Alternative Media

I just received the latest issue of Forum, the official publication of an honor society to which I belong, Phi Kappa Phi. The cover story is about "transcending traditional communications through technology." It is titled "Does social media really connect you to humanity? Or does anyone really have thousands of friends?" Besides the fact I think this title is extremely too long, the article is very interesting. I would include a link here, but the magazine is by subscription only. I couldn't find the article online.

The main point I got out of the article is that we need a way to differentiate from our true friends and our "friends of friends" - the people we've never met, but are connected with through the virtual world. The author believes Twitter is the best tool to stay connected, and he thinks it's the easiest to use. (Again, this is just what I got out of the article.)

I don't know if I agree that a way to differentiate is necessary, but whatever new things come out next, I'm sure it will be interesting. I still like Facebook over Twitter because my college friends post pictures and update their current cities and work info. It's an easy way to keep up without actually talking. If that's good or bad, I'm not sure. I don't stay in contact with them directly.

Twitter doesn't seem very popular among my friends. It seems to reach a more professional audience. What do you think?

The author of the article from the Forum article, Dave Taylor, can be found on Twitter here.

Social networking for a different generation

At the OSU Creativity Retreat I participated in Wednesday and Thursday, I got into a wonderful conversation about social networking. I was the only student - every other person was either a professor, department head, dean of a college, etc. Most of them are not into Facebook, Twitter, blogging or any of the like. One lady, not knowing my keen interest in social networking and how it affects different generations, mentioned she recently joined Facebook, but is sad because nobody is adding her as a friend. Another lady said she just added Facebook, but is afraid to add friends because she doesn't want her identity stolen. They had never heard of Twitter and didn't read or publish a blog. One woman did have a Linked In account. I don't ... should I?

I was very excited to explain to these people about the direction communication and marketing has taken. I explained the importance of protecting your information and being careful who you add as your friend. I explained where the privacy settings are located and how to control them. I also explained the wonders of Twitter and told them the name of my blog. They thought it was quite creative, haha.

These academically-minded people were thrilled to hear about social networking and social media as a new innovation. I shared with them how Monsanto, IBM, Boone Pickens and numerous other individuals and companies are using these new tools to help expand their business and contact a new target audience - virtually for free! Yes, these companies must hire someone to use the tools, but the tools are free.

I'm glad more people are beginning to embrace all this new, fun stuff. Maybe they can include some parts in the classes they teach. Wouldn't it be interesting to require a hotel and restaurant administration major to have a blog about what they're learning in class? Or for a child and family services major to write about problems they'd like to change once they have a job? Anything would be interesting to me!

I've shared Twitter with a lot of people recently, but none of them have created an account. I must revamp my elevator pitch of this cool toy! Perhaps I should become more Twitter-savvy myself.

Now, if only I could get my dad to learn how to turn on a computer and check his e-mail ...

Using the right tools

As I was sitting in my office editing the latest edition of Spears School magazine before it went to print, a few young men came in and began talking about a video project to promote a food drive. (I share my office with three other people so this is quite common.)

I was excited to find out these gentlemen advertised the food drive using YouTube last year, with great success. They are doing it again this year, and want a high-quality video. I am just proud of people who are using the right tools to reach their audience.

If this same food drive would've been in my hometown, it would've been a flop. The majority of people do not know what YouTube or Facebook is. These gentlemen are posting the video on YouTube, embedding it in their blogs, putting links on their Facebook profiles, etc. This are the right tools to reach their audience. While college campusus may not be the perfect breeding grounds for helping feed the hungry, OSU students love helping a great cause.

And, thanks to several social media tools, I have no doubt OSU students will roll out and help with this food drive.

P.S. Have I ever mentioned I'm proud to be a Cowboy? Because I am. Through and through.

Spring Break

How do social networking and spring break relate? Well, in my case, thank goodness for Facebook!

My family (Mom, Dad, Sis plus me) is going on a cruise over spring break because my sister is graduating high school. We tried to get my boyfriend on the boat too, but the price to add another person to a room jumped up a TON! Unfortunately, it looked like my boyfriend would stay on land for spring break.

Thanks to a great travel agent in Enid, we got my boyfriend on the ship! Another family going from our neck of the woods had an extra space in a room, so Brandon will be "traveling with their party." The guy he will be "rooming" with is an OSU student.

Thanks to this gentleman's public Facebook profile, I was able to look him up. He is a normal enough looking guy, so spring break looks sunny once again!

Facebook put my mind to ease about my boyfriend rooming with our soon-to-be new friend. I am very grateful to his family for allowing this. I just need to pass on this generosity and keep the circle going. "Don't let the chain of love end with you."

If you are going on a cruise over spring break, maybe it's the same as mine! Hope to see you on the big boat!

Oklahoma Weather

You wouldn't believe the weather here in Oklahoma right now! It's been raining so much! Last night when we left Eskimo Joe's, we had to wade through ankle-deep water to jump in a car. The water was rushing through the streets here in Stillwater. They are only predicting more rain to come.

Because of this, kickoff for the OSU game vs. Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 13 has been moved from 6:05 to 12:05. They are concerned Hurricane Ike will drop almost nine inches of water in this area. I hope we can get through the game without getting wet!

Seeing how OSU is getting word out on the change in kickoff has been interesting. They sent e-mails to all students, faculty and staff. It was announced on ESPN's Sportscenter. But, the announcement also spread like wildfire through Facebook. This is where social networking comes into play. I received a few group invitations about the time change, as well as a couple mass messages. Three years ago, when I was a freshman, I doubt Facebook would've been used to spread news like that. Times are changing, and we better stay up-to-date!

I heard someone say e-mail is quickly becoming an uncool thing of the past. Spreading news through Facebook and other networking sites is the future (and the present!). I encourage you to set up an account on Facebook and find friends in your network. It may even keep you from getting poured on when you try to attend a football game at the wrong time!