Are You Sure Your Statements Are 100% CORRECT?

Before you make a bold statement on the web or through social media it’s important to fact check. Technology has made the ability to look up claims so much easier all in due to smartphones and web access on the go. How often do you have a question and turn to Siri, Alexa, or Cortana for answers? Technology has advanced so much that we have A.I. built into our devices to help make our lives easier.

Technology has also made our lives a bit harder regarding fact checking. News organizations need to be cautious as they try to avoid being labeled as fake news. Fake news has become relevant because people like to share stories in an effort to make them go viral without actual fact checking. Communication amongst society benefits from technological advancement because it’s made easier, but it doesn’t come without it’s difficulties as well.

 

CNN posted a video about how fake news is thriving online:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/20/opinions/fake-news-stories-thrive-donath/

Politicians are among the biggest targets for fact checking.  Media outlets are more aggressively fact-checking political statements, all because people are paying really close attention and it is news if the statements they are making are incorrect (The Associated Press, 2017). The public is going to find out on their own and publish the truth one way or another, that is part of society now. Social media has given everyone a voice. Social media has become the outlet in which news agency aren’t just reporting but finding the news themselves.  Accessibility to the truth is a click away and it’s up to us to be sure to utilize our resources before making claims. The issue with that is the general public doesn’t need to follow the same ethical code as journalists, but can still act as journalists via web posting. Deciphering fact from fiction is all part of the norm in today’s society, something we didn’t deal with as much 20 years ago. Back then our media consumption was through the television or radio station. Today, we as society are becoming more skeptical and questioning whether it’s real or fake news. I don’t know if this is a benefit that we have the resources at our finger tips to determine what is real or not, or if it has only opened the flood gates for people to say whatever the heck they want to say. Sometimes it can all seem just so overwhelming.

References

The Associated Press. (2017, February 8). Media fact-checking more aggressive under Trump. MPRNews. Retrieved from https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/02/08/media-fact-checking-more-aggressive-under-trump

Donath, J. (2016, November 20). Why fake news stories thrive online. CNN. [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/20/opinions/fake-news-stories-thrive-donath/

Advertisement

Do YOU Need a Digital Presence in Today’s Market?

In today’s digital world everyone has a voice and brand. It is the expectation that with that voice and brand people can connect and on a global scale. Technology has changed the way our culture views communications through scope. The web and social media has opened to doors to how we communicate who we are, which makes building your brand a necessity.   

Blogger Lisa Galarneau lists 10 ways social media is transforming our world:

1. Challenging the Status Quo

We are challenging the status quo, building things, creating things, connecting with each other, self-organizing around important issues, and yes, changing the world little bit by little bit.

2. Changed by Exposure to Diversity

We pay attention to the small details of people’s lives, delight over their family photos, and share at the level of family with a whole bunch of people.  We’re supported when we need to be. We talk about issues and conundrums and joys.  People are connecting and being exposed to both comfortable and diverse perspectives.

3. Support is Now Visible

We support people and things we like, on sites like Digg and Reddit

4. Learn More from Each Other

We learn from each other. You can find everything from make-up tips to channeled extraterrestrial messages on YouTube.

5. Crowd Sourced Wisdom

We share our knowledge, wisdom and experiences. Quora is a place where you can ask any question in the world, and expect a reasonable answer.

6. Creativity and Inspiration is Unleashed

We share our creative ideas and inspirations. Pinterest has redefined the digital portfolio/catalog.

7. Increased Appreciation of the Unique and Handmade

We still have a healthy respect for the unique and the handmade.  Etsy has enabled many a domestic entrepreneur and infused our culture with an amazing richness of creativity.

8. Truth is Exposed

We still haunt Twitter waiting for a cause or idea to support.  Retweets are our weapon in an effort to expose information and transform thinking.

9. We are More Authentic

People in the social media space are finally talking more about authenticity, which might help minimize some of the junkier parts of our lovely information city.

10. Anyone can Contribute

We acknowledge that everyone has something to contribute, as long as you’re nice about it (Galarneau, 2012).

Social media will continue to be a tool that we use to help build our brands and lend a voice to individuals looking to share with the world.  The expectation is that technology will continue to advance to make messaging an even faster process than it already is.  Which is saying a lot, considering it’s only a click of button as of right now.  Virtual reality will be the next step in our communication process that takes us away from the monitor or smartphone and puts us directly in the room with the individuals we are communicating with.  Can you imagine the cyber bullies in a world of virtual reality, it’s actually a scary thought, but a thought none the less?  There are tons of benefits society faces given all that social media has brought upon us, but with anything that brings advantages there are also disadvantages.  As for right now, social media has brought more advantages to the way we communicate and until the disadvantages outweigh them, I don’t see it going anywhere anytime soon.  Of those advantages, the ability for individuals to build their brand is among the top because your digital brand is basically your footprint for boosting your reputation.  Building reputation will lead to success in career goals along with personal goals.  It’s hard to think of a time when we didn’t have means of looking up a person on the web.  I think it’s safe to say we have made fact gathering easier, the question is whether that’s good or bad?  For some it might not be all that positive, but with the way the world is moving further into the digital work, there really is no getting around it.

Reference

Galarneau, L. (2012). 10 Ways social media is transforming our world. Retrieved from http://www.jeffbullas.com/2012/02/06/10-ways-social-media-is-transforming-our-world/

Why Technology is Changing Society’s Expectation and Culture?

We want it and we want it right now. The expectation regarding technology and how we utilize it is our need for speed.  We want the ease and convenience of buying over mobile devices, so we don’t have to go to the store physically.  We can sit around in our pajamas and have next day delivery all at the click of a button.  From buying movie tickets, to ordering your groceries online, the common theme is convenience.  Let’s not forget navigation, I mean who actually has a printed map anymore?  We rely on technology to move us from point A to point B, and it’s because we have become dependent on our technology.  We are dependent on our technology because it makes our lives easier.

Here is a link to the top 10 ways technology is making our lives easier.  The one that I think is the most relevant is number 9, communications made easier.  Author, Arun Thakur describes how technology has made communication easier through digital messaging (Thakur, 2013).  The ability to send documents and communicate with anyone at the click of a button makes our lives so much easier.  Thakur describes the days of waiting around for the mailman as no longer, because emails and social media have changed how we send out communications.

Looking at the apps on my phone, the most commonly used are Amazon for shopping, Chase for banking, Facebook for social media, ESPN for sports, iTunes for music, Maps for navigation, Safari for web surfing, Messages for texting, Mail for emails and Activity for fitness.  However, it doesn’t stop there, I have folders for specific apps that are important such as “Smart Home”, which consists of all my smart home automation apps (Amazon Echo Dot, Nest, ADT Pulse, Blink, Philips Hue).  I’ve listed the heavy hitters and more commonly used apps, but I have folders for entertainment, games, sports, social, and navigation.  It’s not enough just to have one app to make your life easier, you have to have multiple apps because the options out there are limitless.  Technological advancements have made society used to the fact that we can get anything we need, right when we want it without any hassle.  As a culture we come together with the thought process of easier accessibility and that is all thanks to the advances of modern technology.

Reference

Thakur, A. (2013, June 27). Top 10 ways technology has made our lives easier. Retrieved from http://topyaps.com/top-10-ways-technology-has-made-our-lives-easier