Real Life “Global Village”

The Montreal Gazette reported today that Chris Hughes, one of the co-founders of Facebook spoke to a group of 600 paid guest yesterday at the Palais des congress in Montreal. His message was directed to the corporate industries that lacked the knowledge of how to effectively use social media for the greater good of the company. I think all of us in MSTU 106 – Social and Digital Media, would agree that social media can and has shaped most industries.

The inevitable question that arises from a business standpoint is: How do I use social media to better my business? First you need to do some research and ask your self the following:

§ What types of social medias are out there?

§ What social medias apply to my business?

§ How can I maximize the effectiveness of the social medias?

§ Who is my audience?

§ How do I educate, entertain, and engage my audience through social media?

Chris points out that there are many social medias out there with numerous opportunities for businesses to build their online community. It is up to the businesses to figure out which ones will be most beneficial to them. For any of you skeptics that think social media is not here to stay, it’s being reported that investments in social media are at a steady increase this decade and will continue to do so for years to come. Check out these social medias that are up and coming with millions of followers already.

§ Zynga

§ Spotify

§ Tumbl

§ Instagram

The social networking guru leaves us with this statement:

“Businesses in the future won’t ask whether they’re on social media but how they’re using it”.

To read more about Chris Hughes and his visit at the Palais des conger click here: http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Facebook+founder+Chris+Hughes+finds+friends/5467185/story.html

Forget about street cred, its all about the web cred

I was driving back to school after having Sunday dinner at my dad's house when he asked the question all parents ask: “So what are you learning at school?” I was feeling somewhat chatty, so decided to talk about my Social and Digital Media class. When the topic of blogging came up he was very enthusiastic and told me to Google Tavi Gevenson

Later that night I followed his advice. I was shocked and very impressed with the results I got. Turns out Tavi is a very trusted and respected fashion blogger. What's so surprising about that? Well, she is only fifteen years old and has been blogging since the age of eleven.

She recently launched an online magazine called “Rookie”. Besides her online presence she has also appeared in Teen Vogue, French Vogue and Pop Magazine. She has definitely proved herself in the blogging community. Lady Gaga commented saying that “She is the future of journalism”.

We talk lots about communities in class and Tavi says she started blogging to become part of a community. “I'd been reading a number for a while, wanted to be part of the community where I could discuss a topic my friends weren't interested in, and to have a creative outlet to force myself out of dressing boringly.” She also helps support other blogs by having a page dedicated to her favourite ones.

Tavi's success in the blogging world enforces the power of social and digital media. I never really understood how these communities worked or how important they are to the members. It gets you to thinking what impact you might make once you enter the blogging world.

Written by Emiy Brewster

Forget about street cred, its all about the web cred

I was driving back to school after having Sunday dinner at my dad's house when he asked the question all parents ask: “So what are you learning at school?” I was feeling somewhat chatty, so decided to talk about my Social and Digital Media class. When the topic of blogging came up he was very enthusiastic and told me to Google Tavi Gevenson

Later that night I followed his advice. I was shocked and very impressed with the results I got. Turns out Tavi is a very trusted and respected fashion blogger. What's so surprising about that? Well, she is only fifteen years old and has been blogging since the age of eleven.

She recently launched an online magazine called “Rookie”. Besides her online presence she has also appeared in Teen Vogue, French Vogue and Pop Magazine. She has definitely proved herself in the blogging community. Lady Gaga commented saying that “She is the future of journalism”.

We talk lots about communities in class and Tavi says she started blogging to become part of a community. “I'd been reading a number for a while, wanted to be part of the community where I could discuss a topic my friends weren't interested in, and to have a creative outlet to force myself out of dressing boringly.” She also helps support other blogs by having a page dedicated to her favourite ones.

Tavi's success in the blogging world enforces the power of social and digital media. I never really understood how these communities worked or how important they are to the members. It gets you to thinking what impact you might make once you enter the blogging world.

Written by Emiy Brewster

Facebook- The newest media hub

With Facebook having a reported 800 million users, Mark Zuckerberg has clearly developed a revolutionary social media tool. But with anything that is as popular as Facebook, you must keep improving it in order to keep users interested in it. Right?

At a recent Facebook strategy conference, held in San Francisco, the company unveiled their plans of transforming into a media hub. Not only does Facebook want to continue being the leading website for social communication- but they now want to offer new features which will help them market out new products too.

With new partners such as Netflix, and Spotify, you will be able to see what your friends are listening to or watching on their computers. Their hopes are that this slight change will have a positive impact on sales for their partners. In the long run, these changes are absolutely essential for the company’s growth, but some Facebook users don’t see it this way. Truthfully, I think most are just concerned that they won’t be able to ‘figure out’ the new Facebook.

In the Facebook Blog, after a recent posting about the news, there were comments from almost five thousand users stating their outrage:

“Facebook is completely ruined, it's confusing, it's not fluid and it's hardly user friendly. I hate it now which is a shame because I have absolutely it loved for the last four years”

“I WANT MY OLD FB BACK! I DO NOT LIKE YOU DECIDING WHAT I WANT AND DON'T WANT...... IT IS MY CHOICE...NOT YOURS!”

After I read some of these comments, I stopped to think about why people thought Facebook (which is ultimately a free service) was always going to remain unchanged. I have come to my own personal conclusion that many users on the web aren’t aware of how Web 2.0 works.

