I'd like to follow up on Charles' post about Netflix and the future of television. I absolutely can see Netflix becoming the future of television. It has all of the good characteristics of television without all the negative ones. Think about it. No commercials, no having to plan food/bathroom breaks, no waiting, and my personal favorite feature: it goes straight into the next episode of the show you're watching when your episode is over! You know me so well Netflix. It also gives you more options than television. This is great, because now that there are no more Blockbusters, it's become pretty difficult to find movies out there that aren't new (especially if you're like me and can't risk streaming movies because you don't own a Mac--not that I would anyway, right...)
Where else can we find those great shows that somehow have remained under the radar like Arrested Development? Maybe there are certain sites that I am not aware of that have complete seasons of shows, but certainly Netflix is the most well-known.
If not for everyone, Netflix is definitely the future of television for me. As a college student without a television, Netflix constitutes the majority of my television-watching experience. I'd vote for it any day.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Social Businesses
There is yet another reason for businesses to take advantage of social media, and it comes in the form of a contest!
Capitol One Spark is hosting a contest for America's most social small business. Not only does using social media help get your business's name out there, but now it helps you win contests (which, of course, puts your name out there even more). The winner of this contest gets a profile done on their business by Mashable.
The contest grades businesses on a few different social points:
- Twitter presence
- Facebook presence
- the use of images (like Instagram and Pinterest)
- the ability of the business to develop a brand voice through social media
We find out the winner on March 18! Until then, it should be interesting to note how small business' presence on social media changes or grows.
Capitol One Spark is hosting a contest for America's most social small business. Not only does using social media help get your business's name out there, but now it helps you win contests (which, of course, puts your name out there even more). The winner of this contest gets a profile done on their business by Mashable.
The contest grades businesses on a few different social points:
- Twitter presence
- Facebook presence
- the use of images (like Instagram and Pinterest)
- the ability of the business to develop a brand voice through social media
We find out the winner on March 18! Until then, it should be interesting to note how small business' presence on social media changes or grows.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
What Can We Really Do About Trolling?
It is a depressing fact that women with opinions on social media tend to have a much worse time than men, and the Ted talk we watched yesterday about social media trolling got me thinking about how we should deal with this.
It's hard to tell what the best response to trolls on the internet is. A counter-strike? Or silence? Steph Guthrie argues for the "don't feed the trolls" approach, and she makes a very valid argument. Through social media, we can become more connected than ever and join forces against bigots and misogynists and the like.
That being said, I can't help but wonder how much that backlash actually affects certain world views and the people that hold them. The guy that created that horrible interactive virtual game to beat up the woman obviously had not changed his opinions even after all the social media activity surrounding Guthrie's posts about his gross behavior. I don't mean to sound cynical. I'm not a feminist--obviously, I still find the threats and comments that Guthrie received horrifying--but I don't know if even the power of social media can change misogynist views like that man's.
I think it depends on the situation what sort of response (or lack thereof) would be best to deal with any type of online bullying or threats. There were people who went to my high school that I used to be Facebook friends with who posted racist or just ignorant statuses, and it got to the point where I realized that I had no idea why I was still Facebook friends with them when every one of their comments just made me angry. In that case, I knew I wasn't going to start an argument over Facebook, so I just de-friended them and that was that. Social media serves as a strong tool that can help people realize how many others are behind them in support, like Guthrie, but it makes me wonder what real change that can make in the world. I think there are always going to be people out there who hold ignorant and backwards views, and there isn't much we can do about that except take their comments with a grain of salt and focus on the rest of the morally sound world.
It's hard to tell what the best response to trolls on the internet is. A counter-strike? Or silence? Steph Guthrie argues for the "don't feed the trolls" approach, and she makes a very valid argument. Through social media, we can become more connected than ever and join forces against bigots and misogynists and the like.
That being said, I can't help but wonder how much that backlash actually affects certain world views and the people that hold them. The guy that created that horrible interactive virtual game to beat up the woman obviously had not changed his opinions even after all the social media activity surrounding Guthrie's posts about his gross behavior. I don't mean to sound cynical. I'm not a feminist--obviously, I still find the threats and comments that Guthrie received horrifying--but I don't know if even the power of social media can change misogynist views like that man's.
