediactive
There is another media class that I am taking in which I am required to read a book called Mediactive by Dan Gillmour. The following link is to a page that he labeled "For Consumers." Some of these points correspond with the class discussion. He gives five really helpful tips for social media consumers. Mr. Gillmour advises that the consumers:
1) Be skeptical of nearly everything
2) Don't be equally skeptical of everything
3) Go outside your comfort zone
4) Ask questions
5) Learn and understand the media techniques
He goes into farther explanation of what each of the above on the list mean in terms of social media use. He says we should be skeptical of everything because no one can ever be sure about others trustworthiness. But don't be as skeptical because there are some sources that are indeed reliable. We just need to scope out those sources and be able to trust them. By going out of your comfort zone you can discover new things and techniques. It can also help to be well informed and help with the seeking out of the reliable sources. Asking questions falls in the category of research, homework and many other things. It allows us to learn and seek out the information we need from the reliable sources, while remaining safe from the untrustworthiness of others. And finally learning the techniques and understanding them helps us, as consumers, how to effectively use the media platforms.
Dan Gillmour's book is full of great advice and pointers for media creators. There is a whole chapter on how to establish "your brand." And how having a "home base" where you build up who you are and update this site frequently to keep people in the know, all while brand building. It is an easy read and I would recommend checking out the link and his site, as well as reading his book. It would be helpful for media creators who want to better understand the many media platforms and how to use them effectively.
For “Consumers”
1) Be skeptical of nearly everything
2) Don't be equally skeptical of everything
3) Go outside your comfort zone
4) Ask questions
5) Learn and understand the media techniques
He goes into farther explanation of what each of the above on the list mean in terms of social media use. He says we should be skeptical of everything because no one can ever be sure about others trustworthiness. But don't be as skeptical because there are some sources that are indeed reliable. We just need to scope out those sources and be able to trust them. By going out of your comfort zone you can discover new things and techniques. It can also help to be well informed and help with the seeking out of the reliable sources. Asking questions falls in the category of research, homework and many other things. It allows us to learn and seek out the information we need from the reliable sources, while remaining safe from the untrustworthiness of others. And finally learning the techniques and understanding them helps us, as consumers, how to effectively use the media platforms.
Dan Gillmour's book is full of great advice and pointers for media creators. There is a whole chapter on how to establish "your brand." And how having a "home base" where you build up who you are and update this site frequently to keep people in the know, all while brand building. It is an easy read and I would recommend checking out the link and his site, as well as reading his book. It would be helpful for media creators who want to better understand the many media platforms and how to use them effectively.
For “Consumers”
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Facebook and Twitter cont.
From reading everyone's blogs, I got the impression that Facebook is used for purely personal reasons. It creates a way to share bigger parts of your life with your friends, such as vacation pictures. Whereas Twitter is used more frequently and to put things out there that may be on your mind in that moment. Or to get instant feedback from your followers. Both of these communications tools offer different means of communicating with others. Some people are Twitter novices, and others Twitter pros. But I feel that everyone has at least an average understanding of Facebook and the way in which it works. I myself have had my Twitter for over a year and am still a Twitter novice. But everyone seems to be getting the hang of social media and is learning by doing.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Facebook vs Twitter
Facebook and Twitter are both tools of communication. They have both evolved and changed and most likely will continue to do so. Personally, I use Facebook much more than I use Twitter. They are both useful for certain things. But both my social media accounts are for entertainment purposes. I use Facebook to catch up with friends and see what they are doing. I can see exactly what they have been up to with the pictures they post, status updates, wall posts, and comments. It is all right there in one spot on my computer screen. Facebook is also a great way to find new friends or people you just met. Sometimes it makes it easier to find something in common with a new friend. Twitter I use for news, and seeing what celebrities are up to. It's also fun to pull up Twitter during any awards shows. It is more of an environment for open conversation. It is more difficult to do so on Facebook. I have more friends on Facebook than I do followers on Twitter.
I post and share more things on Facebook than Twitter. Sometimes I have more to say than what the 140 characters will allow me. But also, because I have more friends on Facebook, more people will see it and more people can catch up with what I am doing, if they choose to do so. Twitter, for me, is not used in this way. I rarely if ever tweet pictures or at all for that matter. I use it more for following and getting some news sources from it. I like to know what is happening in the entertainment field, which is why I originally created a Twitter. But there are only certain times when I check it. I check my Facebook more often than Twitter. Twitter is useful for bringing attention and awareness to certain events or news. It is also funny to see all the witty and funny tweets that are tweeted by the people I follow. Eventually, I will probably get into using Twitter a little more. Maybe not more than Facebook, but more than I use it now.
I post and share more things on Facebook than Twitter. Sometimes I have more to say than what the 140 characters will allow me. But also, because I have more friends on Facebook, more people will see it and more people can catch up with what I am doing, if they choose to do so. Twitter, for me, is not used in this way. I rarely if ever tweet pictures or at all for that matter. I use it more for following and getting some news sources from it. I like to know what is happening in the entertainment field, which is why I originally created a Twitter. But there are only certain times when I check it. I check my Facebook more often than Twitter. Twitter is useful for bringing attention and awareness to certain events or news. It is also funny to see all the witty and funny tweets that are tweeted by the people I follow. Eventually, I will probably get into using Twitter a little more. Maybe not more than Facebook, but more than I use it now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)