Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

Virtual Worlds can be used for many purposes. One of the ways Virtual Worlds can be used is to use it to live another life you can't possibly live in the real world. In the Virtual World, you can pretty much be whoever you want to be and live out your dreams. For a lot of people this is a way for them to fulfill what they can't in real life. Contrary, another way Virtual Worlds can be used as a company communication tool. For example, according to the article, Going to the Virtual Office in Second Life, "...more than 1,400 organizations... use Second Life [Virtual World Platform] to hold meetings, conduct training and prototype new technologies more efficiently." Virtual Worlds creates a platform for large organizations to be able to connect and hold meetings without having to travel long distances to meet and negotiate proposals.

The pros for Virtual worlds are definitely it's ability for people to connect easily. It acts as a social media platform, except it has an active avatar that represents you and doing things you would be doing in real life. In a sense, it's the robotic version of yourself in a 2D screen. Virtual worlds also allows you to buy things you wouldn't typically buy in real life. For example, according to the aritcle, No Budgets, No Boundaries: It's the Real You, "In their day to day lives, shoppers... have sharply trimmed their spending. ...But online, their acquisitive lust rages unabated." This shows that there utterly no boundaries or obstacles limiting what you can get in the Virtual World. Nothing will grow old or not fit in the future because it is always their in real life.

The cons of this however, would definitely be the spending. Although, sending money in the Virtual worlds are cheaper than actually buying the products in real life, even bit adds up. People may end up going overboard and invest too much money into their virtual world and forget about reality. Chances are, the money being invested into their virtual worlds is essential to their everyday lives. The money spent in the virtual world can help with rent, next week's groceries, or even an emergency situation where you need the extra quarter to make a phone call home. 

It's pros and cons aside, Virtual Worlds can definitely foster creativity. In the virtual world you can design everything you want. Your dream house, your favorite outfits, hair color, cars, and even jobs. There's no limit to what you can or can't do in a virtual world, you are the one in control, and you would pretty much be able to design your own life. Because of this freedom, I believe that Virtual world would only get more and more popular. Not only because it gives users the freedom to do whatever they desire to, but it's a great platform for large international companies to use to communicate. Imagine how much time and how cost efficient it would be to be able to save the travel expenses used to fly employees out of the countries for meetings. Those money can be used to better and improve the company as a whole.

Blog About Twitter

Personally, I think that Twitter discussions are a lot easier than Blackboard discussions. This is mainly because I am a visual learner. I love that Twitter has the ability to directly link and provide a small preview of the content of the link. When having discussions, I don't like having to go back and forth rereading an article everytime I want to respond, through Twitter, I can easily scroll back up and I reread a small recap and continue on with the discussion. If I wanted to directly respond to something someone said, I can also "retweet" their tweet in conjunction to my tweet so they would know what I'm responding to. 

However, if I were to compare Twitter discussions with an in class discussion, I would definitely say that Twitter may not be as organized as an in class discussion. This is because in class discussions are usually monitored by the professor so students are more likely to raise their hands and express themselves when called on. Although in class discussions are more organized, I do think that the engagement levels on Twitter would definitely be significantly higher than in class discussions since those who are usually shy and afraid to speak in front of the whole class will be more comfortable expressing themselves through Twitter. Therefore, in my opinion, in class discussions are better in a sense that it is more organized and in the moment whereas Twitter discussions may provide more engagement.

Social Networking Sites

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr, four of the most popular social networking sites. If I were to choose one as my favorite, I would definitely say Instagram. This is because I love how easy it is to explore and interact with other people. Instagram doesn't necessarily have this wall between people, you're free to like whatever you want and comment on whatever you want and its users wouldn't judge you. With over 400 million users and growing, Instagram is definitely one of the most important social networking sites to use for businesses and brands to use as well. There are so many different kinds of businesses and influencers on Instagram, it is hard to get bored with it.

In comparison, Facebook is definitely more personalized and it's a great way to keep up to date with your friends and family. Everyone is super busy with their lives and Facebook allows it's users to keep up to date with their friends and family without having to take out a few hours of their day to drive and go visit each friend. Though it is sad to say that because of Facebook's effective notifications and notifying its users upcoming birthdays, events, and so forth, people don't put in effort to remember special dates anymore. In a sense, a person's birthday is no longer as significant as it was before Facebook's existence. It's simply another notification and a kind gesture to type out "Happy Birthday!" on the other person's wall. However, it is a platform that allows its users to truly keep up and interact with their loved ones and still be able to be updated on current events.

Twitter on the other hand is similar to a giant chatroom. It would probably be the largest chatroom in the world. Twitter allows its users to post simple status updates and allow different users to "retweet" and spread awareness of a particular event or issue and it also allows its users to interact with each other and have a discussion through 140 characters. It's a great platform to let out any thoughts that's running through your head at that particular time or share a funny encounter you've just experienced. There's not really much you can't say on Twitter, it whether or not you want to share it. 

Lastly, Tumblr. I would say Tumblr is a mix of all of the above. It has the visual and interactive aspects of Instagram, keeping up to current events and other issues like Facebook, and it allows its users to really blog about their feelings and speak their minds like Twitter. However, of the four social networking sites, Tumblr has been on a decline. I believe it's highly due to the fact that it's slowly being overpowered by the previous three social networking sites that Tumblr seems, uninteresting. Yes it has the elements that the other three have, but it hasn't really show it's own distinctive ability to stand out amongst the other three. Nonetheless, it is a great platform to get inspired and blog your thoughts and ideas. 

All in all, I would say Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter all has its own distinctive attribute to better our lives and keeping it more interesting. I won't say spending too much time on these sites would be good for you but these sites are intriguing and interesting enough to keep us from going back for more content and get inspired to better ourselves in different ways.

Social Networking

Along with the rapid growth of technological advances, social media platforms have evolved with endless potentials and possibilities to grow business, increase brand awareness, or network with potential employers. These platforms allows us to increase our personal networks and reach a bigger and wider audience. Take Linkedin for example, it has been one of the most popular social networking sites used by professionals worldwide. Linkedin allows its users to connect and network with professionals in practically any field of business. According to a leader in online recruiting, Shally Steckerl in Frank Langfitt's article, Social Networking Technology Boosts Job Recruiting "With Linkedin, he can find people faster using a vastly increased network of contacts." In the past, many recruiters find potential employees through referrals and relied heavily on resumes and cover letters submitted by various individuals. However, with the development of social networking sites, recruiters can search up all qualified individuals with a click of a button. 

The beneficial development of social networking sites also has its "dark" side, too. With the increase of users across various social networking sites, teens and preteens users on the internet have skyrocketed like never before. While it may be beneficial for these teens and preteens to network and connect with their peers, it also creates a new platform for bullying. Cyber bullying has become more common than before, with kids hiding behind their computer screens and typing away nasty comments to another kid that they barely knew in person. Cyberbullying has been a social issue that society has been worrying about. Cyberbullying isn't the only "dark" side of social networking, the inability to create genuine connections has been a huge issue as well. According to The New York Times article by Hilary Stout, Antisocial Networking? "The question on researchers’ minds is whether all that texting, instant messaging and online social networking allows children to become more connected and supportive of their friends — or whether the quality of their interactions is being diminished without the intimacy and emotional give and take of regular, extended face-to-face time." Researcher are constantly looking for answers to whether or not social networking is actually good for interacting and connecting with others. It raises questions that maybe social media and social networking isn't as great as it's sought out to be or maybe its something that is slowly killing the quality of our society.