Hashtags, cool glasses and a whole lot more trends (Q1.5)

Remember back when Facebook started and that was the main thing going for us at that point? Then Twitter came along with their hastags and from what I tend to only remember being the only trend then were those darn hashtags. Yes, sure, hastags still go on today, but I just want to make one thing clear: hash tags are not used for every little measly word. 'The' is not a word that needs a hashtag. I saw this image the other day and I found it so true:





I really should learn to stop rambling. Anyway, the topic of choice today is all about the social media trends of the lovely year of 2014 and hashtags is just one of them.


Google has been around us forever since 1998 and since then it has evolved into its own being. Before, we had our normal Gmail accounts and now we don't just have that, but the whole of Google as well! What makes it even cooler is that it is integrated with Youtube and so many more products. Thus, Google+ is born.
Guess what tends to put Google into my good books? the amazing, wondrous invention known as the Google Glass. If I could afford it, it would be the first high tech gadgety thing I would buy. When I heard about Google Glass, I thought that the idea was fantastic. Eye wear that works like a computer attached to your face. Apparently it is just like a smartphone with the same features, but it is hands free.

Sharing your location with everyone is cool right? We would go onto Facebook and check in to which location we were at, or visited. Today, we have a new application trend known as Swarm. It is basically the same thing as what Facebook has, but you don't have to check in! Super nifty. To be honest, I don't think I have ever used the location application on Facebook, if I have, it was probably once or twice. However, I do not find myself using Swarm either. It seems to just be something fun to show where you go and all that jazz. Oooh, but the one trend that I find really cool and will be checking out really soon is; Social Listening.

There are quite a few platforms for Social Listening such as HowSociable, Klout, Topsy, Sysomos and IceRocket. Usually companies, individuals or organisations use this tool to know what is being said about their product or brand. Although, not only does it help the company and what not, but it also helps the customer to find and gather more insight on content or ideas as well as other social media listening platforms. On a larger scale from a community point of view, it will help a company to identify where communities are, either if they are online or offline as well as to know who the company is competing against.  

Phew! One seriously needs to know what is going on these days hey? It seems that technology is growing at the speed of a blink. Every year there seems to be something new on the block.

I do hope that this was as engaging for you as it was for myself. Just researching and finding out what is there before my very nose is mind boggling.

See you all out there on the interwebs!










Bibliography:

• Johnson, J. (2014). Social Media Trends 2014 -Social Media Predictions - Video and Infographic. Available: http://www.janetejohnson.com/social-media-trends-2014/. Last accessed 15 May 2014.
• Murphy, M. (2014). Top 10 Social Trends for Summer 2014. Available: http://socialmediatoday.com/margaretmurphydidit/2420986/10-social-media-trends-summer-2014. Last accessed 15 May 2014.
• Essany, M. (2014). 7 Social Media Trends Dominating 2014. Available: http://www.mobilemarketingwatch.com/7-social-media-trends-dominating-2014-40949/. Last accessed 15 May 2014.
• Rouse, M. (2013). Social Media Listening . Available: http://searchcrm.techtarget.com/definition/Social-media-monitoring. Last accessed 15 May 2014.
• Bensen, C. (2010). 3 Reasons to dig deeper in Social Listening . Available: http://www.convinceandconvert.com/guest-posts/3-reasons-to-dig-deeper-in-social-listening/. Last accessed 15 May 2014
• Google. (2014). Our history in depth. Available: http://www.google.co.za/about/company/history/. Last accessed 19 May 2014.
• The Voopler. (2014). 10 Fashion Victim Flu Symptoms!. Available: http://voopl.com/10fashion-victim-flu-symptoms/. Last accessed 15 May 2014.
• Khan, M. (2014). 30+ Facebook Smiley Faces. Available: http://stylegerms.com/facebook-smiley-faces/. Last accessed 22 May 2014.
• Burrows, B. (2014). What is Google Glass? All you need to know about the state-of-the-art wearable tech. Available: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/what-google-glass-how-look-3513110. Last accessed 22 May 2014.
• Epstein, J. (2012). 8 Great Social Media Listening Tools. Available: http://blog.getambassador.com/8-great-social-media-listening-tools/. Last accessed 22 May 2014.

The internet in Southern Africa, Durban (Q1.4)

So, in Durban, where I live there are so many blog sites to find that the mind boggles. Although, to put this lightly, I am just going to give you some of the most popular blogs to find.

Umhlanga Life, an online lifestyle magazine, to which I am an intern for, is a blog that is very interesting. It has many different types of posts that are entertaining and of a place that features snippets of what is going on in the area. Movie reviews, competition covers and more are to offer. But the one thing that I seem to like is the fact that it will also show you other bloggers to follow and to check out. It is worth your while, especially if you are a citizen of this area because those blogs will be informative for the citizens. Although, it is not limited to them. Who ever is out there, if you happen to find these blogs, you will be happy because if you decide to come down and visit the sunny side of Durban, these blogs will help you.

Popular blogs from Umhlanga Life Including Umhlanga Life itself:

Umhlanga Life - events, Durban, life and more.

Aske Ashe - blogs about events, food, fashion, Durban.

Daniel Dinnie - blogs about books and writing and life.

Nadia Van der Mescht - blogs about fashion and more.

Kirsty Bisset - blogs about Fashion, Celebs, Sharks.


Bibliography:

• Umhlanga Life. (2014). Umhlanga Life. Available: http://umhlangalife.blogspot.com/. Last accessed 22 May 2014.
• Ask Ashe. (2014). Ask Ashe. Available: http://askashe.wordpress.com/. Last accessed 22 May 2014.
• Dinnie, D. (2012). Daniel Dinnie. Available: http://daniel-dinnie.wozaonline.co.za/Blog. Last accessed 22 May 2014.
• VD Mescht, N. (2014). Nadia van der Mescht. Available: http://www.nadiavdmescht.co.za/. Last accessed 22 May 2014
• Bisset, K. (2014). Kirsty Bisset. Available: http://www.kirstybisset.com/index.html. Last accessed 22 May 2014.