the branches » Facebook

The “Dark Side” of Social Media

Al Admire — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:49:11 +0000

Lately we’ve all heard the ramblings of politicos, on both sides of the aisle, who are using Twitter, Facebook and other outlets to share their opinions, (no matter how outrageous or untrue), with the broad audience known as the ‘twitter nation.’ It seems they have grabbed social media by the throat and are using it to place themselves in the center of a national debate on really important issues such as healthcare reform, the national deficit, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan – you name it and they have an opinion, (usually the more outlandish and attention-grabbing the better). The problem is that, as much as they would like to think otherwise, these comments are debate – they are statements made in a ‘one way’ environment where they have no responsibility to explain their positions, answer any questions or provide explanations. They are the electronic equivalent of graffiti.

It is the easiest thing in the world for me to go to Twitter and, within 140 characters, announce that I have just been abducted by aliens and that they come in peace to save our world, (only if I’m installed as Supreme Being, by the way). But since I posted this declaration in a social media space I don’t have to explain the alien’s plans; share how they got here or where they are from; show why I’m the only one who can see them – I don’t have to be responsible for anything pertaining to what I’ve said. That’s the down-side of one way communication. Now, I really don’t think many people would take my claim very seriously, (since I’m prone to delusions of grandeur, or so says my Psychologist), but if I was a Congressman, Senator, radio talk show host, religious leader, or TV pundit – you know, people we all used to respect and whose opinions we valued – and I used social media to talk about fear instead of solutions or ideologies instead of ideas, I could probably influence a lot of people in our nation to become afraid, angry, unfocused, and hopeless – without being responsible for explaining myself or looking at how these type of statements do more harm than good.

I guess my point is, when it comes to social media, go ahead and embrace it, use it, love it – just don’t believe everything you read. Not everyone is as reasonable, balanced and well intentioned as you or I. And don’t forget – look to the sky, the time is nigh upon us, which is why I’m having my crown fitted tomorrow. Why wait ‘til the last minute?

I Remember When…

Al Admire — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:22:23 +0000

I just spent a good part of my afternoon learning about social media – Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. Since I’m over 50 this is an entirely new world for me.

When our social media folks told me that I could “tweet” in real time from my phone – and be “re-tweeted” across the internet (if I had something interesting to say, that is) as well as instantly linked to my Facebook account – they said I looked at them like they told me that aliens had just landed on the front lawn.

The next thing you know we’ll have the technology to watch one TV show while recording another…

[Photo Credit: Mytypewriter.com]

Revolution

Kathleen Souder — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:30:10 +0000

A bastion of traditional newsmedia, the New York Times reports that the Iranian government has formally shut down journalists’ ability to report on the unrest in the streets. In the absence (and actually, even despite of and before) traditional journalism, social media fills in.

Andrew Sullivan’s blog has served up an almost-constant feed of news items and eye-witness reports from Tehran, and one bone-chilling post in particular highlights the power of social media. A student protester in Iran uses Facebook to post videos of the aftermath of an attack, one video after another showing a first-person account of the blood, the chaos, the death that surrounds him.

Its a terrifying reality that some Iranians are living right now, as I sit and type nine time zones away. But its one that deserves attention and recognition, as the living-room wars give way to the mobile revolutions.