Social_Media

Social Media Easily Obtainable Information Easily obtained information is just that, easily obtained. Today information is just a mouse point and click away. Developments over the course of the past two decades have made the Internet virtually a part of our lives. It is an indispensable tool we have come to rely upon for communication and information. The Internet offers information on everything from A-Z. When a student is conducting research they no longer has to spend time reading an entire book. Instead they can simply go to the computer, type in a few key words and they are presented with a plethora of information on any given subject. This is a major advantage to anyone, especially that student searching for specific information or just out of curiosity. Years ago information was compiled in encyclopedias. They were sold by the set and could cost upwards of thousand dollars. These sets of books are rarely found in homes today because the Internet provides an unlimited amount of information. This easily obtained information also has a few disadvantages. The first and most important is accuracy. Information on the Internet can be obtained by anyone with a computer, anyone. The potential for posting false information is very high. Another disadvantage that goes hand-in-hand with inaccuracy of information is the information could be untrue. The Internet has many sources containing false information. Verifying the source is the best way to avoid the pitfalls of inaccuracies and false information. This is done by checking the website address for starters. Using the address is better because the name may not always be useful in establishing the site’s credibility (Pacific, 2002). Even though we make attempts to verify information, there are still situations in which the user has little control over the information generated by others. Social media is a classic example of one such situation. Social Media Advantages According to "Wikipedia-Social Media" (n.d.), "Social media refers to the means of interactions among people in which they create, share, and exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. It introduces substantial and pervasive changes to communication between organizations, communities and individuals” (Social media). Knowing the true definition of social media helps identify the advantages and disadvantages. Social media can be an asset as well as a liability if it is not used properly. Some of the advantages of social media include the use of social media for marketing products. Marketing products a social media can create a cost-effective strategy that can save valuable dollars in their advertising budget. Social media can help drive traffic to a website, blog or articles. People from different geographic locations are brought together to support and promote products, causes, and ideas by allowing them to meet in cyberspace. Groups of friends from different parts of the world can meet and have discussions about issues common to the group without occupying the same physical space. Social media marketing can be a fun and creative method of doing business. Businesses often offer discounted services to customers who visit their social media sites. Social media can offer a wider range of advantages based on the needs of the individual visiting a particular site. Even with the advantages offered by social media, there are also disadvantages to using social media ("10 Must-Know Advantages And Disadvantages Of Social Media", n.d.). Social Media Disadvantages Social media can be an interesting and beneficial aspect of doing business and life in general. The disadvantages of social media cannot be ignored. Overuse of social media can create problems for all involved. The disadvantages include larger time commitments when using certain marketing techniques. People sometimes use social media without thorough understanding of how it works, and when to use it. They also fail to choose the right channels on which to focus. Work productivity is often negatively affected by the use of social media. Employees have been known to waste valuable time using social media during work hours. People have used social media to the extent that it has caused harm to individuals both mentally and physically. This can occur when users of social media participate in or are the victims of cyber-bullying ("10 Must-Know Advantages And Disadvantages Of Social Media", n.d.). When social media is used responsibly these situations can often be avoided. This responsible use of social media can only happen when people are aware of these advantages and disadvantages. When users make themselves aware of the pros and cons of using social media, they are more likely to be responsible social media consumers. Responsible users of social media are less likely to abuse the concept; they are also less likely to participate in harmful behaviors that can often occur through misuse of social media. Business owners who are aware of these advantages and disadvantages are more likely to maximize the benefits of social media concerning their businesses. Responsible use can also affect information generated by social media sites. This information can affect Internet credibility. Internet Credibility Credibility issues can arise when a user is unfamiliar with the subject they are researching. When a person is unfamiliar with the subject it is in their best interests to research multiple sources in order to verify the accuracy of the information. There is a multitude of credible sources on the Internet. There are also many sources of untrue information. These credibility issues can be avoided by following a few simple suggestions. When accessing information on the Internet go to sources that are credible. This can be done by researching the author when they come across a paper or an article in a website or blog, check the publication date. Information published by an academic journal will likely be more credible than an opinion page of a news website. They can also look at the source’s source (Manda, 1999- 2013). When there are questions concerning information found on the Internet, uses should follow these suggestions to verify their sources. References 10 must-know advantages and disadvantages of social media. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://blog.thoughtpick.com/2010/11/10-must-know-advantages-disadvantages-of-social-media.html Pacific, S. I. (2002). Features – getting it right: verifying sources on the net. Retrieved from http://www.llrx.com/features/verifying.htm Wikipedia-social media. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media