1. PowerPoint presentation
Exploring social media
PowerPoint presentation
Handout 1 Social media

2. Assessment criteria The learner will:
2.1 Describe how various social media sites may be used by groups, individuals, businesses and organisations

3. Introduction to social media
Social media is the “group of internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content.”
Kaplan and Haenlein
Social media sites are (generally) free to subscribers who may then use them to exchange information and interact with other subscribers.

4. Social media compared to traditional media
Single source – many receivers
Professional content
Controlled
Top-down
Passive
One-way communication
Traditional media sources are TV, radio, newspapers, books, etc.
Single source – many receivers: eg a newspaper is printed by its publisher and sold to its many readers; a TV channel broadcasts its programmes to many viewers.
Professional content: the sources of media are paid professionals.
Controlled: the content is structured and controlled in the messages the broadcaster intends to transmit.
Top-down, passive, one-way communication: messages are transmitted from the single source down to its many readers, viewers and listeners. There is little or no opportunity for interaction.

5. Social media compared to traditional media
Many sources – many receivers
User-generated content
Unstructured
Bottom-up
Active
Two-way communication
Many sources – many receivers: as an active form of media, everyone can be a source and a receiver.
User-generated content: anyone using social media can post content, making it two-way communication.
Bottom-up: social media allows those who were traditionally the receivers of information to generate information. There are several instances of high social media activity forcing traditional media broadcasters to take an interest in previously unreported crimes and trials. In situations of emergency or chaos, bottom-up reporting via social media has succeeded where traditional media sources have failed to provide enough information quickly enough (eg during the floods in the Balkans in September 2014).
Unstructured: messages are based on individuals’ opinions rather than any controlled bias. Traditional broadcasters may slant their messages according to their purpose.

6. Types of social media Blogs/microblogs Business networks
Forums/chat rooms
Products/services review
Interest catalogues/bookmarking
Social networks
Video/photo sharing
Gaming/virtual worlds

7. Blogs/microblogs Blogs and microblogs are forms of online journal.
Blog examples include:
The Huffington Post
Microblog examples include:
Twitter
Plurk
Blogs require the user to set up a website platform using, for example:
WordPress
Blogger
Microblogs often restrict word usage on subscribers’ opinions and comments.

8. Business networks
For making business contacts and professional networking.
Examples include:
LinkedIn
Xing

9. Forums/chat rooms
Forums are topic-led (known as threads) and provide the opportunity for users to give and receive answers.
They can be set up by individuals, groups and organisations, creating a community of interested subscribers.
Many are features of organisations’ websites.
Examples include:
The Student Room
Slick Deals

10. Products/services review
Consumers post their reviews and comments about products and services, allowing others to make informed purchasing decisions.
Examples include:
TripAdvisor
Reviews.co.uk

11. Interest catalogues/bookmarking
Allow subscribers to save content posted by others according to their interests.
Allow photo sharing and interaction of users.
The sites use algorithms to suggest other items of interest based on the user’s choices.
Examples include:
Pinterest
Stumbleupon

12. Social networks Interactive networking with friends. Examples include:
Facebook
Google+
Also romantic networking:
Match.com

13. Video/photo sharing
Allows users to view, share and upload videos and photos.
Examples include:
YouTube
Flickr

14. Gaming/virtual worlds
Sites which allow Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) where a large number of players create their own characters and interact in a virtual world.
Examples include:
Kaneva
Smallworlds

15. Overlapping purposes Many social media sites combine purposes:
Photo sharing and social interaction
Product review and advice forums

16. Any questions?