Social Media Tools are becoming more and more useful in todays ever increasing technical world. With almost every cell phone capable of using Skype, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube, the business world is changing and its unknown how much more it can change.

Let’s take a look at a few of these tools and how they are used.

Skype: Skype can be described as the thorn in the airline companies backside. They have almost single handedly severely damaged the profits of these airline companies from business professionals. Instead of flying to a business destination, business people are able to, with a couple clicks, speak to their partners, investors and counterparts without having to leave their office, or living room for that matter. Skype can host interviews for prospective employees and can also help connect with family members around the world. This is one of the most powerful social media tools created to date in my opinion.Here is a quick 10 year history of Skype from Metro(UK) about how it has changed the world. http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/29/skype-ten-years-on-the-idea-that-shrank-the-world-3941266/

LinkedIn: This powerful social medial tool is the definition of networking. LinkedIn allows its members to connect on a professional level and to see what type of professional the subject is. In terms of finding a potential employee for a business, LinkedIn allows the employer to see the education and employment experience in addition to endorsements from other members to help support your skill claims.

Twitter: Twitter is similar to the ticker tape at the bottom of CNN. This website helps users follow what is trending in the world. However, twitter is often used for a way to vent about the problems in the world. The issue with some of the “tweets” is that people are accountable for what they say and this includes what you type on twitter. A good example is the NBA Referee that attempted to sue a reporter over alleged statements that were tweeted. The suit was eventually dropped, but this a prime example of how twitter can be misused. Here is some more information on the suit. http://www.nba.com/2011/news/12/07/nba-twitter-lawsuit-settlement.ap/index.html

Facebook: Facebook is similar to twitter in that it is another website that can be misused. There are just some things that should never be put on the site. This includes slander towards your employer, or the customers. A West Palm Beach Duffy’s employee was fired this year after complaining about a tip left on a bill. As an employer you do not want your employees complaining about your customers, this would prevent retention of a repeat client. As News Channel 5 (wptv) reports, the employee was fired for complaining publicly about the customer. http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_c_palm_beach_county/west_palm_beach/west-palm-beach-duffys-employee-fired-for-complaining-about-tip-on-facebook.

Youtube: And so the “viral video” was born! This amazing website allowed the world to connect over video sharing. Everything from music videos to do it yourself videos are available on this website. I think the most powerful idea behind this site is being able to share knowledge on an imagery based level. An exact step by step guide to do it yourself. As a former handyman with a small business, I used Youtube frequently to find out how to fix something or to find out what I did wrong trying to fix something. However, this also allows fake videos to be passed off as real. A perfect example of this is a social media experiment that Jimmy Kimmel started in September 2013 about “the dangers of twerking” Here is the video about the experiment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSJMoH7tnvw

Social media will continue to be a driving force in how we do business and how we get information. I for one am excited to see what will come next!

Works Cited:

Nadia Gilani. (August 29, 2013). Skype: Ten years on, the idea that shank the world. Metro.co.uk. http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/29/skype-ten-years-on-the-idea-that-shrank-the-world-3941266/

Author Unknown. (December 7, 2011). NBA, AP reach settlement in lawsuit over reporter’s tweet. NBA.com. http://www.nba.com/2011/news/12/07/nba-twitter-lawsuit-settlement.ap/index.html

Tania Rogers. (June 11, 2013). West Palm Beach Duffy’s employee fired for complaining about tip on Facebook. News Channel 5 (WPTV) . Retrieved date. http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_c_palm_beach_county/west_palm_beach/west-palm-beach-duffys-employee-fired-for-complaining-about-tip-on-facebook

Jimmy Kimmel Live. (September 9, 2013). Jimmy Kimmel Reveals “Worst Twerk Fail EVER – Girl Catches Fire” prank. Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSJMoH7tnvw