Legal, Policies and Ethics -- Say What?

I have never been satisfied with my lack of technological literacy.  Sure, I am able to get by and accomplish things I want to on my computer, phone, and limited social media sites.  But if I had to step outside that comfort zone and really know what is going on behind the scenes, or set up my accounts in the most secure fashion, I am in big trouble!  We frequently hear about making sure our Facebook accounts, online banking accounts, passwords, security settings, etc. are as secure as possible.  This is one of the areas I really fall short in.  I need to get better educated before someone “educates” me the hard way—after they have stolen my identity, my money, or hacked my email account.  I liked the information concerning this on the following website:

http://facecrooks.com/Internet-Safety-Privacy/how-to-lockdown-your-facebook-account-for-maximum-privacy-and-security.html/

This website ironically is titled “Facecrooks” and gives step by step directions on how to make your Facebook account more secure to protect your privacy.  It also teaches many things I am unfamiliar with--for instance:  What type of email account to use, password protection tips, notifications, use of code generators, privacy settings, selections on who can send you friend requests, filtering levels, who can look me up, search engine preferences, etc. 

This website also gives advice on apps settings, followers, ads, privacy shortcuts, as well as how and what to post, logging out correctly, and using the Help Center.  I decided to apply some of this advice and make some much needed changes to my Facebook settings.  Ignorance may be bliss—but only until someone ruins it. 

What are we allowed to publish, post or say on Facebook or Blogs?  The First Amendment to the Constitution states:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

The website listed at the end of this blog, gives some in-depth explanations on freedom of speech.

It talks about free speech being one of the most cherished liberties, but that it can also conflict with other rights and liberties.  The types of speech are broken down into three different categories:

1-       Pure Speech:  The verbal expression of thoughts and opinions before a voluntary audience.  The courts have generally provided strong protection of pure speech from government regulation.

2-      Speech-Plus:  This involves actions, such as demonstrations or protesting, as well as words.  Speech-plus is not generally protected as strictly as is pure speech, because actions can be physically dangerous.  The courts have ruled that demonstrators may not obstruct traffic, endanger public safety, or trespass illegally.

3-      Symbolic Speech:  Technically this involves no speech at all, but it involves symbols that the courts have judged to be forms of free expression.  Symbolic actions such as wearing black armbands in school and draft-card burning fit this category.  Symbolic speech is highly controversial, and as a rule, the courts have sometimes considered it to be beyond the limits of free speech.

Now that I have a better understanding about free speech from the first amendment, I feel fairly safe with sharing the basic and non-confrontational blogs and posts I make from my (hopefully) more secure Facebook page and Blog.

http://www.ushistory.org/gov/10b.asp

Collaborative and Distance Communication Platforms

I’ve decided that I just don’t have enough time on my hands.  I don’t seem to have time for watching TV, reading a novel just for enjoyment, shopping excursions, travel, or online gaming.   I look at how experienced my 25 year old son is at online gaming with his friends, and I realize I am almost on a totally different planet in that regard.   Speaking of a different planet, how about a different world?   More specifically, an online virtual world called “Second Life”, which is what I would need in order to be able to squeeze this program into my current life. 

According to Wikipedia, Second Life was developed by Linden Lab in 2003, but by 2013 had around 1 million users.  Second Life is similar to online role playing games, but Linden Lab insists that their online virtual world is NOT a game.  There are no objectives and there is nothing to win.  It is designed and focused on interaction between multiple users.  Residents can create a virtual representative of themselves called avatars that can interact with other avatars, other places and other objects.  There are a number of different things you can do with this platform, such as:  meet others, socialize, go to activities, build things, create, shop, trade property, and services with each other.  It features 3D-based user-generated content, has its own virtual currency which is exchangeable with real world currency.  The software has a three-dimensional modeling tool that allows users to build objects.  Another interesting feature is that users can also photograph in Second Life using camera technology.  As amazing and intriguing as this platform sounds, it is just a huge reminder to me, that it would take a lot of time to enjoy and use this program.  Time I just don’t have. 

On another note—something that I can make time to use because it IS very time friendly and time efficient is the application called Skype.  Another program that was ironically released in 2003, this platform can connect you with people all over the world; by voice using a microphone, by video using a webcam, and with instant messaging.  Skype can be very convenient for conference calls, for visiting with someone across the United States, or across the world.  My office has done many Skype interviews with candidates not geographically close enough to come for a personal visit.  I have personally used Skype to communicate with my sons who served missions in foreign countries.  It is a tool that allows communication on a more personal level through face-to-face viewing.  Skype founders were from Sweden and Denmark.  (Maybe they got tired of trying to communicate with each concerning their inventions and invented Skype just so they could communicate?  OK—probably not).  With all of the new technology that continues to come out, it makes me wonder, “what’s next”?   What will be the next new invention that will change our lives significantly?