I think it depends on the situation what sort of response (or lack thereof) would be best to deal with any type of online bullying or threats. There were people who went to my high school that I used to be Facebook friends with who posted racist or just ignorant statuses, and it got to the point where I realized that I had no idea why I was still Facebook friends with them when every one of their comments just made me angry. In that case, I knew I wasn't going to start an argument over Facebook, so I just de-friended them and that was that. Social media serves as a strong tool that can help people realize how many others are behind them in support, like Guthrie, but it makes me wonder what real change that can make in the world. I think there are always going to be people out there who hold ignorant and backwards views, and there isn't much we can do about that except take their comments with a grain of salt and focus on the rest of the morally sound world.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Innovative Apps
Just in case anyone is looking for some new apps, here are a few that might make your life a little easier...or cuter...or both.
I've gotta say, my favorite is the one that tells you the best time to go to the bathroom in a movie. How has nobody thought of that yet!? It's just so practical. That is a universally understood plight: being in a movie theater and regretting that large coke purchase but not wanting to miss the best part of the movie. Brilliant.
For the travelers out there, the app Translate would be a must-have. It can translate over 70 languages for you!
And of course, who wouldn't want the weather app that softens the disappointment of horrible forecasts with a cute puppy or kitten? You have to get through the day somehow.
All jokes aside, it really is amazing how many different ideas there are out there that can make boring, every-day things easier or more fun and interesting. Innovative apps like these show how media provides an outlet for creative and useful ideas so that not just individuals, but multiple people can benefit.
I've gotta say, my favorite is the one that tells you the best time to go to the bathroom in a movie. How has nobody thought of that yet!? It's just so practical. That is a universally understood plight: being in a movie theater and regretting that large coke purchase but not wanting to miss the best part of the movie. Brilliant.
For the travelers out there, the app Translate would be a must-have. It can translate over 70 languages for you!
And of course, who wouldn't want the weather app that softens the disappointment of horrible forecasts with a cute puppy or kitten? You have to get through the day somehow.
All jokes aside, it really is amazing how many different ideas there are out there that can make boring, every-day things easier or more fun and interesting. Innovative apps like these show how media provides an outlet for creative and useful ideas so that not just individuals, but multiple people can benefit.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Overwhelmed by Technology
This post is a little bit more of an inner monologue kind of deal, but I just wanted to post it and see if anyone else is in the same boat as me.
So, since our first day in class, I've been thinking more and more about media and technology in general, and I'm wondering if anyone else is a bit overwhelmed. Personally, I'm just baffled by how people even find out about what's going on with social media, or even just new apps and games for your iPhone. I'm starting to feel a little curmudgeon-y.
It got me thinking, though. Why am I so behind-the-times all the time? I think a lot of it has to do with the ability to personalize and customize our social media and technology. We can customize our phones, how we get news, all of these new ways to put ourselves and our interests into our technology. Even your Instagram or Twitter page says a lot about who you are based on what you post.
I just don't like doing that. It doesn't interest me to make everything so personalized. Perfect example: I've had my same computer since I came to UNC and the background is still the standardized one it comes with. My room doesn't have much on the walls either; I just don't see the point in decorating until I'm living in an actual house!
I guess my point is, does anyone else feel bombarded by a seemingly endless amount of choices and new ways to customize our technology? Maybe I'm a little intimidated by the amount of possibilities out there...or maybe I'm just lazy?
So, since our first day in class, I've been thinking more and more about media and technology in general, and I'm wondering if anyone else is a bit overwhelmed. Personally, I'm just baffled by how people even find out about what's going on with social media, or even just new apps and games for your iPhone. I'm starting to feel a little curmudgeon-y.
It got me thinking, though. Why am I so behind-the-times all the time? I think a lot of it has to do with the ability to personalize and customize our social media and technology. We can customize our phones, how we get news, all of these new ways to put ourselves and our interests into our technology. Even your Instagram or Twitter page says a lot about who you are based on what you post.
