The Changes in the Media Landscape | Big Think

TL;DR

Social media is changing the media landscape, speeding up communication and emphasizing group-oriented and emotional content.

Transcript

one of the things I consistently say is you want to find the person in your organization who's got the one big idea for social transformation for transforming your organization for social media and you want to lock them out of the building and don't let them back in until they come back with 10 medium-sized ideas or better 100 small ideas I'm Klay ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔉 Media speeds up with the help of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, resulting in the quick spread of information.
• 💨 Humans are better at feeling fast than thinking fast, influencing the type of content that gains traction on social media.
• 👥 Social media's impact on organizations requires a shift in culture and understanding, with an emphasis on group-oriented and emotional content.
• 👯 Social capital increases during times of crisis, as people rely less on governments and markets and more on each other.
• 👤 Companies should consider serving a convening function and facilitating communication between their users.
• 👶 Frontline employees often adopt new tools before the organization officially embraces them.
• 👨‍💼 Businesses should assess what is already happening with social media within their industry and leverage existing conversations.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the impact of social media on the media landscape?

Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have sped up the spread of information, resulting in more emotional and group-oriented content. URL shortening allows for quick injections of information into the media landscape.

Q: How does sociology contribute to understanding social media's impact?

Sociology provides research and insights into the effects that group-oriented and emotional content can have on behavior. Many tech firms have psychologists on staff but lack sociologists, limiting their understanding of social effects on technology.

Q: What advice does the speaker give to companies regarding social media?

The speaker advises companies to serve a convening function for their users, making it easier for them to communicate with each other. Additionally, they suggest assessing what is already happening with social media within the organization and leveraging it during times of crisis.

Q: How can businesses effectively use social media and engage with their customers?

Instead of hiring consultants, businesses should look to their own employees and customers to understand how they are already using social media. Leveraging existing social networks and participating in conversations about the brand can be more effective than creating a separate online presence.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Social media is causing media to speed up, with platforms like Facebook and Twitter spreading information quickly through URL shortening.

• Humans are better at feeling fast than thinking fast, resulting in more emotional and group-oriented content.

• As technology becomes more social, organizations are experiencing a shift in culture and communication.