Week four

We have learned how social media has changed everything from journalism, to politics to our own brains. Most humans used to think of the concept of “knowing” information as memorizing and retaining that information. Now we just rely on Google to give us the information. It is amazing to witness the power that social media has. It is really interesting what social media has done to journalism. Now, it is more of a two-way street and anyone can report on something. Something that Clay Shirky said has stuck with me “Because now that media is increasingly social, innovation can happen anywhere that people can take for granted the idea that we’re all in this together” I think the idea that we’re all in this together is highlighted by what happened in Tunisia. Mohammed Bouazizi just wanted everyone to know how unfairly he had been treated but I don’t think he realize that the power of social media meant that his message would spread and that the world would learn of the corruption. Most studies show that the Arab Spring movement was not arranged through social media but the coverage of it was spread much farther because of social media. That is very powerful. Now, we have a politician that tweets just about every day. Good or bad, there is no doubt that his use of social media has changed politics in the United States forever. Politicians have known for quite a while that if they want to run a successful campaign, they need to have a social media presence but none of them have used it to the extent that our current president has.