Week 13: "Social Media"

This week was all about social media and it seems like it has take over everywhere. 6 or 7 years ago I remember people starting up thier MySpace accounts and finding long lost friends, then Youtube blew up along with Facebook. There is not a business out there that I could think of that doesn't have some sort of social media type of marketing or other form. Well my buisness doesn't. My company has been around since 1945 doing retirement insurance for non profit organizations all across the US and are always 10 years behind when it comes to technology. You would think they would get with the program when they have 500,000 clients. Who knows they could have 1 million by now...

This weeks topic of social media was very clear seeing how there isn't one person I know who doesn't have a clue what it is. There are jobs now for many organizations that are titled "social media specialist" and others of course. I didn't know the differnce between Web 2.0 and Web 1.0 and even what peer production was or is.. Well, peer production is "the ability for anyone to put content on the web and to work collaboratively to create that content." I thought that was just Web 2.0, I feel I am a little left behind with my company because a year ago when I was taking the business writing class they talked about Web 2.0 and I was like what the heck is that?

I personally think one of the biggest apects of social media is not just sharing pictures and videos. I think marketing is one of the valuable tools of social media. Every time I go to watch a Youtube video there is some 30 second advertisment. Or like when I open up facebook and there are ads all over the page. It seems this is a better way to get products and services out there since all of America records television and fast forwards through all the commercials. Advertsing and marketing is how these major companies stay in business and offer free stuff so its cool. Like Gmail and facebook which I use daily, its nice that they are free and I can deal with the ads and stuff.


I didnt know what Web 2.0 was about a year ago becasue I guess I just paid no attention to it but I found this video on Youtube that might help you with more of a understanding. With permission the standard Youtube license.