‘Information is power’ may be an old saying but it remains true for anyone who accesses critical information. Everyone in the world now is working hard to achieve a competitive advantage by obtaining better-quality information. Communication, which takes various forms, provides a channel through which information is distributed. A business intending to expand across international boundaries knows a fact that an informed human resource is vital in the achievement of its goals. However, the usefulness of information can only be realized if it is shared.
We are living in an era in which technological explosion has opened avenues through which information is shared irrespective of the geographical location where one is. The world has moved away from the old ways of physically accessing information. Information is no longer sought. Instead, it finds its way to where potential recipients are. The world has shaken off selfishness and embraced a true culture of togetherness. Social media provides the means by which information finds its way to the people. Social media enables people to interact and share information. Communication technologies ensure that the accessibility of information is always guaranteed. It cannot be dismissed as a fad. Social media is important in shaping communication trends.
In his book, Erik Qualman explores how the concept of social media is quickly transforming lives. Socialnomics, as described by the author, is intended to give a detailed outlook on how social media is growing rapidly by replacing the old channels of communication. Internet applications developed in the recent past have become firm foundations in which social media thrive. A new idea is a click away. People’s behaviors have changed. Availability of information online gives confidence to a knowledge-hungry community. Anything that puzzles can be amicably resolved with the help of search engines.
The internet euphoria which hit the world in the past decade has had far-reaching effects on the way businesses are being run. It was once a reserve of the few is now in the public domain. In politics, politicians focus most of their campaigns on what is available online about them. One most important attributes of social media are its economic potential. The system is gradually edging out redundancy amongst incompetent marketers and middlemen. A marketing company is able to remain relevant in the market by updating its website posts.
This eliminates the need to subscribe to expensive newspapers and magazines. Products and services can be advertised indirectly through social media. This is possible when a viewer reads the praises made about a given product by as little as ten friends in a social network like Twitter or Facebook. However, this is not so good for a company that is delivering inferior goods to the market. Products may lose popularity and demand after a few negative comments are made on social media.
There is an unending conversation in the platform of social media. People’s personalities are continually unmasked to the world. Families are now finding it hard to keep their secrets. Information about a family is easily accessible. Personal characteristics are taking new shapes that are dictated by global themes of liberalization and respect for human rights.
Revolutionary communication protocols provided by social media are shaping the faces of many professions.
The expansive international professional bodies have been shrunk to web pages. The current innovations in various fields have been made it possible for people to share information online. Social media is sweeping across the academic front like a forest fire. Substantial developments in academics have enlisted the use of social media. A tweetup hosted by the MLA director showed that most professionals are embracing and exploring chances available in communication tools.
The future looks promising as we anticipate a world characterized by twittering academics and virtual conferences. Interactive research papers and webcasts are likely to shape the future in academics and commerce.