In our lifetime, we will probably see the complete or close to complete extinction of newspapers. We will also see a shift in radio and televsion and we better be ready for it.
Already, the traditional media outlets have moved from just being one medium to being online as well. Television stations now have websites, the news anchors have blogs, and the audience can comment on the stories as they are posted.
We have already seen newspapers like the Rocky Mountain News stop printing and move entirely online. Journalists have blogs and twitter accounts and are updating more than they are writing stories.
The traditional mediums are being changed by the internet. We opt to get our information from sources online. We no longer find a way to be home in time for the six o'clock news. We have Blackberry's that stream us the most up-to-date news stories or iPhone applications that let us know the weather with the touch of an application.
There is no doubt we will continue to see changes in traditional media. What is doubtful is how much the old mediums will stay the same while newer, faster, better mediums are emerging.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
"You say you want a revolution.."
"...Well you know, we all want to change the world."
The Beatles knew it in the sixties. They wrote a song about it. Revolution that is.
I happen to be talking about a social networking revolution. Sure, it's a little different that the one Paul, John, Ringo, and George were singing about, but the lyrics still apply.
In the last couple of years social networking sites have really taken off. Boasting over 100 million users, MySpace was one of the first social networking sites to really catch on. Not soon after, Facebook followed. Created by Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard student, the site first allowed people in ivy league colleges to be 'friends'. The site now allows anyone over the age of 13 to be a user and boasts over 200 million users worldwide. That's a pretty big network.
The newest site to hit the social networking world is Twitter. A micro-blogging site that allows users to follow others and tweet about their lives has quickly become the 3rd biggest social networking site - right behind Facebook and MySpace. The site has attracted users like President Obama, Ellen Degeneres, Oprah, and Larry King.
All of the above social networking sites have changed the world. They have given us the ability to connect to people in other countries and share news and stories with them. Although the population of these sites is huge, it makes the world seem smaller and more connected.
The Beatles knew it in the sixties. They wrote a song about it. Revolution that is.
I happen to be talking about a social networking revolution. Sure, it's a little different that the one Paul, John, Ringo, and George were singing about, but the lyrics still apply.
In the last couple of years social networking sites have really taken off. Boasting over 100 million users, MySpace was one of the first social networking sites to really catch on. Not soon after, Facebook followed. Created by Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard student, the site first allowed people in ivy league colleges to be 'friends'. The site now allows anyone over the age of 13 to be a user and boasts over 200 million users worldwide. That's a pretty big network.
The newest site to hit the social networking world is Twitter. A micro-blogging site that allows users to follow others and tweet about their lives has quickly become the 3rd biggest social networking site - right behind Facebook and MySpace. The site has attracted users like President Obama, Ellen Degeneres, Oprah, and Larry King.
All of the above social networking sites have changed the world. They have given us the ability to connect to people in other countries and share news and stories with them. Although the population of these sites is huge, it makes the world seem smaller and more connected.
jump, jump, jump...
The term gatejumper seems rather significant when you think about it. A gatejumper is saying "screw the old way, i'm just going to create my own way." This holds true for a lot of different mediums in today's society.
I think the place this happens most is on blogging sites like blogger, or wordpress. YouTube has also had a significant effect on the gatekeepers. Itunes now has a place where unknown artists can upload their music for all itunes users to buy. Incredible. With those three mediums we have skipped over the editors and publishers, the producers and directors, and the music labels. There is no climbing a ladder for gatejumpers. They simply hop over it.
The effect from all this 'jumping' is a lot of user-generated content. There are thousands and thousands of videos on YouTube that are not seen as masterpieces. However, there are those people like Gary Vaynerchuck that use videos to become famous.
In the music industry, Colby Callait started on MySpace and is now singed to a major label.
There are ways to get yourself out there, you just have to be creative in using them.
I think the place this happens most is on blogging sites like blogger, or wordpress. YouTube has also had a significant effect on the gatekeepers. Itunes now has a place where unknown artists can upload their music for all itunes users to buy. Incredible. With those three mediums we have skipped over the editors and publishers, the producers and directors, and the music labels. There is no climbing a ladder for gatejumpers. They simply hop over it.
The effect from all this 'jumping' is a lot of user-generated content. There are thousands and thousands of videos on YouTube that are not seen as masterpieces. However, there are those people like Gary Vaynerchuck that use videos to become famous.
In the music industry, Colby Callait started on MySpace and is now singed to a major label.
There are ways to get yourself out there, you just have to be creative in using them.
Let's get political.
I don't think there is a better person to mention when talking about technologies and social media than President Obama.
The race for The White House was a full on social media explosion. During the race, not only did Obama have an active Twitter page, but he also had a Facebook page, his own website, and an iPhone application. That's right folks, an iPhone application for his race to The White House.
For the first time in history, a presidential candidate used the internet like never before. Currently, Obama has 1,131,273 followers on Twitter, and 6,265,520 people are supporters of his page on Facebook.
The use of social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter really allowed Obama to make a connection with Generation Y. We use these medias everyday, so we are more likely to pay attention to Obama's Facebook page than we are a televised speech.
Sure, it helped Obama get into The White House, but once there the networking has not stopped. Obama is the only president in history to be allowed a Blackberry. It looks like his emailing addiction won't be cut short by an intervention anytime soon.
The race for The White House was a full on social media explosion. During the race, not only did Obama have an active Twitter page, but he also had a Facebook page, his own website, and an iPhone application. That's right folks, an iPhone application for his race to The White House.
For the first time in history, a presidential candidate used the internet like never before. Currently, Obama has 1,131,273 followers on Twitter, and 6,265,520 people are supporters of his page on Facebook.
The use of social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter really allowed Obama to make a connection with Generation Y. We use these medias everyday, so we are more likely to pay attention to Obama's Facebook page than we are a televised speech.
Sure, it helped Obama get into The White House, but once there the networking has not stopped. Obama is the only president in history to be allowed a Blackberry. It looks like his emailing addiction won't be cut short by an intervention anytime soon.
Accessability...
Everything is now at our fingertips. If we can't find it on our phone, our computers are just feet away loaded with everything we might ever need to know.
Of course technology is going to make advances for us and make life easier, but is this really what we want? A world where instant gratification is the only way we will be satisfied?
I am all for technology and how it enhances my life. I like having the ability to text Google and get an answer right away. But are we becoming too dependent on our iPhones and Blackberries?
With applications for everything imaginable, it seems like our handhelds are becoming our lives.
I bet a lot of people didn't know that the Guinness Book of World Records has a texting record. Yep, a texting record. Check out the story here. It's amazing to see how people are using all the technologies we are coming up with and it will be interesting to see how we develop with technology over time.
Of course technology is going to make advances for us and make life easier, but is this really what we want? A world where instant gratification is the only way we will be satisfied?
I am all for technology and how it enhances my life. I like having the ability to text Google and get an answer right away. But are we becoming too dependent on our iPhones and Blackberries?
With applications for everything imaginable, it seems like our handhelds are becoming our lives.
I bet a lot of people didn't know that the Guinness Book of World Records has a texting record. Yep, a texting record. Check out the story here. It's amazing to see how people are using all the technologies we are coming up with and it will be interesting to see how we develop with technology over time.
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