Baby Boomers are Embracing Digital Media

In the U.S., 80 million baby boomers have turned 65 and are officially senior citizens...and many of them are turning to digital media. You don't believe me? Well, check out some of these statistics (from an article on Mashable):

• Social network use among Internet users 50+ years old has nearly doubled to 42% over the past year.
• In the U.S. alone, there are nearly 16 million people 55+ years old using Facebook.
• According to Nielsen data, 15% of people 55+ years of age are using smartphones
• A study found that around 13% of people aged 55-64 and 5% of people aged 65+ play games using a smartphone or standard cellphone
• 16% of people aged 50-64 have searched online for information on long-term care for an elderly or disabled person

One of the main reasons that an increasing number of senior citizens have started using social media is to connect with friends and loved ones, and also to shar

e experiences with strangers and new friends over the Internet.

In fact, more often then not, the reason that older people don't use social media ISN'T because of lack of interest, but instead because social media platforms have not been developed with these older people in mind.

With this in mind, there are a few key takeaways that every company should consider if they want to reach the "older" people through social media:

1. A growing number of old adults are taking advantage of the web right now...don't ignore them
2. As society and the web mature, companies and individuals need to make sure they are building the web to empower everyone, not just the young and tech-savvy
3. New technologies and new social media platforms will need to be intuitive and easy to use
4. When these new technologies and social media platforms are ready for use by the public, education is key to ensure senior citizens don't fall behind and become victims of the "digital divide"

In the end, senior citizens may be "old," but if companies want to maintain (and even increase) their success, they will need to develop social media strategies that allow senior citizens to easily use the platforms and technologies available to them.

Thank You Marquette...For Everything

It's late Sunday night as I sit here on my couch watching sports. And then it suddenly hit me...I'm going to be graduating in less than two months. I know it's an overly-used cliche, but it's amazing how time flies by when you're having fun. It feels like just yesterday I was stepping into my freshman dorm room at McCormick hall on Marquette University's campus, anxiously waiting to meet my freshman roommate for the first time while trying to console my mother who was on the verge of tears. Hanging up on a bulletin board in my room is a picture of my twin brother Ben and I with our mom, standing right outside my dorm room. It's amazing to look at that picture and see the long way that I have come in the past 4 years...

I have had the pleasure to meet many new people, make many new friends, and create many fond memories that I will carry with me forever. Who knew that I could have so much fun on such a small campus in such a wonderful city.

In the end of May, Ben and I will be the last of our siblings to graduate from Marquette University. Our other 5 siblings, which includes 2 other sets of twins, all had the pleasure of graduating from this fine establishment. However, Ben and I will be the only set of twins to graduate at the same time, which is such a wonderful way for our family's presence at this University to come to an end....at least until our own children reach college.

I guess what I wanted to share with you in this blog is my appreciation towards Marquette University. People say that college is the best 4 years of your life. As I approach the last couple months of my 4-year stay here at Marquette, I couldn't agree more with that statement. So thank you Marquette for everything that you have helped me to experience these past 4 years, I will never forget it. Now, on to the hectic job search.....

The Concert For Life

In 1995, my father was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was only given 6-8 months to live. But his strength, will, and love for his family helped him survive 2 more years before he passed away in late 1997....I was only 8 years old. I have very few fond memories of my father, and it's sometimes hard to listen to my older siblings tell stories, laugh and tell their favorite memories of him because I know that I didn't get to spend as much time with him as they did. But every year, there is a time where I hear a lot of new stories from the many people whose lives my father touched....

In 2001, my older brother, Matt Wessel, was a senior in high school when he found out that one of his fellow classmates, Kate Pedersen, was diagnosed with cancer. Her classmates wanted to do something to support her fight, so they approached Matt with an idea. They asked if he would be willing to perform a benefit concert for the American Cancer Society in Kate's honor. Matt, who experiened the loss of our father from cancer 4 years earlier, agreed to perform. The concert was called "The Concert For Life."

The concert was held at St. Paul Apostle Church in Gurnee, Illionis, and it was so successful, that it has since then become an annual event. Since 2001, the concert has grown in size and in money raised. Each year, the concert touches the hearts of all those who attend. As the event continues to grow, more and more people will be moved by this special evening of music, love, and hope.

My brother Matt has continued to be the main performer since the concert's inception. While he understands that the concert was put together to support Kate and her fight against cancer, my family and I can see that the concert holds a much more personal meaning for him, and for all of my family. Every year, the concert is a time where Matt can open up his heart to the world and let everyone see the emotion he has felt since our father passed away 14 years ago. It's a time where Matt and my family can sit down, enjoy the inspirational music and reflect on the the father we lost too soon. And it's a time of rememberance, passion and hope.

