A time for more regulation of social media?

A friend recently asked me to fill in a quick dissertation questionnaire about social media and general media self regulation. While filling in the questionnaire it got me thinking about self regulation and if more rules should be set in place for social media outlets.

When answering the questions like, does social media need to have guidelines in place I myself thought that at the moment they have the initial foundations of regulation. Sites such as Facebook, twitter and Instagram give the reader the ability to report any content they find displeasing or offensive and then it is looked into by their offices and dealt with accordingly. However there have been some cases recently in the UK where people have gotten into trouble for what they have said on social media sites. One case was where a young teen posted racially abusive comments online. This resulted in the teen being arrested by the police for their actions. This does open the question whether if a more regulated system was in place messages such as this could be prevented.

A suggestion for this would be for further actions to be made by the social media sites. The idea to not allow abusive or offensive words to be used on a post on their site would seem like a small step to combat bad behaviour. A big problem with this seems to be that people are unaware of the public stage their social media accounts can be viewed from. However I personally do believe that if you are going to use social networks you should be responsible enough to know the consequences of your actions. More action should be taken by social media sites to warn users of their content and publishing privacy to hopefully educate users to use social media to the best of its ability.

Social media is ever on the rise and being picked up by more and more people each day. When used correctly it can have very positive and profitable results, but used incorrectly it can have quite the opposite. I believe more responsibility should be given to the user to account for their own actions while at the same time not letting the freedom of speech be abused.

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Return to the blog

I have been somewhat AWOL from this for quite some time but that is to change! Since my last blog I’ve graduated from university and living back at home in Enniskillen.

I’ll just make this a quick post and get something new up soon! But to leave as a note I want to share an ad I like at the minute from the Co-Op. This quirky ad has a different edge where it uses a traditionally Christmas song but in the context of the summer holidays.
This ad has received both negative and positive feedback but anybody talking about the ad whether it is positive or negative is a plus for the Co-Op as it is successfully drawing attention to the brand. Personally I like the edginess and bravery of their choice and think it works to catch attention to their ad but one Christmas song in summer is enough until the holiday season begins again.

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Sharing the secret of Postsecret

It’s been a while since my last blog as this blog was initially set up as part of my university degree so once I was no longer required to update it regularly I stopped. I have been meaning to get back into it but deciding on an overall theme to my blog seemed impossible so I’ve decided to just post things I find interesting and noteworthy and express my views and opinions, that is what blogs are for after all.

So I am in my final term and final year of my degree and things are starting to become very real. As all students do I sometimes procrastinate but I’m hoping that if I use this as procrastination it might be slightly more mentally stimulating than other things.

So in this blog I want to share a unique website that I stumbled across not long ago, PostSecret. This is quirky website where it takes the idea that people write down their deepest secrets on a postcard and send them to this site, hence the name postsecret. It is completely anonymous and acts as a public platform for people to express their feelings and is updated with new secrets every Sunday. Some of the secrets shown on the site are very emotional and also saddening but others are fun and inspiring. The site is almost used as a counselling and support network for the members posting secrets.

There is a strong online community using postsecret. The strength of the community is seen all the time through messages of support and encouragement and sometimes in physical forms. Here is one heartwarming story on the site this week.

“—–Email—–
Dear Frank,
Last week I posted a secret on the PostSecret App about how hurt my daughter was going to be on Christmas morning when she realized that she didn’t get the one thing she wanted. Her ballerina jewelry box had been delivered to the wrong address and the people who received it kept it for themselves.

Someone named Hayley in Pennsylvania read my secret and searched for me via her own secret because she had lost track of my post. Other people read her post and worked hard to make sure that I got Hayley’s message. Hayley found me and we talked early Friday morning. I gave her my address and she purchased a ballerina jewelry box for my daughter. I was shocked when it was delivered the very next day. It was on time for Christmas and my daughter absolutely loved it.

She’s four and when she saw that the box played music and that the ballerina spun around she almost started crying because she was so happy. It’s all because of you Frank. You and your wonderful work that you do bringing strangers together. Without the PostSecret App, my daughter would have missed out on something that has meant the world to her and me. I can’t thank you and Hayley enough. Please, always remember what was good about the App and not just the bad.

Sincerely,
Susie in California (with permission) “

This post shows the greatness of some people online. The above does mention an unfortunate side of the postsecret site that has recently come to the foreground. The site also had a very popular live app where people could upload their secrets and post comments however some people took advantage of this and uploaded crude images and left malicious and threatening comments to other users. Now the app has unfortunately been removed due to a small minority of people abusing this site.

I personally really enjoy the site and find myself checking in for new secrets every Sunday. I hope it continues to stay successful. Try the site out for yourself and see what you make of it, it isn’t for everyone. If you do enjoy it and want to see more than the posts uploaded every sunday you can visit this archived site I also found which has previous posts all stored.

