Gaby Colletta's CSMT Post #2 Digiculture

This post is in response to Ceci's "Social Media and Me" http://csmt11.posterous.com/ceci-diaz-social-media-and-me


In the realm of social media, the tension between intimacy and the lack thereof is one that interests me.  I liked that Ceci brought to focus the many ways in which social media actually enhances not only our face-to-face conversations but our entire sphere of discourse.  Social media has evolved from something greater than a communication tool to a cyber and physical culture.   Maybe certain aspects are fads – I know my livejournal is dead – but somehow this “fad” is entwined in our culture.  The cultural imprint is not just a memory of that phase in social media.   It’s also the growth of a new language.   People want to know the latest #buzz #trendingtopic about a #charliesheen #fail.  We see how social media impacts the development of our language.

 

Twitter itself has become a cultural mouthpiece for current events meets entertainment.  I stumbled upon this #infographic that exhibited “the top 5 tweets per second events” starting with Beyonce at the VMAs, closely followed by the VA earthquake.  Thought this would be interesting to share:

 

http://www.adverblog.com/2011/09/26/the-battle-of-twitter-vs-time-infographic/

 

Social media seems to infuse itself not only in entertainment culture but also corporate culture.   On my first day of class I mentioned that an employer actually asked me for my Twitter handle.   “I’m going to follow you…see if there is anything interesting you come up with.” Twitter as a test.  Twitter as a resume.  Twitter as a job posting.  I can honestly say that in the effort to recruit for a fall intern, my colleagues and I actually posted job listings in tweets.  Not to mention the newfound revenue in tweeting. From a technology providing social capital to monetary capital, it is hard to deny the impact.  

 

Coming back to relationships.  I wanted to emphasize this idea of building stronger relationships as a result of fostering a digital culture.  Social media nurtures this culture and facilitates its growth in dynamic and nuanced ways.   I am still in awe of the fact that designers are created phone apps with augmented reality features.  I wonder how such apps might affect or perhaps heighten personal relationships? Just a seed for thought.  

 

On a side note, I wanted to share this blurb on KLM.  Thought it was appropriate given the class discussion on airline conversation.  

 

http://www.adverblog.com/2011/09/21/klm-live-reply-140-characters-140-klm-employees/