In class we briefly mentioned how various organizations create and use online applications like Facebook, Twitter and Wikis for exposure and more or less, free advertising. This raises the question: are these organizations misusing these applications, or creating new uses and expanding the scope and possibilities for these applications.
Everyday I see new companies on Facebook with profiles. From small businesses like Christina's Ltd a small boutique in my hometown to international corporations like Patagonia, it seems everyone is jumping on the Facebook bandwagon for free exposure. At first these businesses had to create personal profiles just like everyone else but Facebook responded to the demand and added a 'Pages' application, so that businesses can more easily create profiles. This is an example of organizations expanding the possibilities for an online application.
Similarly, Twitter has been inundated with businesses creating accounts to spread the word about their sales, promotions and other services. Twitter has become a great platform for businesses to expose themselves to potential clients. Was Twitter created with the intention of being a venue for businesses to expand their cliental? Most likely not, but again organizations have expanded the uses of the applications to meet their needs.
Wikis have also seen a shifting purpose as it has become common for organizations to create Wikis not only for exposure as with Twitter and Facebook, but also because they function as easy to create websites. In many cases the organizations do not even utilize the Wiki for its true function but just as platform for their website because of their easy to build nature. This is an example of organizations misusing an online application, not expanding the scope of its possibilities.
The question that remains to be answered is if it is a positive or negative concept that these organizations have expanded the scope and possibilities for these websites. What do you think?
Yea, along the same lines as Lexi, one of the tanning salons in my town made a facebook group a few years ago and offered crazy prom promotions through it. I think within a week like half the girls at my highschool were tanning there. Whether SNS ever intended for buisnesses to use them or not, I think buisnesses have clearly seen the unbeliable marketing potential and will continue to find ways to use them.
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