Another Reason for Exploring Social Media

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/05/20/brothers.reunite.twitter.mashable/index.html

With Jun's class, I have come to discover and appreciate Twitter more than FaceBook. The story in this article made me like Twitter even more. The power of social media is impressive and can be scary at times. With all of the privacy issues going on with Facebook I tend not to spill my life out or post too many pictures. This story however shows how social media and technology can be useful not only in our professional lives but also in our personal lives. People finding other people with a common interest, people offering help to those in need and people just making a difference in others' lives. I was reading up about technology on a French website and noticed a lot of non-profits in France are starting to use Twitter as a tool to market themselves. It's a great idea especially when your financial budget doesn't allow you to spend money on advertising.
Social networking sites are giving a new look to how we build our relationships at work and in our personal lives. It's about connecting with people who share similar interests. I believe that social media encourages people to contribute and makes them feel involved. In the "Digital Nation" documentary, there was a story about World of Warcraft players and the international convention that was organized for World of Warcraft fans. Most of the people who attended the convention knew each other virtually and had never met in person. However, they had already built virtual relationships and felt like they were part of something. It made them feel alive. Some of them had even materialized their virtual relationship and got married. Although I am not a big fan of computer or online games, I really saw a connection between all of those people. I think it's important to feel part of a social group, whether it's a online game group or other. Social media allows people to express themselves in a way they otherwise wouldn't feel comfortable expressing themselves. If it helps to find a long lost brother or meet your future husband/wife or just to explore one's creativity, then there is no harm in that!