Enjoy.

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Video killed the radio star, but is video killing the music?

The music industry changes almost as quick as it comes around, with new genres and styles coming into the spotlight all the time. The vinyl changed to tape, then to cd and now to online download. Since the music video was introduced it appears to have only grown in popularity.

There is much speculation of what was the first music video, but research showed two main videos coming up repeatedly. The Beatles – Strawberry Fields Forever is claimed to be the first.

Ironically The Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star is also speculated to be the first ever official music video as it was the first video to be played on MTV.

From here the music video only gained fame. Artists from all over the world began making music videos to accompany their records.  A new art form was created and many spent thousands on producing their videos. The most expensive music video ever produced was Michael Jackson‘s “Scream” video which cost $7 million to create.

Music videos play a huge part in the music industry today. It has become second nature that almost every single that is released has an accompanying music video, with the video usually being released in advance to the actual record. Many videos have elaborate storylines and plots which are dramatised in many ways in different videos.

Lady Gaga is no stranger to a dramatised and controversial music video. The videos behind each of her singles have become more and more extrovert. In 2010 she released her video for the single “Telephone” which featured Beyoncé. The video, which is shown below, has generated over 100 million views on youtube which further proves the success of the music video in todays industry.

But are we becoming too interested in the music video and forgetting about the record that is the inspiration for the video?

To gain success in such a competitive industry artists need to pull out all the stops to remain relevant and interesting and the music video is a way in which this can be done. An artists style and messages can be expressed through their videos showing what they stand for and the passion in their music.

So for now, the music video is here to stay.

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Willow Smith heating up the music industry

People of all ages have had success in the music industry from 48-year-old Susan Boyle to 16-year-old Justin Bieber. It can’t be denied that the music industry has an opening for everyone, even those 10 and under.

Above is the music video of 10-year-old Willow Smith. Willow is the daughter of famous “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” actor Will Smith. She has previously acted alongside her father in the 2007 film “I am Legend” before entering the illustrious music industry. Willows debut single “Whip my hair”, shown above, reached no.11 in the american Billboard charts making her the youngest solo artist in history to reach that spot. This is an incredible achievement for someone who has only just reached double digits in years.

It seems as though Willow Smith has broken the ice for child stars with musical talent.

This is MattyB possibly the newest child star trying to break the music industry and he seems to be making quite an impression. MattyB is a seven year old rapper from america who covers songs from artists like Katy Perry and Justin Bieber putting his own seven year old twist on them saying he “sits and analysis’ the world from his swing set”. His youtube account has received over 25 million views and he seems to be set for stardom in the music industry with people such as celebrity blogger Perez Hilton supporting him.

Will 2011 be the year that child stars take over the music industry?

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The curse of Big Brother

This year we have seen the end of the infamous Big Brother, which for many was about time, but will all reality TV follow in Big Brothers footsteps and lose its charm?

Almost every day there is some form of  a reality show on television. From shows like “Come Dine With Me“, to “X-Factor” and “I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!“. It seems that when the quantity of reality shows increases, the quality decreases.

Big Brother appeared to have overstayed it’s welcome on Channel 4 with 11 series of the show. When it began in 2000, it did fill the gap in the market for reality TV but since then other networks such as ITV have jumped on the band wagon with shows such as X-Factor and I’m a Celebrity. Now everyday television contains some form of reality show whether it’s a DIY show, makeover or talent contests.

Even X-Factor is getting repetitive. It seems that now they always have the token novelty act such as Jedward last year and now Wagner which annoys many as it is primarily a singing contest. What frustrates people is seeing many better acts leave the signing competition when these acts remain. Is it all just getting too much about the fame and not the talent?

Moving on to ITV’s “I’m a Celebrity Get me out of here” we have to doubt what celebrity now means. On this years series we have an former popstars, former comedians, former  tv personalities and a former footballers ex wife. When the show claims itself to have “celebrities” in its title, we expect celebrities who have more of a claim to celebrity status than being the ex-wife of an ex-footballer.

We are to blame for the high quantity of reality TV on our screens as we watch them, talk about them and some even call into them. I think this reality show boom needs to come to an end to some extent. I am not denying that all reality television is dying as some shows are quite entertaining but many are becoming very much the same, less and less entertaining and more about profits with each series. Once a new unique reality show comes to the forefront, the reality television market may pick up again and have a second life, but for now it appears to be following the same scripts it has for years. The current reality television needs to make way for newer reality shows in order to keep the reality era fresh and alive.

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Can Disney keep up with the kids?

Growing up I fell in love with Disney films. I am talking about the cartoon classics such as Cinderella, Snow White, Pinocchio and even the Hunchback of Notre Dame. They were all typical “Once upon a time” stories with happy endings and as a child I did not expect more than that. Even today, several years on from the first release of many of these films, they still bring a smile to my face and always cheer me up.