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Life

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype

Location Based Platforms

I didn’t think that I use or have much of an interest in location based platforms.  But, after realizing that I actually do search for locations and restaurants when I am traveling or unfamiliar with my surroundings, I had to have a change of heart.  I do refer to Yelp when wanting a review on a location based restaurant, hotel or store.   Yelp has been one of the bigger location based networks and became more popular with its iPhone app, which introduced several new features, the biggest being the ability to check-in to venues. 

All the information I found concerning location based platforms referred to Foursquare, the newer app Swarm and Facebook.  Foursquare announced that they are splitting their service into two different apps.  One that focuses on local recommendations, and the other, called “Swarm” that has check-in options and can find users friends that may be nearby.   Foursquare decided to make this change based on the needs of users, where they found that most users rely on the app for primarily those two purposes. 

Facebook has also made an announcement that it will “separate in-app messaging from its official iOS and Android apps and require users to download Messenger to chat with friends.”  This is an app that I do use, and I will need to pay attention as to when it’s time to download Messenger before the service in Facebook disappears.  I don’t know that Messenger is necessarily location based—but I may be wrong.

Foursquare isn’t the only app that uses location sharing.   Twitter has tried a feature that lets you see tweets from people near your location.  A new app called Cloak can show where your friends are located so you can actually avoid them.  I’m not so sure these people would be considered your “friends” if you are using this app for that purpose. 

Because I have never used location based platforms for the purpose of finding friends’ locations, I don’t see as much value in it. I typically don’t like to “allow” when my location is asked for on social media.  It seems like an unwanted invasion of my privacy.  I do realize that ignorance is bliss however, and maybe if I had a need for this service or realized the value of it, I may be more appreciative.  I have learned much more about it while researching for my blog.

Sources:

http://www.informationweek.com/software/social/foursquare-splits-into-2-apps-targets-yelp/d/d-id/1235048

http://techcrunch.com/2010/01/15/yelp-iphone-app-4-check-ins/

MOST USED PLATFORMS

I’ll be honest—I wasn’t quite sure what a “platform” really was when I started on this blog post.  I decided I’d better get a definition to make sure I was writing about the correct thing, as well as using proper terminology to discuss it.  According to Techopedia, “a social platform is a Web-based technology that enables the development, deployment and management of social media solutions and services.  It provides the ability to create social media websites and services with complete social media network functionality.” 

Compare using social media to how you act around different groups of people in your social circle.  Think of how you act with your friends, how you act with clients, or how you act around family.  Every social meeting platform can be compared to a different group, a different meeting or a different room depending on where you are.  It is important to use different messaging on each platform so that you can fully use the tools each comes equipped with.  The following text talks about the 4 big social-media platforms:  Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

When using Twitter, use a trending hashtag; one that many people might see.   Include a question to make people stop and think about your tweet.  Use line breaks as they allow your tweet to take up a larger portion of the screen and can attract attention.  Facebook is more about the image.  Compare your Facebook imaging to that of print and magazine advertising.  Instagram is all about real images from where you are and what you see.  It is about simple snapshots taken from a phone.  It’s personal; it’s for those real-life moments.  Pinterest is both about pictures and information.  People shop on Pinterest, so they are willing to spend more time on content.  It is ok to use more space on Pinterest than on other platforms, as the platform dimensions can allow it.

How do you know which platform is right for you?  It really depends on what your interest is.  Is it news?  A professional network?  Photo / visual communications?  (Snapchat might be safe because it is likely that your mom isn’t going to be on there and that might count for something).  At the link below is a social media cheat sheet that lists the pros and cons of several top platforms. 

http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/files/2014/09/social-media-cheat-sheet-users.png

Social media platforms can be broken into 3 categories, which helped me to understand them better.  There are social media platforms that help you Network (like LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.);  there are social media platforms that help you Promote (like YouTube, blogs, etc.); and social media platforms that help you Share (like Buffer, Hootsuite, etc.)

If you would like more information on the top 52 social platforms, as well as the categories they fall under, I would suggest that you check out the following website:

http://60secondmarketer.com/blog/2010/04/09/top-52-social-media-platforms/

No matter which platform you choose, understanding your niche and the community you want to engage with are important aspects in making an educated and successful decision.

Sources:

http://www.inc.com/magazine/201311/gary-vaynerchuk/how-to-master-the-four-major-social-media-platforms.html

http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/social-media-user-cheat-sheet/501627

https://www.techopedia.com/definition/23759/social-platform

BLOGGING

Think of the word “blog”.  It is a word that has been in our dialect since the late 1990s, but one that is becoming more popular due to its use in social media.  Where did it come from?  It is a combination of two words:  Web and log.  Within its four letters there lies a brief and exact description:  A blog is a log of thoughts and writing posted publicly on the World Wide Web.  The words web log soon became the word “blog” on the internet. 