The word has gotten out about the concert, and like I said, each year it continues to get bigger, and bigger, and bigger. Well, this year's Concert For Life was held last week on Sunday March 13, and the early total of money donated is $43,000 (which will continue to increase as receipts and funds are still being sent in). Overall, the Concert For Life has raised over $320,000, which has been donated to the American Cancer Society.

I guess what I'm trying to say through all of this is that, while the Concert For Life was started to benefit Kate Pedersen's fight against cancer and all those who are battling cancer, I believe my older brother wished to perform the concert as a tribute to my father, as well. While the money is being raised to support the American Cancer Society, Matt wanted it to be a time where our family could come together, reflect on our father, and share this time with each other. And for that, I cannot thank him enough....

"If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, we'd walk right up to Heaven and bring you home again..." - We miss you Dad and you will live on forever in our hearts....

The Grammys Turn Heavily to Social Media

SUMMARY

In one of my past posts, I discussed how the State of the Union address began to utilize social media. Well, this trend is continuing among major national events, as the 2011 Grammy Awards took on an impressive and extensive social media campaign. The campaign involved many aspects, such as geolocation, mobile, web, social media and augmented reality.

The 2011 Grammys' social media campaign was called "Music is Life is Music," and it centers around the idea that everybody has a musical journey with memories tied to certain songs and locations. Here are a few of the initiatives taken on for the social media campaign:

• A Foursquare-esque app called the MusicMapper (mashup of Google Maps, SimpleGeo, and Rdio) that allows users to tag locations on a map of their current city with songs and notes
• Users could share their tags on MusicMapper with others via Twitter and Facebook
• MusicMapper highlights concert venues via Foursquare and allows users to add photos of artists and local venues via Flickr
• A "Music is Life is Music" micro website where users can tag locations
• Several well-known artists have had their musical journeys mapped on MusicMapper, including Eminem
• An app that has QR code reader in which users can unlock exclusive Grammy content via codes on outdoor advertisements and print material. Within the app, 8 previous Grammy performances will be released
• An app that features an augmented reality view that allows users to see all of the tags associated with a location
• A 3-day Virtual Pre-Show called GRAMMY Live on Twitter, YouTube and Grammy.com
• Twitter tracker with hashtags where users could follow updates on everything related to the Grammys

ANALYSIS

The Grammys in 2010 took a major look at the power of social media and did an excellent job in incorporating a social media campaign into its operations. But last year, the campaign, which was titled "We're All Fans," was built around user-generated content. TV spots were user-generated and a website was made that integrated real-time content from Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

But this year, the Grammys wanted to make its social media campaign more interactive among users so as not to make it passive, like last year's appeared to be. This year, users have been able to contribute to the data themselves. This represents the shift in communication that social media is helping to create. No longer are people (users) just waiting for updates and contents from operations (such as the Grammys). Now, they are starting and contributing to the conversations that are being had around the event.

Overall, I feel that the Grammys utilized social media very effectively. When it comes to music, music is a facet and a part of everybody's lives, whether they realize it or not. Music is a way for people to express themselves, and now, they get to share those expressions and feelings with others around the world. The social media campaign used for the 2011 Grammys took a major step forward from the campaign used for the 2010 Grammys. People don't just want to give their take on music and express their ideas; they want to be able to share their take on music and express their ideas WITH other avid music fans. This year, the Grammys allowed for this through their revamped social media campaign.

I don't really have any suggestions for the Grammys on how to improve its social media strategy because its such a young venture for the major event. This was only the 2nd year that the Grammys have utilized a social media campaign, and thus, the Grammys are still in the early stages of settling on a social media campaign. But with the many advancements in social media that will continue to come about as time goes on, I would recommend that the Grammys continue to test out new platforms and cater to the trends that take place (as it did this year with making the social media campaign more interactive). I would recommend that Grammys continue to utilize the ever-growing geolocation platform, as more and more people are beginning to utilize this aspect of social media. Also, I would recommend that the Grammys build a Facebook page and YouTube channel (with songs from the nominated Grammy artists for users to listen to). These are 2 channels that are highly used by the public and avid music fans, so having a presence on these social media platforms would be an essential key to success in the future for the Grammys.

SOURCES

http://mashable.com/2011/01/14/grammys-social-media-2011/

http://activ8social.com/2011/02/11/social-media-and-the-grammys/

http://josedweblink.com/Josedwebseo/27/the-annual-grammy-awards-music-is-life-is-music/

The Adjustment Bureau & Battle: Los Angeles are Worth the Trip

I feel it's an appropriate time to blog about something that doesn't involve solely social media. And as an avid movie fan, I couldn't think of a better topic.

