Information Age and Social Media - GEC 1 (Reviewer)

Evolution of Media

• Pre-Industrial Age (35,000 BC)

• Industrial Age (1700s - 1930s)

• Electronic Age (1930s - 1980s)

• Information Age (1900s - Present)

Pre-Industrial Age (35,000 BC)

people discovered fire, developed paper from plants, and forged equipment or weapons through stone, bronze, copper, and iron

Industrial Age (1700s - 1930s)

• The period from the 1800s to 1957, when work processes were simplified through mechanization and automation

• People used the power of steam, developed machine tools, established iron production and manufacturing of various products (including books through a printing press)

Electronic Age (1930s - 1980s)

invention of the transistor ushered in the electronic age

Information Age (1900s - Present)

internet paved the way for faster communication and the creation of social networks. People advanced the use of microelectronics with the invention of personal computers, mobile devices, and wearable technology.

Information Age

• the idea that access to and the control of information

• a.k.a Computer Age, Digital Age, and the News Media Age

• truly began with the creation of the World Wide Web

Claude E. Shannon

• “Father of Information Theory”

• an American mathematician and engineer regarded as the “Father of Information Theory”.

• his work founded how people understand and use digital communication today

James R. Messenger

• proponent of the “Theory of Information Age in 1982”

• was a writer and filmmaker who described the resulting societal era as the “Information Age”

Digital Communication

procedure of exchanging information, messages, and ideas via digital technologies and platforms

Social Media

form of digital communication that allows users to form online networks and communities for socializing, sharing information, and posting user-created content

Different Types of Social Media Platforms

1. Social Networks

2. Microblogging

3. Long-form Blogging

4. Professional Networking

5. Video Curation and Search

6. Messaging

7. Community Forums

Social Media’s Role in Society

1. Actors and writers can use social media to connect with fans of their work.

2. Politicians use them to communicate with constituents and voters.

3. Nonprofit organizations may use them to promote charitable causes or called donations.

4. Government agencies can use social media to communicate with the public during emergencies.

5. Social media is also an important form of marketing for many companies.

Advantages of Social Media

• Connectivity

• Information Dissemination

• Marketing Opportunities

• Educational Resource

Disadvantages of Social media

• Misinformation

• Sleep Disruption

• Mental Health Impact

• Physical Health Problems

• Child Sexual Exploitation

How to be a Responsible Social Media User?

1. Think before you post.

2. Verify before sharing.

3. Adjust privacy settings.

4. Respect copyrights.

5. Limit screen time

6. Report harmful content

7. Use social media for learning and growth

Misinformation

refers to false or inaccurate information that is spread with or without the intention to deceive

Disinformation

refers to false or inaccurate information that is spread intentionally

Echo Chamber

an environment where a person only encounters information or opinions that reflect and reinforce their own