What exactly is a blog?  I am fairly new to this scene, and stumble through using my limited knowledge of social media.  Creating a blog post was an assignment that was a new venture for me, but I am ever grateful for online tutorials, and Google to help guide me through many of my questions.   A blog is a form of instant and global self-publishing.  (So be careful!)  “It is the spontaneous expression of instant thought--so it allows for no retroactive editing.  It is accountable in immediate and unavoidable ways to readers and other bloggers, and linked via hypertext to continuously multiplying references and sources.”

One of the main differences between blogs and journalist posts are that blogs involve instant responses from readers; it is more spontaneous and free-flowing.  Journalism is different in that it is planned out writing, with rules to follow and sources to confirm.

It is important to decide the type of blog you want to create—do you want one that earns money, one that has a lot of video content and graphics, or one that is simple with posts of your thoughts?  

Another important question to ask yourself is whether or not you want to use a free site.  Think of it this way:  Would you rather rent or have home ownership of your blog?  If you “rent” your blog site you are at the mercy of the owner of it which means you can lose all your material if the site closes down or decides they no longer want you to have access to their site.  Sites such as Blogger.com, BlogSpot, Google+ and  Wordpress.com are examples of free services.  If you want to “own” your blog it is recommended that you pay even just a few dollars a month for service that allows you to keep or save your own material.  This is what is referred to as a web host.  There are many to choose from, but it is wise to find one that offers customer service.  You may get what you pay for, and if your blog is important enough, paying a little more may be worth the price.  It really depends on what you want from your blogging experience.

Blogs are a great way to link to others that have similar interests as you.  Connections between bloggers can be just as important as the content posted on blogs.  The content not only drives and attracts conversation, but inspires readers.  The more links you create, the more communication you will experience which can lead to a very successful blog.

Sources:

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/11/why-i-blog/307060/

http://www.buildyourownblog.net/step-1-the-basics/?utmx=222600&callback

http://www.buildyourownblog.net/r1/?targetid=kwd-88563481&matchtype=e&device=c&campaignid=220788442&creative=76410529522&adgroupid=16461982762&feeditemid=&loc_physical_ms=9029805&loc_interest_ms=&network=g&devicemodel=&placement=&keyword=blogging&target=&aceid=&adposition=2o2&gclid=Cj0KEQiArJe1BRDe_uz1uu-QjvYBEiQACUj6oiXyh7KYuvJ3cquN1vM83tdOI3Loe-jvticDs7ozCMIaAvaU8P8HAQ

Social Media Case Reflection 1

This story is in my opinion an unfortunate case of “knee-jerk” reactions based on emotions rather than logic.  We are all faced with dilemmas in our life where we get to make an instant decision.  How we choose to react to these situations can be good or, in this particular case, bad.  We have “Freedom of Speech” in this country.  Because of this, added to social media, we get to read many opinions, many thoughts, and many rants or complaints.  

It is unfortunate that Ms. Holly Jones-Benson was so distraught concerning her New Year’s Eve party, the handling of the bill, and the disruption of her night by the woman who was having a critical health issue.  Sometimes people can be a bit selfish when they overlook the plight of others and feel that their wants and needs are of the utmost concern.  Had she maybe taken a few minutes to find out what was going on, this may have all been avoided.  Publicly displaying her displeasure in the manner she did on a Facebook page may not have been her most prudent action.  She did leave herself open to the onslaught of attacks that came back at her.  We have all experienced times when things don’t go the way we planned or how we would prefer.  How we choose to handle those times can affect the outcome. 

When Kilroy’s managing partner, Chris Burton chose to respond, he took time to give a well-thought out reply. “The manager pointed out that the experience was far more traumatizing for the heart attack sufferer than other diners, and explained that getting the woman medical attention was a higher priority than explaining the customer's bill”.   I believe his intent was to put Ms. Jones-Benson in her place.

As the acting manager in this situation, he not only had customers to service, but a victim of a heart attack, who also was a customer in his establishment.  Was the way he responded good or bad?  In this case, Mr. Burton chose to stick up for the underdog.  He showed his humanitarian side and pointed out that Ms. Jones should have showed a bit of that herself in this situation as well.  Jumping to conclusions about what took place that night not only portrayed her as selfish and indifferent, but it instigated a public backlash such as she probably never could have imagined.  

What about the poor woman who was the victim in all this?  I’m sure there are hundreds of things she would rather have been doing than experiencing a heart attack in a crowded public restaurant on New Year’s Eve.  How do you think she feels about all this publicity?  The most positive part of the incident, other than her recovery, is that the Go Fund Me campaign for her medical expenses was successful.  I’m sure if she could change the course of events that night—she definitely would!

