Blog Post 6: Mass Communication and Social Media

Previously in communication studies, mass media was one sided, where owners of communications, talked to--or at-- consumers. Today, the consumers are the biggest communicators. The breadth of people that average folks can reach with a single tweet is incredible. The technology of such media available for free to users is changing the landscape in how we communicate. Not only are we generating search-ables with hash-tags, and tagging people in photos-- we are also connecting through very apparent and track-able networks of people.

http://www.onbile.com/info/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/social-media-reach.png

These networks have changed the ways in which mass media is utilized, no longer are owners of communication networks speaking to or at consumers, but rather consumers are communicating to each other by their own series of networks. This has allowed for new societal norms of expertise, and new methods of becoming a renowned communicator. Instead of navigating through old means to be a powerful communicator (education, wealth, ability) now anyone who can master the skills of new technology can accomplish this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U-tOghblfE