Module 7 - Canvas Discussion Board Assignment

Due Wednesday, April 25.

I Heard it Through the Grapevine

Instead I heard it through the grapevine
Oh-h, not much longer you be mine
Oh, I heard it, yes, I heard it [heard it through the grapevine]
Oh, just about, just about, just about, to lose my mind"
- Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield (1966)

One of the growing uses of the Internet is "social networking." I'm responsible for the social media strategy at my company, and we're spending considerable time trying to reach audiences through social media. This includes "old" technology like Facebook as well as new technology like Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr. We even use "really old" technology like e-mail.

But the audience for social media is shifting like sand on a beach. More high school students use MySpace than Facebook (18% vs. 10%.) 35-54 is the largest age group using Twitter. For my two college Freshmen, Facebook is as ancient as e-mail. They've moved on to Skype and other social media networks I haven't even figured out.

So what about you? Do you use the Internet for social networking? If so, how do you use it? What advantages does it offer over face to face or POT ("plain old telephone") networking?