Generational Gap

What's really going on? I honestly can't explain it, but some people from previous generations refuse to accept the benefits of Web 2.0. For example, over the summer while in the car with one of my parents friends, she began to blatantly criticize the use of Web 2.0. All she did was talk about the negative reports that she had heard about Facebook & Twitter. However, you can't judge a book or movie just by what the critics say.

While we were really slow at work the other day, I took the time to add to an unfinished blog post on my personal blog. While I was writing, one of my co-workers brought up social media, but he was even more critical than my parents friend. This guy is maybe in his late 30s, but he was completely against Web 2.0. So I saw this as the perfect opportunity to defend it based on what we have been discussing in our Capstone class. FAIL! He would not listen to any point that I tried to make. I tried to explain to him about personal branding and how businesses are moving online, but he completely disagreed. Below I will list some of his main issues with Web 2.0, and then I will share my response for each one.

#1- Blogging

He was completely against blogging because he didn't see the need to share all of your information with the public. Why should I allow a stranger from a random place in the world in my life? That was basically his philosophy. I began to explain to him that my blog originated because of my interest in keeping people updated about my internship experience in Los Angeles, and that it turned into a motivational/inspirational blog that encourages people to reach for their dreams. He said that if he wanted to write a diary or journal he would just buy one.

#2 - Facebook/Twitter

His main reason for not using Facebook/Twitter was because it sounded like he just didn't care about what other people were doing. However, he also didn't see why he needed to share his information with people he rarely talks to anymore. He says everybody has about 4-6 close friends, and those friends are the only ones that he needs to tell about his life. I personally see it as another way to network. Also, it can help you reconnect with people from your past and people you just met. For example, Facebook is one of the only ways that I keep in touch with the people I worked with this summer. Of course I could still e-mail them, but e-mail is not what it used to be. I tried so hard to convince him that there were many benefits to social media, but he just wouldn't listen.

#3 Personal Branding

This topic hit a nerve because he basically said that personal branding was stupid. Since this is the trend I am following, "How we use Web 2.0 to brand ourselves online," I was ready to let him know exactly how I felt. Even though I explained to him that in this generation employers are now moving online and learning about people before they even hire them, he wouldn't change his mind. He told me that personal branding is perfect for the industry that I am planning on entering, but not for the average person. Then one of my other co-workers jumped in to defend his claim. I am still a little upset about this defeat.

Anyway, I didn't win the debate, but I will not let it be over. I need some good thoughts to take back to work so that I can convince him that Web 2.0 is not going anywhere and he needs to hop aboard before he gets left behind. Help me guys! I really want to win this debate. I know I can win because there are many points that could really make him think. Check out this article below that talks about someone else who became frustrated with the generational gap.


The Generation Gap

Tweet Tweet!

It's happened. I could hold off no longer. Since a lot of people have been talking about Twitter and how much they love it, I decided to go ahead and join the Twitter train. Unfortunately, I am still confused about the purpose of Twitter. I have been slowly trying to follow people on Twitter, and tweet occasionally, but it still has not proven to be that important in my life yet. I guess it is pretty cool to see people talking about a current topic in real time, but is that all that it is for? Maybe I just need some more followers. Follow me @emilioejr. Thanks!

 

UPDATE - 4/14/2011
So I am a Twitter fanatic now! It's funny how my interest in Twitter just peaked after a couple of weeks. One of the main reasons is because I think I am finally starting to understand the fascination with Twitter. I have a little over 30 followers, and I am following about 80 people/companies right now. One of the interesting things with Twitter is that it makes you feel like your opinion matters. I made this discovery while talking to one of my best friends from high school who is an avid Twitter. After explaining that my Twitter knowledge was limited, she began to explain why people might be so attracted to it. That is when it clicked. People want to feel as if what they are saying is important. On Facebook, only your Facebook friends can see what you post. However, Twitter is like a large family. You are connected via hash tags, common interest, and your followers. It is truly amazing.

So there has to be more to it right? How can something so simple amaze the world? That's just it, it's simple! When you log into Twitter, you can view real-time results about what people all around the world think about a certain topic. Then you can add your own opinion to the ongoing discussion. Even if nobody says it, everybody secretly wants to have one of their tweets become a "Top Tweet." Your tweet can become a "Top Tweet" if a fairly large number of people RT(ReTweet) or favorite it. This goes back to my post about things going viral and America's fascination with fame. Everybody wants their 15 minutes of fame/attention. Twitter provides this need to those looking for it.