However the age of film has changed greatly since then with animation becoming more and more popular. The question I want to pose is whether Disney still has what it takes to make successful childhood films for this “new generation”. Being a fan of all things Disney I am biased in my opinion but I believe they have adapted fairy tales for this “new generation” successfully. 

Disney have adpated their films to their new audience by enhancing animation and the storylines. Animations such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo and Wall-e are some of Disney Pixar’s finest work. Their charm is that they can capture the imagination of audiences both young and old and I think this is their secret to success.

Here is the trailer of Disney’s 2009 “The Princess and the Frog“.

You can see that it is a successful children’s film as it has an IMDB rating of 7.3/10 to show its sucess. This film was aimed at the “new generation” of children with sharp animation and a colourful plot but still keeping with the typical Disney outline of your dreams coming true. It is replaying Disney’s main theme of happiness which, along with excitement and a good storyline, is what I believe to be an essential component of children’s cinema.

Take a look at Disney’s newest released animation “Tangled”. 

Tangled is an adaptation of the fairy tale Rapunzel. Having only been released on November 24th 2010 I cannot comment on its sucess as a children’s film for this generation, but if it follows in the footsteps of the previous films I have discussed I think it will be a hit with Disney’s “new generation”.

I think Disney has managed to keep up with the ages producing quality films that children can grow up with. I know the films I watched as a child will always remain some of my favourites and I think Disney will still be a leading name in children’s cinema for many generations to come.

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Rugby, not just for the boys

Rugby has always been a sport that is associated with burly men knocking each other about. But we now live in the 21st century where the girls are now giving it a go. We no longer live in an age where women have to fit into the stereotypes of housewives and mothers so why shouldn’t women venture into to a predominately male sport?

I came to write a blog about this when I was watching Hollyoaks during the week and seen part of the storyline of the show, surrounding the character Jasmine Costello. She is a teenage girl who is struggling with the secret that she wants to be a boy. In an episode it showed a flash-forward of father saying that rugby was not a sport for girls. This angered me a bit because it is a popular show that it is using stereotypes for its storylines.

I am not overtly feminist in any way, but what annoys me and many women who play rugby is the criticism from people who belive that it is a sport just for men. Yes it is rough, you do get knocked about  a bit and you do end up with a few bruises and scrapes but that’s what makes it all part of the game. I have played rugby for over 5 years now and have loved it from the very beginning but it is disheartening to hear people say that you shouldn’t play the sport because you are female.

Women’s rugby is a sport that is growing from strength to strength and I hope that little comments in shows like Hollyoaks don’t put people off from giving women’s rugby a try. For me it only makes me work and play harder to prove that girls can do it just as well as the boys.

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Picture story

Paris 2010

Earlier this year I visited Disneyland Paris.

The weather was bitterly cold in France, but that could not dampen the magical Disney spirit that possesses the park.

When in the park the first thing to do was grab a map and take a quick tour around the whole park.

Part of  Disney’s magic is shown through it’s highly creative parades which help bring to life all of Disney’s creations.

Being a big kid at heart and to get the full Disneyland experience a few photos with some of the favourite Disney characters is a must.

The theme park side of Disneyland is just as creative as the costumes and parades with attractions to suit all visitors to the park.

Even though the focus of the trip was the visit to the Disneyland park, a visit to one of Paris’ most famous landmarks is unmissable.

Dineyland Paris is a must see for everyone, children and adults. There is something there for everyone to enjoy and you also have the stunning sights of Paris as a plus for any visit to the park.

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Timeline: The growth of Facebook

A chronology of the Facebook revolution.

2004:

February Facebook was launched by college student Mark Zuckerberg and co-founders Dustin Moskovitz, Chris Hughes and Eduardo Saverinin in their dorm room at Harvard University.

March The facebook site expanded to Stanford, Columbia and Yale universities.

June Palo Alto in California becomes the new base of operations for facebook.

December Facebook reaches almost 1 million users.

 

2005:

May The facebook network expands to over 800 college networks. $12.7 million is raised in venture capital by Accel Partners.

August The name is changed from thefacebook.com to facebook.com

September High school networks are added.

October International school networks are added to facebook.

December More than 5.5 million active users recorded.

 

2006:

April Facebook mobile is launched. $27.5 million is raised from partners.

May Work networks are added to the facebook site.

December Facebook reaches over 12million active users.

 

2007:

March Over 2 million active Canadian users and 1 million active UK users.

October 50 million active users. Microsoft takes an equity stake of $240 million dollars in facebook.

 

2008:

February Facebook launches in French and Spanish.

March Facebook is launched in German. Privacy controls are updated.

April Facebook launches Facebook Chat.

August Over 100 million users reached.

 

2009:

February Facebook “Like” feature added.

 

2010:

July 500 million users reached.

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