Do you believe that social media has increased the quality of news and information or decreased it?

I think that social media is a great addition to our lives and it has improved and increased the spread of information; however, it also has some negative aspects. Social media brought significant changes into the ways that we communicate and retrieve information. Such media is very popular and people benefit from it as it is convenient to use and easily available to everyone. The most significant benefit of using social media is that it is an accessible and inexpensive source of communication that enables unrestricted flow and exchange of information. It allows people to communicate regardless of their global position and to access information and news from the entire world. We no longer have to wait for the evening news because we can now access information or news much quicker via internet.

Despite the fact that social media enables a quick access to different types of information, it is essential to remember that not all information comes from a credible and a reliable source. Information retrieved from social media stems from many different and sometimes unverified sources: therefore, readers need to judge and assess the quality and credibility of the news on a case by case basis, being able to differentiate between facts, opinions, and speculations.  In many cases general people can access social media websites and add own comments and information that are simply based on opinions and individual experiences. As readers we must be fully aware that social media can be both accurate and misleading in information provided. 

With the increase of available information through social media I believe that the quality of information may have increased as readers have more access to various sources and can better determine the validity of the news and information reported. This may also allow readers to form better decisions in regards to the quality and credibility of information posted. If approached with caution and awareness I do believe that readers now have access to more quality based information.

What is your perception of social media, do you think it is a fad or the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution?

In my opinion social media is one the biggest shifts since the industrial revolution. Social media is something that will always evolve because it is another way to of communication. They are used for many things like finding old friends, meeting new people, and staying in touch with family. Not only is it used for creeping on other peoples lives but as long as there is a platform for people to promote themselves and their businesses, it will be ever lasting. Photos are taken, videos are posted, and you are able to see conversations between members. This brings more interest into knowing more about a person’s life without them telling you. As technology gets upgraded so will social media, it will never get old. You can definitely compare this with the technology of the cellular phones. There was a time when you would communicate with a pager, then cam the cell phone but in a very large form but it was used to communicate with others. Then the phones got smaller and it went form calling to text messaging. Now days cell phones are known to be the hand held computers. You could click one button to call your mother, you click another you are texting a friend, and then you double click an icon you can read what message your sister has left on your wall. My friend pages, hi5, black planet, wire, vibe and my space all had their time when they were at the top of social networks. When it came down to it, there was always one upgrading its features and becoming the dominant one. Pretty soon facebook will completely be overshadowed by twitter because of how much more access to information you will have to peoples lives. Social media will stay on top world wide for as long as people stay interested.

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