Mediated Communication and Social Media – Discussion

Mediated communication and social media (e.g., email, blogs, Facebook, Skype, and Twitter) have played a major role in changing the way that organizations engage in communication with their customers and with employees internally. As I have seen in the Military, mediated communication has had its share of friction over the years. Some recent examples may be extreme; however, it shows the magnitude on how mediated communications (Facebook) can quickly tarnish the reputation of a service that took years to build. A few examples (most recognized photo in the media) was where U.S. Marines urinated on the enemy’s bodies, and the other was the SS (Scout Sniper symbol) next to an American flag in Afghanistan. Both of these photos went viral within minutes after its posting on Facebook. The after affects are still being felt today. All too often, social media users are lulled into a sense of complacency, which fails to acknowledge the fact that one’s audience can be considerably larger than previously thought. What can we do to better remind ourselves of the potential reach of our messages?