Discuss the three different types of communication possible in a social media environment. What are their advantages and drawbacks, and which social media platforms are best suited to them?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Student responses will vary but should include the following main points: The three forms of communication possible on social media are text, photos (or visuals), and video. Popular text platforms include Twitter, Reddit, and Storify. Text is the primary communication vehicle for reporters, and it is the most versatile format for communicating information and ideas, either through short statements or headlines, or longer analytical pieces. However, too much text can be overwhelming to readers, and the risk of retweeting or hastily posting inaccurate or misleading information is highest with written content. Popular photo-sharing platforms include Instagram and Snapchat and are useful for conveying an atmosphere or representing a concept that is difficult to describe in text. However, most photos require some sort of a textual accompaniment for context, and they can be confusing to readers who don’t already know why the image is important. Popular video platforms include YouTube, Periscope, and Facebook live. Video allows reporters to place viewers in the middle of a scene and lets citizen journalists complement traditional reporting with raw footage from a breaking news event. However, particularly with live video streaming, viewers have to be online at the time the video airs for the reporting to be most useful, and hastily-shot cell phone footage cannot always capture the most important interest elements of a story.