 

Social Media has changed how conversations between businesses and customers are handled.  Complaints are now public, rather than handled discreetly between parties.  The rule of thumb in the past regarding customer service was that “the customer is always right”.  That trend is changing in that sometimes, a business is in the right.  Online business reviews are popular, and important to the success of businesses.  Customer complaints can be very damaging to a company, and there can be serious issues when social media exploits these complaints. 

“Steve Hatmaker, Jr., digital marketing strategist for Seismic Audio Speakers agrees that there are serious implications for social media's ability to amplify customer complaints. "Until recently, companies could do you wrong or right and you would be limited to telling only those you knew in your immediate surroundings," he says. "But thanks to the Internet and the unlimited access to almost anyone, such an event can easily be spread around the world in seconds! The Internet is much like the halls of a high school: one false move and everyone will know about it the next day."

Lessons learned from the business side:  It can be ok to defend your business if you feel customers are wrong.  Use professionalism and state your case to represent your business clearly and fairly

Lessons learned from the Individual side:  Be careful about what your posts can do to your reputation.  It may not be in a person’s best interest to post everything you think or feel, because once out there, you can never retract it.  Use caution in what you post and be responsible.  Ms. Jones posts have cost her job, her reputation, and caused issues for other people with her name that have received hate mail and threats as well. 

As for those that chose to respond in a violent way against Ms. Jones, once again, this comes back to those “knee-jerk” reactions that people make based on emotion.  We need to be prudent in what we read, what we believe and how we act.  How we can get the public to actually accomplish this feat is beyond me. 

Sources: 

http://fox59.com/2016/01/08/woman-who-posted-facebook-rant-about-ruined-new-years-eve-at-indianapolis-bar-no-longer-with-salon/

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/woman-threw-fit-patron-heart-attack-job-article-1.2489904

https://www.reputationmanagement.com/blog/2016/1/15/reputation-lessons-from-the-viral-kilroys-rant

SOCIAL MEDIA CHANGE

How has social media changed communication?   It has changed vastly!  I am from the beginning of the baby boomer generation where phones had a cord hooked to them, typewriters were the way to process papers, and letters and messages were sent by snail mail.  Most families consisted of two parents, with a working father and a stay-at-home mother.   When I was a teenager, many women were starting to leave the home and going to work professionally.  I remember talking to friends on the phone, and my parents would have to pick up the line and tell me it was time to get off.  I learned to type on an electric typewriter at school, copy machines were a new item in the business world and computers were relatively unheard of and only used at businesses.  The newspaper was a main source of information, as well as the 6:00 and 10:00pm news on TV.  According to the article, “Social Media and Its Effect on Communication-- Multidimensional interactions have altered the basic rules of communication”  at the following link: 

http://www.solari.net/documents/position-papers/Solari-Social-Media-and-Communication.pdf 

“The one-way communication methods of the recent past—business-to-customer and business-to-business—have been replaced by a more robust multidimensional communication model.  That model is collectively called social media”.

This article outlines social media characteristics and rules, as well as the 5 C’s of social media: 

•          Conversation—Social media is at least a two-way communication, and often a multidimensional conversation, as it engages everyone involved
•          Contribution –Social media encourages contributions and reaction from anyone who is interested both in a positive and negative light, which makes it easy to contribute
•          Collaboration—Social media promotes an exchange of information between you and your audience, and among audience members by inviting participation
•          Connection—Social media thrives on connections, within its own web vehicles and through links to other sites, resources, people, and automatic feeds. 
•          Community—The fundamental characteristic of social media is the creation of community:  a fellowship and relationship with others who share common attitudes, interests and goals

Before social media, these rules were not in existence.  I have personally found myself slow to jump on the social media bandwagon.  I have a Facebook page, and a LinkedIn account.  I have dabbled very little in online dating, as I struggle with trusting what people post online.   Some of the advantages of social media are the instant connections with others.  As a former high school class reunion planner, it would have been helpful to have Facebook 20 years ago.  Finding people and connecting with classmates from the class of 1986 was so hard for our 10 year reunion. It is so much easier now to find people and it is very interesting.  I recently connected with someone I went to grade school with, and we are actually meeting for dinner this weekend!   Never in a million years would that have happened without social media.  Pollock Communications has an interesting website that discusses the following:

http://www.lpollockpr.com/blog/social-media-changed-way-communicate/

With social media, we shop, we can compare, we can share our “favorites”; food, clothes, pictures, etc.  We can find our future spouse on dating sites, we can learn about a future roommate or date before we ever meet them.  “Blind dates” no longer exist.  We can communicate with many people at once, with people all over the world instantaneously, or privately. Social Media has totally changed communication in the world.  For the most part—I think it is for the better!