Finally, Twitter is short and sweet. You can quickly see what is on people's mind. You can choose to get people's tweets to your mobile devices so that you can always know what's going on. There are now ways to share videos and pics through external links.  You can promote products or businesses. Twitter is going to be the new revolution. In fact, Twitter has already taken over. Don't get left behind. #Seriously

Life After Graduation

Since graduation is in six weeks, my stress meter should be rising rapidly. However, my stress has remained fairly low because of many reasons. The main reason is because of my preparation for life after graduation. As a communications major, I feel that I have been well prepared for many types of jobs that pay well. Graduates with communications degrees are usually effective in any field because good communication is key to the success of any business. Unfortunately, this sometimes makes looking for a job more difficult because of the array of options that may be available. Therefore, I have some tips that all graduates should be following in the coming weeks.

#1 - Analyze what your top skills are.
We all know that there are certain things that we are just exponentially better at than others. So why not capitalize on our strongest skills and see how that can assist with post-graduation plans. Also, you should plan to ask people who know you well, like classmates, faculty, and co-workers, what they think you would succeed at based on your skills.


#2 - Don't wait until the last minute.
Time flies by. Graduation will be here before you know it. So don't wait until the last minute to search for jobs and get your materials together. Career Services has excellent resources, and they are always willing to help in any way they can. Remember the early bird gets the worm.

#3 - Use your resources.
Make sure that you are keeping in contact with alumni from your major, friends that may already be in the field you are planning to enter, family that can assist you, the coordinator from where you interned, and anyone else that you encounter that could be a valuable resource. Also, remember to do your research online and build your brand through Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Blogs.


#4 - Don't settle for less.
So what if the economy is struggling. You are a bright and gifted individual who deserves the best. If you keep this attitude then you will definitely get where you need to be. I'm not saying that you should turn down a job because it is paying less than $100,000, but I am encouraging you to not settle for the first offer that you get. Do you really want to work at a job that is completely unrelated to what you have been studying for the past four years? More importantly, it's not about the money, but about the happiness that comes from doing what you truly want to do.

#5 - You only live once, and life gets harder the older you get.
Don't let anyone or anything hold you back from achieving your goals. It may be hard at first to get where you want to be, but it will be worth it once you get there. So, if you have big plans, act on them while you're young. Once you get a family, numerous expenses, and various obligations, it will be much harder to follow any path that seems promising.

These are just a few tips that I hope we all can follow. Everything we are learning in the Capstone Seminar class, and everything that we have learned in our past classes have been preparing us for the big day. Who knows? You could have a future director, producer, editor, writer, social media coordinator, marketing manager, public relations specialist, or even a future small business owner sitting right next to you. 

Here are some websites that I suggest we all take a look at in preparation for graduation:
Entertainment Careers
Occupational Outlook
Life After College
Gradspot

2011 will be our year to exceed expectations, impact those who we encounter and make a name for ourselves in the world.

Reputation Management & Social Media

It happens so often it seems these days. With news practically available everywhere, information can travel so fast that one minute you could be the most loved person on the planet and the most despised the next. I know they say that good news travels fast, but good gossip travels even faster. Your reputation is always on the line! While continuing to search for different ways in which we use social media to market and brand ourselves, some of my research led me to reputation management. Before the rise of social media, it was much more difficult to quickly reach a large portion of the population if something went wrong. For example, if my celebrity client had a nude picture "leak", was caught with a hooker, or was seen leaving their child in the car, the public will probably learn about the incident in seconds. However, with social media, you don't only have to rely on what the news says about the situation. You can check Twitter or Facebook to see if the person has said anything on their official page, check for videos or webcasts, or even blog posts. This sparked my interest because of the recent incidents with Charlie Sheen and Chris Brown. It is interesting to see how social media (new new media) is slowly become a major part of new media. For example, when giving updates about the situations, new media is now quick to tell the public what was said on Twitter or via webcam. So, in case you ever acquire some fame, whether short or long-term, I have the following tips for you:

#1 - If you are famous, keep your private pics to yourself!
You can't trust anyone these days. So if you are a major celebrity, they will most likely sell that to the public. Oh wait, you probably wanted it to be released to promote your next project.


#2 - Gain a strong fan base on Twitter and/or Facebook.
When everyone else is putting you down, your fans can not only make you feel better but also put positive comments out there for the public to retweet and share.

#3 - Remember that anything you put on the internet is going to stay there FOREVER!
You can issue your "Cease and Desist" to the major media outlets and blogs, but the average person doesn't care. They will continue to share it on forums, blogs, comments, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

#4 - Social Media is your friend.
When you are truly connected via social media. It gives you a voice without bias or judgement. If the news media quotes what you say, they can change the order or alter the meaning to make their news story sound better. When you are a social media freak, you can directly address the public and your fans.

#5 - Think before you DO!
If you don't know what that means, then you are a lost cause.

Think about all the ways that we can share information today, and remember that your reputation is online and therefore on the line.  Take a look cool website at The Conversation Prism. It's diagrams and charts relate directly to what we have been discussing and blogging about.