I just don't like doing that. It doesn't interest me to make everything so personalized. Perfect example: I've had my same computer since I came to UNC and the background is still the standardized one it comes with. My room doesn't have much on the walls either; I just don't see the point in decorating until I'm living in an actual house!
I guess my point is, does anyone else feel bombarded by a seemingly endless amount of choices and new ways to customize our technology? Maybe I'm a little intimidated by the amount of possibilities out there...or maybe I'm just lazy?
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Faithful to our Phones
We talked in class Monday about what we would do if we didn't have our phones while walking back from class. This brings up a really interesting point. I mean, do you say hey to people? Do you zone out and ignore your surroundings? Do you count the seconds until you can get back to your phone? Or do you actually appreciate the break from technology?
It made me think about my NOLS trip during the summer of my sophomore year of high school. I went with a group of kids my age to go backpacking in the Wyoming wilderness for a month with no cell phones, no civilization (and no showers). That was one of the greatest trips of my life, and not once did I miss having a cell phone with me.
Granted, trekking through the Wyoming wilderness is a bit more exciting than our every-day lives, so it was easier to occupy my time with things other than texting.
But the minute we got back to civilization, however, my first priority was to go straight to my phone and start texting. I think that we like the idea of having a break from technology, but really that's all it is: a break. It's like when you go on vacation to the beach, maybe, and it's really fun for about a week or two, but then you kind of get tired of sand being everywhere, and smelling like the ocean all the time, and you just want to go back to your home and be in your own bed.
Our phones are a portal that connect us to others, and while that may be fun to get away from for a while, maybe just to take a little time to ourselves, we always end up coming back to them in the end.
It made me think about my NOLS trip during the summer of my sophomore year of high school. I went with a group of kids my age to go backpacking in the Wyoming wilderness for a month with no cell phones, no civilization (and no showers). That was one of the greatest trips of my life, and not once did I miss having a cell phone with me.
Granted, trekking through the Wyoming wilderness is a bit more exciting than our every-day lives, so it was easier to occupy my time with things other than texting.
But the minute we got back to civilization, however, my first priority was to go straight to my phone and start texting. I think that we like the idea of having a break from technology, but really that's all it is: a break. It's like when you go on vacation to the beach, maybe, and it's really fun for about a week or two, but then you kind of get tired of sand being everywhere, and smelling like the ocean all the time, and you just want to go back to your home and be in your own bed.
Our phones are a portal that connect us to others, and while that may be fun to get away from for a while, maybe just to take a little time to ourselves, we always end up coming back to them in the end.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Internet Sensations
While reading an article for my last post, I couldn't help but notice a link on the side of the page about the death of Colonel Meow, one of the many animal internet sensations. After a moment of grief for the Colonel and his owners, it hit me how powerful media can be.
In this digital age we're living in now, we see more and more of stranger's lives than ever before. I don't know about you, but it's amazing to me how people can now utilize the media to basically create a profile and not to mention a solid fan base--consisting of people they don't even know--for their animals. There are so many out there now. I can't remember their names off the top of my head, but we all know that cat with the crossed eyes, the adorable dog with the crazy teeth and uplifting messages, and of course Grumpy cat, to name a few. It starts out as just a couple pictures online, and then all of a sudden people all over the internet know who Colonel Meow is and are mourning his death in solidarity. That's the power of social media, people.
In this digital age we're living in now, we see more and more of stranger's lives than ever before. I don't know about you, but it's amazing to me how people can now utilize the media to basically create a profile and not to mention a solid fan base--consisting of people they don't even know--for their animals. There are so many out there now. I can't remember their names off the top of my head, but we all know that cat with the crossed eyes, the adorable dog with the crazy teeth and uplifting messages, and of course Grumpy cat, to name a few. It starts out as just a couple pictures online, and then all of a sudden people all over the internet know who Colonel Meow is and are mourning his death in solidarity. That's the power of social media, people.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)