When asked to choose a favorite show that uses social media I had several to choose from, but my choice came down to Face Off, the special effects make-up reality show.  Before I get into how Face Off utilizes social media let me explain why this show trumps many of the other reality shows out there.  In a format first used by Survivor, reality shows will often pit contestants against each other in a series of competitions. The contestants are encouraged to form alliances with others to eliminate the competition then in an underhanded move, turn on their allies and throw them under the bus.  The main goal of Survivor is winning by subterfuge.  A person behaves in an untrustworthy manipulative manner and they are rewarded for playing the game successfully.  I just can’t see why we would want to reinforce that sort of behavior, but it’s a money maker so I also see why the studios love it.  Now with Face Off the set up is different, it rewards the contestants based on their talent.  Even with this the players could use mental games to unnerve the others and put them off their game, but they don’t. Most them are friendly, cooperative and seem to genuinely like each other. After all, if the participants want to work in a studio setting they need to play well with others. This positive behavior has been exhibited time and again on the show with examples being of one participant asking the opinion of another and actually getting a helpful advice or a player asking for help removing a cast from its mold and the others will stop and go to help.  One episode had a participant crush his fingers which necessitated a trip to the E.R., the others finished cleaning out his mold so he could get straight to work when he returned the next day.  They gained nothing from the judges for this action it was just the right thing to do.

Since Face Off is a competition you would think it relies on social media to help pick a winner, but any opinion the viewers provide does not matter since the judges are the ones who make the final decision, but it does use Twitter to make the viewers a part of the show.  The show does something different with the comments sent in by viewers. Instead of using them as pop-ups during the first viewing, as other shows will do, they save the tweets and use them as pop-ups during the second showing later that night.  A fan will certainly tune in just to see if his or her tweet was used during the show.  By playing to the ego of the viewer it is possible Face Off gets equal viewers to a second showing as they did the first, unfortunately I could not find ratings to prove this it’s just an assumption. Beginning with the July season premiere a new Twitter campaign will allow fans to vote for their favorite contestant and the winner will receive a cash reward.  This interaction gives the viewer the power to reward their favorites when the judges fail to do so.

Social media and television seems like a match made in heaven.  How often have you discussed with your friends about what happened in last night’s episode and speculated of what will happen next?  Too often in my world, I must admit, and with social media your friend base has now expanded to 1 million other viewers.  Using social media to engage viewers is brilliant and gives them a feeling of being more important than just viewer ratings, it makes it personal.

Hello Mr. and Mrs. America and all the ships at sea.

The radio; a seemingly simple machine could be found in just about every home in America over the last 9 decades.  One would not think a radio could have such a profound effect up on a nation, I’m mean it’s just a box that makes noise, right?  In a sense yes, yes it is, and while it may have started out small with a few simple bible verses sent over the airwaves soon it would be a force that would tie communities and a nation together.

Back before the days of radio families would entertain themselves through books, games, or songs played on the piano, if one was lucky enough to have one. Maybe one would go into town to see a play or hear new music, but what of those who didn’t live near a big city? The radio was the item that brought culture into their homes.  A family could listen to dramatic or comedic broadcasts with the house band providing musical breaks and commercials were aired to tell the people what they needed to buy.  The programs were aired at certain times so you could assume everyone in your community was listening at the same time you were; there was a sense of belonging.  The entire nation was notified at once when news stories broke about what was going on in the war or if there was a speech from the president; you were tied to your fellow man through this shared modem of communication.

When TV entered into the mainstream many of the variety shows that aired had their basis in a formula used in the radio shows: the host introduced the stars, a skit was performed, a musical group was brought on and most certainly commercials were aired, usually by one show sponsor; Chock Full o’ Nuts anyone?  This formula is stilled used today for many of the nighttime programs like “The Tonight Show.”  

TV is a powerful competitor for radio, but radio continues to survive by providing non-stop entertainment, news, sports broadcasts and as mentioned in the article, “Radio Sports Talk and the Fantasies of Sports” it continues to tie a community together and give it a shared voice, a feeling of being part of something bigger.   

Social Media: Curse or a Blessing?

What are my opinions on mass communication, my habits, and consumption?  First let us take a moment to reflect on the idea we are using social media to communicate our thoughts about social media: how very meta.

Mass communications

have certainly changed in the last 5 to 10 years, much more than anyone could have ever imagined.  In 1995 many people did not have a personal Email and pagers were still considered all the rage. In the year 2000 pagers faded into the distance and personal cellphones ran to the head of the line. Then came IM, blogging, MySpace, Facebook, Texts, Twitter, Skype, Instagram and Snapchat all to revolutionize the manner in which we communicate with our fellow man.  Many would complain these steps forward have pulled us back from the ability to speak with anyone face to face. The art of small talk lost to the past and never mind walking with your head up, focused on the road ahead.  I’m sure the same things were said about the telephone when Mr. Bell brought forth that magical device; it most assuredly meant our civilization was going to crumble underneath our very feet.  As with any change we long to cling to the way things were because looking backwards is always tinged with the color of nostalgia, but this new way of communicating could be beneficial if used correctly.

Now you may think that I am a fan of all sorts of new technology and to a certain degree I am, but I am also a fickle sort that views some things as peculiar and unnecessary.  Let’s start with the most common of items, the cellphone.  What possibly could be more convenient than being reachable all day and all night by anyone?  It’s a small electronic dog collar that comes with the expectation: unless you’re dead you should be answering the phone.  Before cellphones you were permitted some solitude, some me time. Not so anymore, instant gratification is in high demand in our society and the cellphone is the leading culprit.  Add to this the bonus of texting and even if you are in meetings, church, or the bathroom you are expected to answer. Then again I have heard people talk on the phone while using a public restroom; truly where has our social etiquette gone?  I have a cellphone and it stays with me, most of the time, and by with me I mean it’s either in my car or locked in my desk. I was forced to have a phone by my husband as he worried about my long commute so I acquiesced and took the device.  I can see where it’s convenient since payphones are no longer prevalent, but as it’s not a smartphone and has no internet services I’m viewed as a relic. Frankly I’m able to observe more life with my head up and looking around instead of down at my phone.

Now it’s time for my confession, I am addicted to Facebook. I use this as my amusement since many of my friends are wickedly funny and I also use it as my own private stage.  Every day I scan the headlines to find something to post a humorous take on and I sit back to wait for the comments.  Some exchanges between friends can go on for 30 comments and inevitably the wit exchanged back and forth always causes me to laugh.   I also like to see what others are up to, keep track of their kids’ achievements, support friends and family when bad things happen and congratulate them when good things happen as well. I like to think of it as the electronic water cooler or the backyard fence where neighbors would meet and talk about things like their lawn or the latest football game.  The format may be different, but the intent remains the same.

As I progress through this new form of classroom I hope to become more exposed to the emerging communications standards and maybe, just maybe, I might become friends with my cellphone.