Social Media and Social Media and Me…Me…

By. Dan Flanagan By. Dan Flanagan

Contents Contents ►IntroductionIntroduction

►Part One – Social Media’s Impact on MePart One – Social Media’s Impact on Me

►Part Two – The Revolution will not be televised Part Two – The Revolution will not be televised

Introduction Introduction

► Today, I’d like to tell you a bit about myself and use this as Today, I’d like to tell you a bit about myself and use this as opportunity to demonstrate my understanding of the opportunity to demonstrate my understanding of the importance of Social Media in the world we live in.importance of Social Media in the world we live in.

So what are the best things about social media ?So what are the best things about social media ?

► Being able to dip in and dip of conversations?Being able to dip in and dip of conversations?► Upload and view videos? Upload and view videos? ► Learn and interact?Learn and interact?► Meet and chat to friends? Meet and chat to friends? ► Share and source information on the move?Share and source information on the move?

Social Media’s Impact on MeSocial Media’s Impact on Me

I asked myself what is the most interesting or important thing about I asked myself what is the most interesting or important thing about Social Media – I couldn’t come up with a definitive answer as there’s Social Media – I couldn’t come up with a definitive answer as there’s not just “ONE” thing. not just “ONE” thing.

Instead I thought I would demonstrate some of my favourite aspects Instead I thought I would demonstrate some of my favourite aspects of social media.of social media.

Social Media + Me = Social Media + Me = HAPPYHAPPY ! !

..Social media has had a massive impact on me as a person. Primarily Social media has had a massive impact on me as a person. Primarily my use of social media explains why I am here in Brighton today.my use of social media explains why I am here in Brighton today.

I met the love of my life through a social network site – living in I met the love of my life through a social network site – living in another hundreds of miles away there was no way we would have another hundreds of miles away there was no way we would have bumped into each other and connected if wasn’t for the web – we bumped into each other and connected if wasn’t for the web – we have now set up home in Hove am due to get married in the summer have now set up home in Hove am due to get married in the summer

- she inspires me to go for what I want out of life.- she inspires me to go for what I want out of life. (i.e. this (i.e. this job!)job!)

The “social” side for me has been immense. It is said that as you get The “social” side for me has been immense. It is said that as you get into your 30’s your social circle gets considerably smaller. into your 30’s your social circle gets considerably smaller.

But this isn’t the case for me. By engaging in a number of specialist But this isn’t the case for me. By engaging in a number of specialist music forums and blogs I have:music forums and blogs I have:

► Got back in touch with people from my past Got back in touch with people from my past ► Made some fantastic new friendshipsMade some fantastic new friendships► Organised eventsOrganised events► Travelled, learnt and shared so much with people from all over the Travelled, learnt and shared so much with people from all over the

worldworld► Had experiences such as meeting some of my musical heroes – and Had experiences such as meeting some of my musical heroes – and

I’m having the time of my life !!!!!! I’m having the time of my life !!!!!!

None of this would have been possible without the ease and None of this would have been possible without the ease and accessibility of Social media.accessibility of Social media.

PART TWO PART TWO

► On a wider level the impact the social media has and will have on our On a wider level the impact the social media has and will have on our daily lives is huge – So lets move away from the “fun” side to see daily lives is huge – So lets move away from the “fun” side to see how much it can effect us through how much it can effect us through EVERYMAN SOCIAL JOURNALISM EVERYMAN SOCIAL JOURNALISM

► This gives everyone a chance to see for themselves. Individuals can This gives everyone a chance to see for themselves. Individuals can have their say and take part.have their say and take part.

► To demonstrate this, you just need to see the amazing effect of Chris To demonstrate this, you just need to see the amazing effect of Chris Hughes campaign for Barack Obama election results for a fantastic Hughes campaign for Barack Obama election results for a fantastic ROI.ROI.

► The campaign’s new-media strategy, inspired by popular social The campaign’s new-media strategy, inspired by popular social networks like networks like MySpace and Facebook, has revolutionised the use of and Facebook, has revolutionised the use of the Web as a political tool.the Web as a political tool.

One of my fundamental beliefs from my days One of my fundamental beliefs from my days as a community organizer is that real change as a community organizer is that real change comes from the bottom up, and there’s no comes from the bottom up, and there’s no more powerful tool for grass-roots organizing more powerful tool for grass-roots organizing than the Internet.”than the Internet.”

Barack ObamaBarack Obama..

The Obama campaign, by far the most Internet-savvy presidential The Obama campaign, by far the most Internet-savvy presidential campaign thus far, operating several web sites:campaign thus far, operating several web sites:

► BarackObama.com is a straight-forward campaign site, where visitors BarackObama.com is a straight-forward campaign site, where visitors can view videos of speeches, read about issues, and of course can view videos of speeches, read about issues, and of course donate money. donate money.

► MyBarackObama.com is a fully-fledged social networking site built MyBarackObama.com is a fully-fledged social networking site built along the lines of Facebook. Once a visitor registers as a member, along the lines of Facebook. Once a visitor registers as a member, They can post blogs, join discussion groups, send each other They can post blogs, join discussion groups, send each other messages, organise events, and create networks of “friends,” messages, organise events, and create networks of “friends,”

Statistics show that the use of Social Media for the President has Statistics show that the use of Social Media for the President has resulted in :resulted in :

Flickr hasFlickr has 244,881244,881 tags – 563 groups tags – 563 groups Twitter hasTwitter has 2.6 Million followers2.6 Million followers Myspace hasMyspace has 18,9107418,91074 million friends million friends Facebook hasFacebook has 7 million friends + hundreds groups 7 million friends + hundreds groups

each with thousands of memberseach with thousands of members Youtube has Youtube has 253,000 253,000 Videos and Mash Ups Videos and Mash Ups

Now that is a lot of power and awareness through the push of a Now that is a lot of power and awareness through the push of a button...button...

► This social media campaign helped mobilise 1.5 million volunteers This social media campaign helped mobilise 1.5 million volunteers and inspire more than 2 million donations of $200.00and inspire more than 2 million donations of $200.00

► Outside of the official campaign there were millions of bloggers, Outside of the official campaign there were millions of bloggers, podcasters, forum members, Facebookers; all creating and taking podcasters, forum members, Facebookers; all creating and taking part in conversations and influencing the decisions that effect us, our part in conversations and influencing the decisions that effect us, our world and the way we live forever. I’m pretty proud to be part of world and the way we live forever. I’m pretty proud to be part of that generation..that generation..

► ““If we did not have online organizing tools, it If we did not have online organizing tools, it would be much harder to be where we are would be much harder to be where we are now,”now,”

Barack ObamaBarack Obama

► ““The use of social networks will guide the The use of social networks will guide the way for future campaigns,” way for future campaigns,”

Peter Daou, Hilary Clinton’s Internet director.Peter Daou, Hilary Clinton’s Internet director.

► So As I Said…..So As I Said…..

► BUT THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE SOMEONE BUT THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE SOMEONE WILL CAPTURE IT ON THEIR MOBILE PHONE AND WILL CAPTURE IT ON THEIR MOBILE PHONE AND UPLOAD IT TO YOUTUBE WITHIN MINUTES………UPLOAD IT TO YOUTUBE WITHIN MINUTES………

Thank you for listening..Thank you for listening..