Can Anybody Hear Me?

This week I was looking at the topic of the digital voice. Before I could specify the area I wanted to focus in on I needed to gain a broader knowledge of what was meant by the ‘digital voice’.

I came across a term Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) that was defined as the communication between two or more linked computer where separate users can interact with each other via the internet. CMC originally described e-mail, chat rooms and instant messaging but has recent research has been focussed on the social effects of computer communications through social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and YouTube. 

I understand the digital voice to be the ‘voice’ we have when online. Many people use the internet as a platform to get themselves heard for business, political and personal reasons. With the World Wide Web being frequented daily by many people it is a useful tool when trying to get a message spread.

The Evening Standard printed a story titled ‘Mock all you like, but social media can do good’ where the reporter, Lucy Tobin, talked about how companies are now looking for people who are internet-savvy and have skills that include knowing how to use social networks. And it’s not just businesses many police forces are now on Twitter and use it very effectively.

I follow my local police force (@bedspolice) and frequently see updates on how to stay safe at certain times of year, in certain weather conditions, updates on local crimes, appeals for help as well as conversations between the police force and the public. So not only are social networks enabling the forces to get their messages to the masses a lot quicker and cheaper than ever before, it also makes the forces a lot more available and contactable to the public.

Maybe not everyone having a voice on the internet is a good thing but, like most things, in the right capacity and from the right people the internet is giving many a voice they would never have had without it.

All the links I used are listed below:

·         http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-mediated_communication

·         ‘Mock all you like, but social media can do good’ – The Evening Standard printed January 11^th

·         https://twitter.com/bedspolice