Communication from a distance

In space things get far away, connections get interrupted, and transitions are lost. Khhhh khhhh Huston, we have a problem. This week we had several options of articles that considered the different possible uses of social media in foreign countries. I looked at Woohym Yoo’s article, “The effects of SNS communication: How expressing and receiving information predict MERS-preventive behavioral intentions in South Korea” to see if there was anything that I could use for improving my communication on the web and possibly out into space.

The web offers a place where un-filtered and up to date information is presented that just can’t be found anywhere else. In the article, they talk about SNS (social network systems) as “web based services that let individuals build knowledge and disseminate information within a system.” (Yoo 2016) In this format people don’t have to wait for the government or the local news to broadcast current information. In fact, people can turn to friends, witness, and their favorite reporter for quicker more reliable information. In the SNS regular people are producers and disseminators of content.

The article takes a deep look into social tendencies during emergency situations. As it turns out SNS are effective in getting information in the hands of those who need it. “Therefore, through SNSs, the public can play a critical role in message expression such as creating content, transmitting information, and amplifying or commenting on traditional news stories during public health crises.” (Yoo 2016)

Another thing worth mention from the article is that with SNS content that one produces tells a lot about the person who delivered it. Because regular people are disseminating content you get to see into their character with the way they display themselves online. As said in the article “message construction requires cognitive elaboration, as one considers not only what one wishes to express, but also the way in which that expression is likely to be received.” (Yoo 2016) Suggesting that how you conduct yourself online and communicate with others is important to how you want to be perceived. One then cannot separate who you are from who you want to be in this sometimes-distant communication environment.