The Art of Words

 

Social media is making it easier than ever to contribute to the evolution of language. You no longer have to be published through traditional avenues to bring word trends to the attention of the masses. From ‘unfriend’ to ‘selfie,’ social media is clearly having an impact on language. A case in point is Oxford Dictionaries 2013 Word of the Year, selfie: the earliest use of the word has been traced to an Australian Internet Forum.

Figure 1 Social Media’s Simple Language

What social media has done is enable us to communicate with a much larger number of people on a global scale in a way that we only really used to be able to do on a local level.  The result? An ever-increasing speed of communication.  Facebook lets you communicate quickly, effectively and, most importantly, efficiently because written exchanges are concise and shared between all the friends you are connected with. On Twitter, there’s a brief 140-character limit but with a catch, so you are quite literally forced to make the statement short.

From the introduction of new words to new meanings for old words to changes in the way we communicate, the combination of informal, personal communication and the mass audience afforded by social media is a recipe for rapid change. ‘Friended’ and ‘unfriended’ (the process of adding or removing someone from your circle of friends) are two examples of words that have been given a new meaning due to their usage on Facebook. The word ‘friend’ and ‘befriend’ is from Old English originating in the 13th Century.

Figure 2 Popular Acronyms

The use of acronyms are now commonplace substitutes to whole sentences; LOL (laugh out loud), OMG (Oh my God), TTYL (talk to you later) and emoticons (a representation of a facial expression such as a smile or frown), are a lazy form of writing used to convey what the user is feeling (Stylecaster. (n.d.) para.3).

The language of social media is having an effect on the way we use English in day-to-day life. It’s having an impact on our written and oral communications.

A whole host of words originating from social media and the wider Internet have become so commonplace that they’ve now slipped into popular usage. The Internet is reshaping our long-lost hardcover dictionary, for better or for worse, we are all in a new world of communications and most of us will have to learn the new language.

Figure 3 The New Language

What is your view on the evolution of language through social media?

Have social media’s new host of words slipped into popular usage?

 

Facebook Promotional Post:

Social Media’s Art of words

The evolution of language through social media

Is social media reshaping our dictionary?

http://bit.ly/2m41wBk

Twitter Promotional Post:

#SocialMediaImpactLanguage

#ArtofWords

#SimpleLanguage

http://bit.ly/2m41wBk

 

 

Napier Lopez. September, 2016. Twitter finally relaxes 140-character limit, but with a catch. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2lW3ruY

Oxford dictionaries.  (2013). The Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2013 is Selfie.  Retrieved from http://bit.ly/194mWE7

Stack Exchange. (n.d). English Language and Usage.  Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2lQRDam

Stylecaster. (n.d.).  101 Social Media Acronyms and Abbreviations (And what they mean!).  Retrieved from http://bit.ly/1M4EP7A

Ted Camp. October 25, 2016. Have You Been “Friended” or “Unfriended”? Retrieved from  http://bit.ly/2lYMs7Y

 

 

Social Media’s Influence on Lebanon

Lebanon is not only a regional center of media production but also the most liberal and free in the Arab world. It was one of the first countries in the Arabic-speaking world to introduce internet and Beirut’s newspapers were the first in the region to provide readers with web versions of their newspapers (Media of Lebanon, (n.d.), para. 2). In Lebanon, protest organizers have since day one been aware of the importance of media coverage, whether in its traditional or modern form.  Social media users generally hold positive views on its impact and potential for creating social change. Ultimately, social media is being seen and used as an agent of change.

Social Movement Organizations (SMOs) realize social media often help them attract mainstream media coverage, locally and internationally.  Women’s rights activists made significant progress in 2011 with the help of social media. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Women’s Day, activists organized multiple events, advertising the events almost exclusively online, via Facebook, websites, blogs, and online forums. The cumulative effect, in combination with strategic litigation and advocacy, led to the implementation of tougher sentences for honor crimes  (Human Rights Watch) and the passing of a law on domestic violence in April 2014.

Figure 1 Women’s Rights Activists

Similarly, Animals Lebanon campaigned in 2010 to shut down a circus accused of animal abuse. The group launched the campaign through Facebook, their email list and website. It succeeded in shutting down the circus for one month (Arwa Damon CNN. Nov.22,2010, last para.)  More importantly, the publicity surrounding the campaign garnered attention from local and international media and broad support from animal advocacy groups, leading to the first animals’ rights legislation in Lebanon.

Figure 2 Beirut Marathon Association

Social media and blogs offer a richer dialogue, where activists can act as mediators between the public and Lebanese officials.  Blogs make the idea of a dynamic network of ongoing debate, dialogue and commentary central and emphasize the interpretation and dissemination of alternative information to a heightened degree.  SMOs depend on social media to organize events internally, build coalitions, collaborate on initiatives, and strengthen relationships with supporters.

Lebanese SMOs credit recent achievements, at least in part, to increased exposure facilitated by social media. SMOs recognize digital media’s capacity to quickly and inexpensively reach broader and otherwise inaccessible audiences, and to effectively promote causes and increase visibility in local and international media.

How has social media influenced events in your country?

Is social media being used as an agent of change?

Facebook Promotional Post:

Social Media as an Agent of Change?

