How Facebook Changed Society's Expectations of Mass Media & Culture

 

As I am sitting here writing this blog, I have Facebook pulled up on one of my seven tabs. My laptop dings as I get a new notification, it's a friend request from someone I knew in high school. I have not spoken to this person in maybe five years, but all of a sudden they are relevant in my life again. I am able to scroll through their timeline, browse through the events of their life. I can see that she got married last year, is currently buying a house, and picked up baking as a hobby during quarantine. Although I have not spoken to this old friend in years, I now feel as if I am updated and connected to her life, all through social media. Situations similar to this happen often, as everyday becomes a reunion  on social media (Gross, 2014).

Facebook has given us the gift of connection right in the palm of our hands. We are able to explore and discover new people and places, as well as reconnecting with old ones. Before Facebook and the internet, if we wanted to learn about a new location or culture we would have to pull out a book or watch a show or documentary (NG, 2019). Now, we can explore and network in new places at the touch of a button. Want to escape the United States for a bit and see what life is like in Greece? Simply search on Facebook to find local hubs, people who live there, and what the culture is like. If you’re truly feeling bold, you could potentially message someone you find and initiate conversation. 

 (Facebook, 2020)

Through a quick search of "Greece" on Facebook, I am connected with generic information about the country and a map (courtesy of Wikipedia), as well as some current news updates from the country.

 (Facebook, 2020)

Scroll down a bit, and Facebook shows you pages that you are able to "like" and "follow" for updates. On the left side of the screen, you can filter through the search results, so you're able to specify what it is that you're looking for. From people, posts, to events and groups, you are able to explore and connect with a new place all through Facebook.

We are given a platform to connect with people we have never met. Through Facebook groups, we can connect with people with similar interests, creating our own space where we can truly express ourselves. Facebook and other social media platforms give individuals a space where they can express their true selves, network and interact with others who share a similar interest that they might not have known prior because they might live halfway across the world (Lin, 2020).

Facebook has shaped the way individuals connect and communicate. One aspect of Facebook is the ability to share posts. These posts can be status updates, pictures, videos, and links. Often news is shared through Facebook, through links and videos. Although Facebook is not a valid news source, through the oversharing that often occurs on this site, it has changed the way that media is taken in. News outlets have shortened segments and created posts specifically for the site, foregoing the weekly paper to keep up with the 24/7 news cycle. The Washington Post is a great example of a media conglomerate adapting to the new mass media expectations of society. 

 (The Washington Post, 2020)

The Washington Post has created a Facebook page that individuals can follow for updates. On the page, they post videos, images, and links to articles to intrigue the attention of their viewers (The Washington Post, 2020). This screenshot was taken at 8:40 p.m. EST. The time stamp on their latest post says "one hour ago," meaning that this post was made around 7:30 p.m. EST. This is a prime example of how the Washington Post on Facebook is adapting to society's new mass media expectations of the 24/7 news cycle on Facebook.

References:

Facebook. (2020). "Search Results for Greece." Facebook. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=Greece

Gross, D. (2014). 5 ways Facebook changed us, for better and worse. CNN Business. Retrieved from: https://www.cnn.com/2014/01/31/tech/social-media/facebook-changes/index.html

Lin, J. (2020). Social Media Has Changed the Lives of Modern Society. Summit News. Retrieved from: https://summitpsnews.org/2020/03/24/social-media-has-changed-the-lives-of-modern-society/#:~:text=Social%20media%20has%20helped%20many,insecurities%2C%20and%20waste%20of%20time.

NG, S. (2019). How Social Media Has Changed Our Lives. ThinPig Media. Retrieved from: https://thinpigmedia.com/blog/how-social-media-has-changed-our-lives

The Washington Post. (2020). @washingtonpost. Facebook. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/washingtonpost/