Discussion Questions

1.Today many TV shows and advertisements try to look amateurish or "homegrown" to emulate what is often seen on the Web. Do you think professional production values will continue to drop, or do you think amateur user-generated content will get better over time? WHY?


I think that the things we see on TV will continue to look amateurish and "homegrown" because it is popular and easy to do. Reality TV doesn't require as much work as a regular TV show. In reality TV there's no script or professional actors. The only thing the TV network has to do is film the show and edit what they filmed. Reality shows are popular and lots of people watch them, so why would TV producers make shows that are more expensive with less viewers? I think that the shows on TV are going to continue to get worse and production values will continue to drop.


2. What social media sites do you find yourself using the most, and why? In your opinion why is Facebook so much more successful than MySpace, and do you think Facebook is "here to stay" for the long term.


I find myself using facebook more than myspace because all of my friends are on facebook. I think facebook is more successful than myspace because it got "cool" and everybody started using it. If none of my friends are using myspace then I am not going to use myspace. The whole point of a social networking website is to connect with all the people involved in your life. If the people you know don't use the website you use, then you are probably going to switch to the website they use. I think facebook will be here to stay for a long time unless another social networking website catches on and becomes "cool."


3. Why is transparency such an important concept in the Social Media world? Is it MORE or LESS important in the offline world? Why?


Transparency is an important concept in the social media world because "it implies openess, communication and accountability." I also use transparency in Photoshop when I want viewers to focus on one object more than the others. An object with 50% opacity wont be looked at the same as an object with 100%. I think transparency is equally important in the online world and offline world. Strong communication using transparency is critical in forming relationships with other people whether it is online or offline.