In a recent lecture during my Social Media class, Andrea Tavchar (our professor) talked about the difference between Web 1.0 and 2.0.

She explained that Web 1.0 was merely an information hub, whereas 2.0 conveys a two-way communication platform. This allows you to communicate with people all over the world, spark conversations, and voice opinions. It also allows companies to grow with how easy it is to find information on its target audience.

When Facebook was developed, it created a whole new way for companies to collect information. They can now pay Facebook to find out what your favorite colour is, favorite food, favorite bands, and favorite hair products. The amount of information they can collect is endless.

Now ask yourself, why wouldn’t you take advantage of this if you were a product developer for a company?

All Facebook is doing now is collecting more data from its consumers, and marketing to them to turn a profit. With the amount of active and committed users they have and can influence, they are sure to be successful with this.

I believe what they are doing is an absolutely genius business move. I will continue to love and support Facebook, maybe even more so because I respect the risk they took in doing this.

Will your loyalty to Facebook stay as is? Or will you run and never look back?

Sheesha for fun!

Sheesha in Toronto is enjoyed by many looking to spend a relaxing (and yes, legal) night out. Its roots trace back to India, though now sheesha has arguably entered the mainstream worldwide. The practice of adding flavours is relatively new and has really taken hold just over the past 20 or 30 years. Flavours could be from strawberry, watermelon, lemon, peach, apple and a lot more.

My favourite sheesha café in Toronto city is Casablanca Cafe. It is located at the Bloor & Danforth line. You would definitely enjoy the food and beverages from:

• Moroccan tea
  
  

• Baklava

• Kefta sandwich
  

There is also Hookah places that have belly dancers on Friday and Saturday nights! If you were hanging out with a bunch of friends and just sick and tired of clubbing or going to bars then you should check out this Hookah place called Sheesha. I went to “Sheesha” with my friends and loved the belly dancing show playing all types of music from American to Arabic to Spanish to Hebrew.

Can we talk about the negative side of smoking Hookah? Yes we can! It is true that Hookah cafes bring people together with different nationalities, but the consequences for smoking it is high. According to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) advisory, a typical one-hour session of hookah smoking exposes the user to 100 to 200 times the volume of smoke inhaled from a single cigarette. Even after passing through the water, the tobacco smoke produced still contains high levels of toxic compounds, including carbon monoxide, heavy metals and cancer-causing chemicals.

Will you still think of smoking it for fun? Think about it.

I'm Canadian, eh?

Ryan Reynolds, Drake, Ryan Gosling, and Justin Bieber. What do these names have in common except for the fact that I’d marry them in a heartbeat? They’re all Canadians. To know that these heartthrobs of Hollywood come from our homeland give Canadian’s some cool street cred in the media today.

So why is it that in recent poll done by social networking site Badoo.com ranked Canada 4^th Least Cool Nationality? I thought hosting the Olympics was worth some popularity points.

I stumbled upon an article by Rosemary Counter titled “Who are you calling uncool?”. Counter talks about how our neighbor Americans shadow Canada and our struggles to shape and identify what makes us Canadians.

30,000 people across 15 countries voted America as the Coolest Nationality. Down at the bottom, Canada was 4^th Least Cool with Belgium (I guess waffles aren’t as cool anymore) and Turkey. We have our trademark symbols of:

• Hockey (Despite the negative outlook we have after the Vancouver Riot due to the loss of the Stanley Cup. Go Canucks Go!),
• Tim Hortons (Sorry Starbucks, I like my coffee’s for less then $7),
• The Maple Leaf.

Drake from teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation to the YouTube sensation Justin Bieber, new generation of pop culture is making Canada COOL.

From a PR perspective of these celebrities, do think it’s important of promoting their Canadian patriotism amongst the American competitors? Should they value the Canadian fan base? Absolutely.

While watching award shows such as the MMVA’s and the AMA’s, doesn’t it make us proud when our hometown boys give a shout out and appreciates coming from a “little town in Canada”?

When it comes down to it I will have more love and support for the Canadian hunks compared to the California Surfer boys like Zac Efron.

No offence to the thirty thousand people who voted on this poll, but you can say America is the coolest nationalities all you want because I couldn’t hear you over my health-care benefits.

Who’s your favourite Canadian?

Rockwood; The Place to Be On a Saturday Night!

Rockwood; the Club to Be At On a Saturday Night!

        

Rockwood located at 31 Mercer Street is a beautiful downtown venue. If you’re looking for good drinks, good people and a good time then look no further. If you’re worried about the dress code, then don’t fret this isn’t a club like this is London or Time. As long as you show up in some fresh jeans, nice kicks and an ironed shirt you’re good to go.
 The Layout:
Whether you want to be inside or outside, it’s up to you. Rockwood is a three story high building with the entrance on the ground level, the club, bar, and lounge on the 2^nd floor, and if you’re feeling the need for some fresh air no need to leave the club because the 3^rd floor has a beautiful open concept patio where you can also grab a drink if you’re feeling parched.

The Experience:

   I have been to a few clubs, and personally Rockwood is my favourite. From the way everyone dresses, to the excellent bar and bathroom services, to the positive energy you get hit with as you enter the club, they have a wide selection of music ranging from top 40, to reggae and R & B, to house music and dub step. I have an immense love for music so to have such a wide selection of music, is just an added bonus to this beautiful club. If you have nothing to do on a Saturday take my word for it round up a couple friends and head on down to Rockwood.