Task 1B - Professional Communication Technologies Web 2.0


Web 2.0 is definitely an amazing tool no-one can defy this, but is it a good or a bad thing for society?  This has been dicsussed on millions of occassions I am sure, but it is the main discussion that really interests me about web 2.0 - I mean imagine a world without being able to have this much freedom of speech that is viewed so publically, having that power to be both the creator and reader in today's world do we view this as a positive or negative?
See links that I have found below that I found quite interesting in terms of differing opinions...

Positive view
http://networkconference.netstudies.org/2010/04/a-social-society-the-positive-effects-of-communicating-through-social-networking-sites/

Negative view
http://www.oprah.com/relationships/Negative-Impact-of-Social-Networking-Websites-at-Work

I have to admit that it took me a while to get my head around totally understanding the concept of 2.0, but after googling it (which didn't really shed anymore light than the reader), you tubing it and discussing with colleagues I began to get to grips with it and similarly to my BAPP colleague Ahmet Ahmet stated in his post regarding the reader, I have also been involved and participating in professional communication trechnologies for the last few years, and not only was I pretty naive to web 2.0 I had no idea I was part of it!
It is a very exciting platform that enables both friends, colleagues (and not always recommended strangers) to share and collaborate information and experiences.
I am inclined to agree that there should be at least a definite age eg 18+ limit to social networking sites due to the amount of information that is readily avialble to the likes of strangers and bullies - if the steps aren't taken to ensure profiles, images and blogs etc are totally private, which even I as a fairly PC literate person seem to sometimes find incredibly confusing, then the sites can be a cause for concern for the younger generation - especially as a parent.

It is a truly powerful tool, having a number of resources and tools that are so accessible to you everyday literally at the tips of our fingers is amazing, being able to complete the mundane things such as uploading images, updating status' to the career changing life experiences such as communicating with future employers via blogging, facebook and youtube etc all in a few minutes is quite miraculous, and  I think we are lucky to be the generation that have grasped this and ran with it using web 2.0 to it's fullest, as well as learning new things about the technology everyday - I sure am...I had never blogged until I started this course and was introduced to new technologies, and now i'm hooked!

I think it's a magical tool in terms of how it enables people of all diversities to communicate and connect, people and families have even re-connected by the means of web 2.0!

I have interned in companies where they have their own dedicated social networking team, i think this just shows the importance of social networing in today's retail climate.  Retailers and business' will sometimes rely on accounts such as facebook and twitter to connect with their customers, this enables them to follow shopping habits, create awareness for certain promotions or products, market specific campaigns and trends, and monitor competitors.  It can only be a huge benefit for business' there is no denying this, enabling them to communicate to customers on a much larger, even global scale then ever before is invaluable, and in terms of marketing decor - this is a costly expense, where-as updating a status is completely free and the turnaround is seconds not days!  I appreciate from a different perspective the customers will also have their right to state concerns or complaints which again will be totally accesible, but these can be resolved automatically with a 'comment'. 

I unfortunately was a bit of a sheep when it came to twitter 'oh another social networking site, I must be part of this 1 too!' i thought, but I have severley neglected the account mainly owing to the fact I was pretty naive to how it can be used to my advantage.  My inital thoughts were that I couldn't be bothered to read up on celebrity spats and these oh so fantastic holidays in Barbados whilst on my hour tube ride in-to work (normally standing!) of course which I would inevitably become addicted to, but after reading BAPP's colleagues blogs, I've realised that actually monitoring my twitter account and following the necessary people, using it both as a personal and professional tool may not be such a bad thing after all.  Networking, alongside hard-wrok can sometimes the key to success, it falls down to that old saying...it's not what you know...   

I will update my twitter journey as i continue blogging...optimisim is key!