I have been called a movie addict by many friends and by my family. I have a knack for seeing a movie and then quoting it for the rest of the night upon returning home. But now at college, I have found it difficult to find time to head to the movies with friends and family because everyone is busy. This has resulted in me not seeing nearly as many movies as I have had my heart set on. Thus, I have opened a Netflix account and watch movies when I can.

While Netflix is great (I will undoubtedly continue to use it), there is nothing like seeing a movie in the theater. These past two weekends, I have had the luxury of returning to the cinema to see two great movies that were at the top of my "to-see list." First, last weekend, I saw The Adjustment Bureau with a few of my siblings and in-law.

It's a movie about a group of people that control the fates of mankind, and how a couple in love has to fight for their right to be together. It's a great thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. While I thought it was a bit short and could have been a little bit more daring, it's a movie that I would highly recommend.

Tonight, I had the luxury of seeing Battle: Los Angeles with my stepdad.

For the past few months, I have had my heart set on seeing this movie and have been looking forward to it. However, within the past few weeks, I have read some harsh and negative reviews about it. It made me question if it would be worth seeing. But when my stepdad asked if I wanted to go see it with him, I jumped at the opportunity. And I must say, I'm glad I did. Battle: Los Angeles is about an alien invasion unlike any other seen before on camera. I won't give much away about the movie because it's something that's definitely worth seeing. The special effects, graphics, and musical score are incredible. All of these aspects worked together to create a very enjoyable movie that had me biting my fingernails until the very end. I highly recommend this movie.

There you have it. Two movies I highly recommend. And while it was fun seeing these movies, I have a lot more on my "to-see list" that I have to start finding time for.

New Facebook App Teeters on the Edge of Stalking

Facebook is continuing to pour out applications. This week, the popular social networking site is off to a fast start.

In an article on CNN, Facebook has released the "Facebook Breakup Notifier" app, which lets users pick certain friends whose relationship status they want to monitor. When one of these people's relationship status changes, the user is then notified of the change via email. It's perfect for those who have their eye on someone who is currently taken. As the app promises, "You like someone. They're in a relationship. Be the first to know when they're out of it."

Here's a picture of what the new app looks like, and its also at this site:



But does this app, which was created by Dan Loewenherz, cross the border of becoming "stalkerish?" At first look, the concept of this app seems to indeed carry a stalkerish vibe, as people's love lives could be being followed by others without their knowing.

In a column called "Signs you could be a Facebook stalker," William Marshall clarifies some of the activities on Facebook that would classify a user as a stalker. While Facebook stalking is a presently an undefined term, there are activities that can clearly constitute stalking. Marshall goes on to say that "if you are infatuated with someone and you are paying close attention to their activities to further your chances of a relationship with them, you are stalking." In this sense, Marshall sees Facebook stalking as "an unknown and unwanted amount of attention by another user." With the points that this article makes, it's easy to see that constantly monitoring the relationship statuses of other users is clearly considered stalking.

But while Facebook users may find it creepy, it will undoubtedly become a highly popular app among users. It has the potential to be the next big thing on this social networking platform. The thing is, no matter how stalkerish a Facebook app or other social media platforms may seem, we always aggregate to them and turn them into the most popular apps and platforms on the web. Instead of turning our backs towards these stalkerish apps, we soak them all in.

I believe that this Breakup Notifier app will follow the same path that other stalkerish apps have gone down. While there may be initial concerns about its stalkerish vibe and privacy concerns, this app will become a huge hit on Facebook and users will flock to it. This shows the power of social media, and at the same time it shows the potential negatives of social media.

For your viewing pleasure, I've included an advertisement for Virgin Mobile which shows how social media can be used to stalk other people's lives. It may be a funny commercial, but in reality, things like this are actually happening.



Well, now it's time to hear your opinion. What is your take on this new Breakup Notifier app? Do you feel it crosses the line of "stalking?" Do you think it will become a popular app among users?

I for one will now be more aware of who I'm becoming friends with on Facebook because who knows, maybe they only want to be friends to follow my relationship status. Let's hear your take on the issue.