Exposure Facilitated by Social Media

http://bit.ly/2lgYKL8

 Twitter Promotional Post:

#AgentofChange     #SocialMediaLebanon

  http://bit.ly/2lgYKL8

---

Animals Lebanon. (n.d.).  http://bit.ly/2lt9E1p

Arwa Damon CNN.  (November 22, 2010).  Fighting for animal rights in Lebanon.

 http://cnn.it/2ke9J44

Human rights Watch. (n.d.) Lebanon: Law Reform Targets ‘Honor’ Crimes.

  http://bit.ly/2jrUfKI

Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia. (n.d).  Media of Lebanon. Retrieved from

http://bit.ly/2lxVLLp

Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia. (n.d). Social Movement Organization. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2lzK7Ak

The Out Of “Social Media” Dilemma blog 2

A few days ago, I accidentally spilled coffee on my laptop. In that moment, all I could think was “oh no I have work to be done on my computer and assignments that were nearing deadline, and no internet connection??!”  Needless to say,  I was furious.  And to think that my daily activities revolved around my laptop as my internet portal. Well I do work with my husband in helping him promote his business online and this meant that my work is backed up. How would having no computer and no internet affect me?  It all comes down to how much we personally use the internet and what for.

Oh Shucks!! The Internet Is Down!!

Almost all businesses nowadays have some relationship with the Internet whether it’s a brick and mortar location or an online store, or both.  It is obvious that small businesses can fail when not keeping it up with new technologies, business models, market conditions, and marketing channels.

We rely on the internet for college materials, assignments and course completion. As Internet access begins to reach far and wide, students rely on the Web more heavily than ever when doing research. Most students seldom enter a library on campus, opting instead to search for the information and resources they need online.

Anyone can become dependent on the internet. Like other compulsive activities, internet viewing distracts people from uncomfortable emotions. Perhaps most importantly, however, is the frequency with which we use online platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter to socialize. An article by The Atlantic even went so far as to suggest that social media makes us lonely, leading to mental and physical illnesses.

Lost Without Internet!!

I believe that nowadays you don’t need to be an internet addict to be painfully affected if the internet would break down for even a few hours. Just keep in mind that when you’re experiencing such loss of internet connection you have other activities that don’t require the use of your laptop or internet such as exercising, reading, face to face communication, and writing in your own journal . I’m not saying you should shun the internet; I know I couldn’t! I just feel that blogs, Twitter, Facebook & all those things should be a supplement to your life, not the sum of your life.

Are we becoming too dependent on the Internet? How would having no internet affect you?

A Brand New Social Network

Can you live without internet? https://tinyurl.com/h5ph6e3

Facebook Promotional Post:

What’s it like not to have internet?

The out of “Social Media” Dilemma

Twitter Promotional Post:

#LifewoutInternet

#InternetAlternatives

Is social Media an addiction?

 

The web has become much more transparent and thanks to the many social platforms out there, people can now create personal brands and scale their activities to millions of people all across the globe.  It has made it easier to idolize people linked to our interests and this has resulted in even more content constantly flowing to us through the numerous platforms these personalities use to grow their following.

All these amazing platforms have made the Internet by far the best place to learn and discover new, interesting and popular content.  As a result of the steady increase in the rate of content being produced every day, it has now become impossible to keep up with all this quality content.

We may not always like it or even understand it but Social Media like every other major shift in how we communicate offers benefits and hurdles. It seems that you can no longer have a conversation without spending at least half of the time discussing Social Media.

Social networking sites were originally designed to keep people in contact with individuals they would otherwise have no, or very little, communication with. The majority of information you put on your profile on Facebook is essentially public property. Anyone with the right knowledge can access information about us that we may not want them to know. While most people view these sites as harmless fun, the repercussions for our lives from social networking can reach further than we sometimes imagine.

    

Most people I know are not only on social media (mostly Facebook), but some of them are quite frankly addicted. Sometimes I look at these people who are excessive picture takers and posters on social media and think, “What ever happened to just simply enjoying the moment? Why do we feel the need to constantly document our lives for everyone to see?” For example, many people constantly upload pictures and updates when they are on vacation. And I wonder if they are actually paying attention to and appreciating what they are experiencing. Or are they just lost in the social media posting? Everything you put on social media is constructing what is called your “online identity.”

 I wish for the days when people were actually present and actual connections were truly made.  Sure, re-tweets and sharing material is fabulous, but I am noticing more and more that these sites are emptying out.  The real people are gone and have been replaced by a robot that throws information out into the world on a schedule.  The reality is that people are losing touch with each other, I still think that the most effective connections with people are made face to face.

https://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/advisor/30-signs-social-media-addiction-133619535.html

                                                             Top 10 social Media addiction

                                                                                                           BY JACKY TAN | SMALL BUSINESS

 Sign #1: You check your mobile phone every few minutes for any notification on Facebook, Twitter mentions and such.

Sign #2: You think your world is over when you have no internet access or when Twitter, Facebook or other social media is down.

                                                             

Sign #3: You assume other people can understand what you mean by your cool terms such as BRB (‘Be right back’), CMI (‘cannot make it’), LOL (‘laugh out loud’) and so on.

Sign #4: You have to check in at every new location to let everyone know where you are.

                                                                                        

Sign #5: You literally announce to everyone on social media what you are doing every day, every hour. Things like brushing your teeth, having a lunch, found a penny, went shopping today and blah, blah, blah.

Sign #6: You have a meeting every week with others (social media addicts) to plan on what updates to put up on Facebook for next week.

Sign #7: You tag your friends on pictures that do not involve them, in order to make sure they see the pictures on their Facebook timeline.

Sign #8: You start to #hashtag #about #everything #under #the sun.

Sign #9:  You have made urgent requests on Facebook for your family and friends to send you ‘lives’ on Candy Crush.

Sign #10: You believe life is more happening on social media than in reality.

• Facebook Promotional Post:

Is social Media an addiction?

---

•  Twitter Promotional Post:

Is#Social#Media#an#addiction#?