Interaction
What started as a campus social site is now looking forward to a billion subscribers, facebook has within a short period of time transformed itself into a grand platform for socializing, activism, sensitization and a popular informative channel on braking news and other vital information necessary for our consumption.
Twitter a close rival to facebook too is another social site that has so far attracted more than half a billion followers. Its ability to chat with anyone one follows allows its users to exchange ideas with the ‘who is who’ in the society on a none discriminative platform. Its ability to provide enchanting bits of tweets on various topics enables its users to easily access information they require with little or no hassle. The same applies to braking news, where its users are able to receive quick information and news on various issues through various twitter handles they have followed or groups and pages liked with the case of facebook.
Culture swing
With its new dynamics the social media has imparted new cultures to its users. The facebookers and tweeterians now have certain way of life that somehow cuts across these newbies. These new ways of life range from new market preferences dynamics, new fads in town and the way of life of popular personalities in the society.
A friend of mine recently told me he was forced to change the price of a certain commodity in his store due to what he saw his friends post in their facebook accounts.
This kind of influence by the social media awakened a critical consciousness within me that, profit hungry businesses and other cutting edge corporates may use such avenues to thier advantage. For instance they may hike the prices of their commodities using a bottom-up approach effectively. They may also use this channel to know how flexible their pricing capability is, by altering the prices of their commodities. It is also an ideal place for accessing feed-backs on new brands that have been introduced in to the markets.
Marketing
These social sites have taken marketing to new great heights, by shaping marketing strategies and consumer behavior. It also creates an avenue for marketers to access their target group of potential customers easily. Electronic firms have been one of the greatest beneficiaries of these new platforms. Apple inc. for instance have been able to introduce a new consumption culture around the globe, courtesy of the social and media and other related channels. Apple inc. with their ipods, iphones, ipads and their imac computers have with the efficient use of the media, the social media being a key component of the means been able to keep their clients on toes waiting for new products to be availed. This consumption culture is characterized by long queues in their stores worldwide when new products are being released. Samsung a key competitor too follows suit with an exellent approach.
Activism
The social sites have been a blessing to activists worldwide who have been very opportunistic to this new dynamic of information age. Facebook and twitter with the assistance of other smart phone application for instance BBM for the blackberry have been key in organizing, planning and orchestrating demonstration and other kind of activism. Facebook and twitter for instance has been the main facilitator of revolutions and uprisings in the Middle East and has enabled the change of regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Other countries too for instance Bahrain, Syria, Yemen and Oman have experienced mild attempts of regime change. The most profound one is that of Egypt that has since been referred to as the ‘facebook revolution’. This kind of achievement leaves something down the history line to be remembered.
The most memorable moment came when an Egyptian couple named their kid facebook, after a successful regime change with the aid of the social media facebook. The iconic kid received overwhelming amount of presents from well wishers from all over the country ascribing her to a celebrity status and marking a vital era in the information age.
The same happened in the UK, the USA with the famous occupy Wall street and other cities in the capitalist western world where activist were able to effectively use the social media to its fullest. In the UK certain services of the smart phone services were shut down, the blackberry application for instance was blacked out, however twitter and facebook were able to provide an alternative to the activists who capitalized on them. Activists have since taken their activism to the virtual world in a style, giving sleepless nights to those who used to stay comfy on public duties and responsibilities.
On privacy
The social media has changed what used to be referred to as private and transformed them into public feeds. In instances where individuals are able to view ones profile and status updates, has ushered in a new form of a safe breach of one’s privacy. This kind of culture enabled by these social sites varies from individuals sharing their relationship status, their actions and plans and what they think (opinions in general). This acts have landed many to great problems, especially in relationships were jealous partners usually find themselves in bad situation over what their social better halves are doing on these social sites, especially those who like flirting. This problem also extends to the work place where employees who comment negatively about their jobs, bosses and rumors on the going ons in the work place. Such sentiments have landed many into problems.
However this kind of culture have also been helpful to individuals who find it difficult to open up, to share their fears and problems, especially on relationships and other difficulties they encounter, these avenues allows them to get due help from their friends online who provide them with solutions and even enables others to come in handy and offer their help.
The future
The future of social networking is bright, its use have had both positive and negative effects. Its positive effects have far much outweighed the negative effects. This simply leaves the field with various opportunities to be explored. The Middle East and their vital use of these social sites to bring about revolution change have already signified a tangible aspect of the positive contribution of the social media to the information age of our contemporary times. Activists too have benefited a lot. The users aslo have not been left behind as they have been able to enjoy information flow from various sources of their interests. The next genius or an opportunistic use of these social sites are yet to be unveiled or exploited by nobody else but you, yes you!! The playing ground is open to all it is upon one to stand out, and be the next star!
Hoping for that new dawn when Kenyans will wake up to face the reality, that they haven't given enough for 