State of the Union Address Goes Digital

SUMMARY

As advances in technology continue to erupt, many of the biggest events in our country are incorporating social media campaigns into their operations. One such event is the State of the Union address. This year, the State of the Union address went digital. Many online and social media platforms were engaged throughout the event. Here are just a few of the initiatives taken on the big night of January 25th:

• C-SPAN and PBS's News Hour broadcasted the event online, with sidebars for people to leave comments via Twitter, Facebook, and more sites
• The White House's website broadcasted the event alongside data and images reflecting the subject matters discussed
• Live stream and enhanced presentation of the address on YouTube
• Sunlight Foundation posted real-time fact-checking during the address
• A mobile app that keeps people updated on the address while they're on-the-go
• The public was having political conversations on Twitter, with hashtags #SOTU, #StateoftheUnion and #UnionAddress as trending topics
• People tweeting included some Senators, Congressmen, and the President himself
• Some of the President's policy team members held a live panel, taking questions via Facebook and Twitter
• The Republican response was broadcasted on C-SPAN, PBS and Facebook

ANALYSIS

This represents a major shift in the way conversations in politics are being carried out. No longer are political conversations simply one-way affairs that are controlled mostly by the media and politicians themselves. Now, these conversations consist of two-way dialogue between the politicians and citizens, allowing anyone who cares to join the conversation. This is exactly what the public desires: a chance to engage with the important politicians who are at the center of all of the issues, and a chance for their voices to be heard. With this social media campaign, the White House has successfully turned the State of the Union address into a significant 4-day affair instead of just a 1-hour event.

Overall, I believe the White House used social media very effectively. In the hard times that our country is facing, more and more people feel the desire to express their opinion and truly "have a say." All of these social media platforms that the White House operated before, during and after the State of the Union address gave people the chance to engage in the conversation. It shows that Obama and his administration are committed to creating and nurturing a productive dialogue throughout the whole nation.

I don't have any major suggestions for the White House on how to improve it social media strategy for the State of the Union address. It's really the first time this has been set forth and put into action, so the White House is still in the beginning stages of its social media usage. It will surely continue to test out new platforms in the years to come. In the meantime, I would recommend that the White House develop a social media strategy for all major events throughout the year. This will continue to give the public a chance to engage with politicians and media in the many political conversations that are going on.

SOURCES

http://www.fastcompany.com/1720866/what-you-missed-while-you-were-watching-cnn-sotu-the-digital-party

http://socialmediabirmingham.com/the-2011-state-of-the-union-social-media-strategy/

College Rejection Letters Gone Forever?

When we were seniors in high school, we went through the lengthy process of applying to the various colleges that we had our hopes and dreams set on. Do you remember the anxiety we felt while waiting to hear from each of the schools? And do you remember the feeling of our stomachs dropping when we received a rejection letter from the college that was at the top of our list? Ok, well that last part may only pertain to a select few of us (yes...me included), but we can all agree that receiving a rejection letter from a school we had hoped to attend would certainly hit us where it hurts.

Well, after reading an article on CNN, Startup Splash Networks and Facebook are teaming up in hopes of eliminating rejection letters forever. Startup Splash Networks has designed a Facebook app called "AdmissionSplash" that will show prospective college students how likely it is that they will be admitted to each school on their lists. This app asks for students to input various information, including test scores, GPA, address, other demographic information, and more factors that admission offices take into account. Then, based off of an algorithm, the users receive a desirability rating as well as the likelihood they will get into the colleges they are looking at. AdmissionSplash is up and running for 1,500 colleges. So far, the results have been suprisingly accurate. For UCLA, "approximately 85% of the students the app said would get admitted actually did." Here's a picture of what the new Facebook app looks like up front:














While the app seems to work (it's in the beginning stages), there are a few underlying questions that need to be answered before prospective students throw all of their information to these two companies. First and foremost, this new app requires a lot of personal and demographic information that would seem to have no bearing on anyone's ability to get into a college, such as one's address. This makes the app look a little suspicious, as people might make it out to believe a simple data mining exercise for Facebook and SSN. In his blog, professional Art Director and Designer Michael Leo wrote an article about the rise of Facebook applications that have underlying intentions to harvest demographic data from consumers. This is a direct violation of privacy on the consumer and tons and tons of people are falling for such applications. Is the new AdmissionSplash app just the next one in line on this list?

Second, the question needs to be asked: can an app or algorithm truly be developed to help predict whether one will be accepted to a certain college? And if so, can it ever be reliable? While results for UCLA have been accurate for this new app, that's not to say it works for the other colleges.

That said, if people do try it out, will they believe the results? The consequences can be detrimental if one tries out the app and it informs him/her that the chances of him/her getting into a school are not good. As mentioned before, it's not 100% accurate. It's not full-proof. It isn't the "real thing." Someone who is rejected by the app can just as easily apply to the school and get in.

Thus, I don't know whether this app should be trusted. Questions will continue to linger around this app for as long as it is in existence about whether it can be trusted or not. Is it just a data-mining attempt by Facebook and SSN to get more information on consumers? Are the results it produces reliable enough? What if one is rejected by the app but in reality, he/she would've gotten into the college had they applied? When it comes down to it, I don't know if I'd be able to trust this app. Thankfully, I've already been through the college application process, so I will not have to worry about ever using this app. But for those who will, I stress a heavy word of caution.