Think back 10 years. It doesn’t matter if you were in middle school, high school, or college, remember that time when your teacher gave you an assignment and it required research. Where would you go to make this research happen? Chances are the library. Wouldn’t it have been beneficial if someone had already done the research for you, and all you had to do was search for a specific subject or title, and then BAM! All of a sudden, there is a TON of information that is relevant to what you were looking for at the tip of your fingers compiled by your cohorts. This is the idea behind Wikipedia, a web based information source compiled by the public. Other people have researched topics that could be relevant to you and compiled and online source of this information. These days, Wikipedia is the source that is trusted by some, and despised by others. The idea that anyone can post to, and alter the information being given in what casts a dark cloud above Wikipedia, however, I am one of the many that loves the quick ability to gain instant knowledge at lighting fast speed with a single search term. It’s like having a big huge study group and all of your friends are giving you their amazing notes they compiled on the subject.
Could this be considered a new age blog? Are blogs just a pedestal to share information, in any way with a large group of people? Or are blogs more centralized to a certain idea or topic? [see: http://jou.sagepub.com.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/content/early/2011/09/14/1464884911421700.full.pdf+html] For me, on a personal level, blogs can be anything, and similarly, the Internet is a broad untamable space that is free of many constraints that allow for freedom of speech and fresh ideas to flourish. And along these lines, I say, let those who wish to identify themselves as blogs do so. And those who care to identify themselves as Wiki-anything, identified as any social network system [see: http://www.icwsm.org/papers/2--Almeida-Mozafari-Cho.pdf], should be allowed to do so additionally. I personally think of the Internet as a space where creativity and freedom flourish, in the form of social media and blogs, it is a medium that I personally couldn’t live without. Try it, for a day, a week, or even a month. Stop checking your email when you wake up first thing in the morning. No more checking in to your favorite bar and tagging your friends. No more reading those fashion blogs to find out that color blocking is hot for spring. Nothing.
Is it plausible, in the world in which we live, to be a relevant member of society that is completely unconnected to the Internet? Would you be able to acquire and maintain a job? Would you be ostracized due to your lack of social media? It’s an interesting thought. We obviously made it before, 10 years ago, but times have changed and it is a very thought provoking idea to become disconnected. But me, I love it all. And I will use Wikipedia and any other amazing social network system. Even if its to check out the listing for ‘donkey punch’ that the bartender at Quinn’s told me to ‘Wikipedia it!” (True story! Happened last night… perfect timing for this blog post!!!)
Comments on: "Wikipedia It!" (3)
Chris, I really like the questions you’ve asked. I honestly think it would be near impossible in this day and age to even get, not to mention maintain a job without the internet. That being said I can’t help but think about the homes around America and the rest of the world that don’t even have a computer because they cannot afford either. How will something like this affect their success in the world, and in turn the job market? It is amazing to think about how much has changed in the past 10 years!
Chris! Hi!
Your questions make some really valid points. Job creation is rapidly expanding in social media whereas others (especially in this economy) are becoming redundant. Depending on the job role of course, some could manage far better than others without the use of social media, but ALL could benefit in some way from being connected. On a social level, it would be impossible to be called relevant if one did not follow social media or at least the news that mentions it. So much of our conversations surround commentary regarding memes. I think shows like Family Guy, South Park, and Robot Chicken do such a great job of calling out social media too and relies on the fact that viewers are keeping up with social trends as well.
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