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Rethinking Globalization in a New Era: The Role of Social Media in Global Citizenship

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Social Media

  • Plays a significant role in
    • Workplace
    • Education
    • Scholarly research
    • Political sphere

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Social Media & Information Products

  • A move from a “one-way broadcast and producer-controlled model into an interactive co-generating model” (Lofstedt & Holmberg, 2016)

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Social Media in the Political Sphere

  • A means for individuals to voice their concerns about social issues & to seek social justice

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Instruction in Intentional Social Media Use

  • In two distinct disciplines
    • Technical Communication
    • International Relations

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Social Media as a Tool for Technical Communicators

A tool for virtual work

A tool to seek user feedback

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Challenges of Using Social Media in Technical Communication

  • Need to learn “new ways of relating to people” (Longo, 2014)
  • Must examine cultural assumptions in design of social media tools
  • Must think beyond their own cultural contexts
  • Have ethical responsibility to consider how technology affects diverse others

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Social Media as a Tool for Diplomats

  • Diplomacy is all about negotiation and communication
  • Impacts diplomats and citizens alike
  • Information is not only power in hands of diplomats, but also increasingly at the disposal of ordinary people

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Social Media as a Tool for Diplomats

  • Has potential to give a voice to disenfranchised groups
  • Individuals can reach a mass audience and join together
  • Twitter can be used to mobilize groups

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Four Ways Social Media Plays a Major Role in Conflict

  • Limits communication
  • Easily accessible
  • Adaptation
  • Technological advancements

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Social Media Gives Power to Average Citizens

  • Can produce information
  • Express unusual opinions
  • Mobilize in groups
  • Recruit like-minded individuals to their own cause

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Thank You!