Information Networks or Social Networks?

About a year ago Twitter came out with a statement saying that they are not a social network but instead they are a information network. The company even changed their question to Twitter users' status from "what are you doing?" to "whats happening?". I personally like the shift in their network image and think it is a great change to make. According to the article I found, Twitter might have some competition. Facebook and Google+ have been making some changes of their own as well. They both created more opportunities for users to release information and have open discussions with their networks. The only problem with this competition is that Twitter does not have a as many users as these two companies have. It puts more pressure on Twitter to really get their users active on using the network for information and discussions with their peers. I don't think that the threat is as large as the article makes it out to be, but I also believe that Twitter should not put their guard down. People today are already naturally going to social media with current issues and opinions and what ever way that the networks can get us more actively involved, I think will truly change the way we view social media.

Link: http://readwrite.com/2011/09/27/twitter_information_network_strategy_under_pressure

A Changing Media: Social Media is IN!

It seems to me that social media is now the "go to" outlet for any political activism. There are millions of people who are on social media today. Our social media serves as our voice and has a strong impact on how we communicate our message out to people. Even today when we watch the news, we are constantly seeing twitter, Facebook, and other social media names for the network or news reporter. These outlets want us to follow on social media because they know that the majority of their viewers are highly active on social media. In this article it talks a lot about some social media failures and tactics that are used today. I like how the article highlighted the good and the bad. One thing I do know is that the message was clear. Social media is on the rise and is taking leadership in our political communication outlets. I personally like that social media is being used so actively because it shows that more people are being reached and we are able to get more active members with political activism. I have listed the link to the article below, let me know what you think!

link: http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/67038/clay-shirky/the-political-power-of-social-media

Everyone can be Media: Don't shoot!

     On Saturday August 9th 2014, 18 year old Michael Brown from Ferguson, Missouri was shot to death by a Ferguson police officer. The family and community were outraged and hurt by this death and found a variety of ways to express their emotions. Many in the city started looting local stores and peaceful protests turned violent. One act that struck media outlets in a more positive light on the case was when universities around the nation started their "Don't Shoot" protests. These protests consisted of students and sometimes younger children gathered around for a protest with their hands up in the air. This was the last gesture shown by Michael Brown before being gunned down by police. Each university would hold this gesture for a photo and later post it to social media and other media sources to raise awareness on police brutality. Many news outlets reported about these students efforts on bringing light to the issue at hand. This type of protest had so much influence that even celebrities began to form their own A-list groups for a don't shoot photo as well. Some news channels were even reporting that people from difference countries joined in the protest. I personally participated in the Kennesaw State NAACP's Don't Shoot silent protest. This just shows that if you have the right number of people who care about the same issues you do, then together you can make a difference and together you can move a nation.

For more information on the Michael Brown case and protests click the link below.

http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/riot-police-tear-gas-pro-democracy-demonstrators-hong-kong