He said:
Our generation has become infatuated by social media. Everywhere you look there are people sharing their lives through the Internet. It is extremely easy to get confused amidst all the various forms, so I’m here to clear up any confusion and allow you to discover which one is best for you.
The first type of social media to make its way onto the scene was Myspace. Cool during the early years of high school, Myspace has now changed management and is solely the butt of jokes. Claiming to target the “music industry,” Myspace is in reality now only used by 40-year-old pedophiles and moms who are epically failing in trying to be “cool.” But alas, the days of scouring Google for the coolest backgrounds are over now that Facebook has taken the scene.
Starting from the later days of high school, Facebook has exponentially grown to become the premier social networking site. It is always there for you when you are bored out of your mind 15 minutes into that Tuesday/Thursday 8:00 a.m. It always finds a way to be the first window opened when you get to your seat at the math emporium.
What is the appeal of Facebook? Everyone is on it. If Facebook were a country, it would be the third most populated. Coincidentally, it would also be the most unproductive country in the world. If you don’t have a Facebook, there is a good chance you either don’t exist or think you are too cool for it. Through what seems to be weekly changes to the format and fads such as “Farmville,” Facebook has held strong as the go-to social network.
Relatively new to the scene but making a massive impact is Twitter. For those who are unaware, a tweet is a 140 character-or-less blurb describing your current state or emotion. You may be wondering what the difference is between a tweet and a Facebook status update.
Believe it or not, it is actually socially acceptable for someone to post a countless number of tweets throughout the day, even though doing so on Facebook will surely cause you to lose friends. Where else can one find out what Lady Gaga is up to on an hourly basis?
Many are reluctant to get a Twitter because they feel their lives are not exciting enough to tell the world what they are doing. False. Everything from “Logan Thomas just made Miami his #bitch” to “These lines at West End are #rediklous” is acceptable. See, it’s that easy. Just give it a try and in no time, you’ll be hashtagging things in daily speech.
Next is Google+. Users of this site claim they are “futurists,” but in reality they are just people who never got the memo that Google+ didn’t actually work out.
This Facebook wannabe launched by the Internet mogul was supposed to be the next big thing, but it never caught on. While there is still a chance Google+ may succeed, you don’t want to be that one friend that still thinks it’s cool to use it. If you actually log on, you will see that the news feed is probably filled with worthless posts by the same one or two people. Don’t be that person.
Finally, there is the blog. This is for the socialite who wants everyone to know what is on his or her mind, but cannot fit it within the constraints of Twitter.
Blogs can encompass everything from sports to fashion to life’s daily adventures. What makes blogging superior to some of the previously mentioned forms is the unlimited amount of space to fill with your thoughts and stories.
My personal favorite is Tumblr, which is essentially blogging with a hipster twist. Blogging takes a decent amount of commitment, so only tread those waters if you are a relatively serious about letting the world know your thoughts.
I could have gotten this article done about three times faster if I was not connected to the Internet, but I consistently found myself checking my Twitter and Facebook.
Social media is a double-edged sword because it does amazing things for networking, informing and marketing, but it also has the power to destroy productivity and waste hours of your life. It encompasses both the present and the future and must be embraced going forth.
A version of this article appeared in the Oct 14 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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Feature article.... or opinion?
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"Next is Google+. Users of this site claim they are “futurists,” but in reality they are just people who never got the memo that Google+ didn’t actually work out.
This Facebook wannabe launched by the Internet mogul was supposed to be the next big thing, but it never caught on. While there is still a chance Google+ may succeed, you don’t want to be that one friend that still thinks it’s cool to use it. If you actually log on, you will see that the news feed is probably filled with worthless posts by the same one or two people. Don’t be that person."
Nice and professional for a "feature" article.
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Why is it She Said: She Said again
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"Next is Google+. Users of this site claim they are “futurists,” but in reality they are just people who never got the memo that Google+ didn’t actually work out."
Way to be sipping the Facebook cool aid. I've been using Facebook since 2006 before it became a "fad" and it was actually pretty cool back then. It started to suck around 2009 though.
Wake up! Facebook is on it's way out if they keep up with their anti-privacy quests, forced UI changes and selling out it's users info to business. They need to listen to their users or they will die. Perhaps it's for the best so people can actually start interacting in person again and a "friend" isn't just another number to your list.
At least Google+ has it's own unique circles idea and has privacy options. Something Facebook is now trying to copy.
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