NEWSpiracy Tutor Handbook EN

https://newspiracy.eu The project "NEWSpiracy" is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. The content of NEWSpiracy is the sole responsibility of the project partners and neither the European Commission nor the Spanish Service for the Internationalisation of Education (SEPIE) is responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. Project Number: 2022-1-ES01-KA220-HED-000089608 Many people also use social media as a primary source of news and information. In this chapter we will explore the different types of social media, the impact of social media on the production of news, the opportunities and challenges of news media, the generational differences in news consumption, the efficacy of social media use, and online news consumption versus traditional news consumption. Types of social media There are various types of social media platforms, each with their unique features and functionalities. Their classification may differ depending on the criteria used. However, some of the most common types of social media include: ● Social Networks: These are platforms that allow users to connect with friends, family, and other users through online profiles, messaging and sharing content. Examples include Facebook and LinkedIn, which are the most popular. Facebook is a general-purpose social networking platform that enables users to connect with friends, family, and colleagues, share photos, videos and updates. LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that allows users to connect with colleagues, employers and other professionals in their or another industry. ● Microblogging: These platforms are designed for users to share short updates, usually in the form of text, images, or videos. Most people use Twitter and Snapchat. Twitter is a micro- blogging platform that allows users to send short messages known as “tweets” to their followers. Snapchat is a messaging app that enables users to send short-lived messages that disappear after being viewed. ● Photo and video-sharing: These platforms allow users to share and organize photos and videos. Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are the most popular. Instagram enables users to share visual content with their followers. On TikTok users can make and share short (60 seconds maximum) music videos. YouTube is a video-sharing platform that enables users to upload, view, and share videos with a global audience (Welke sociale media zijn er?, 2023). ● Blogging: These platforms allow users to create and publish their own content, including articles, photos, and videos. Examples are WordPress and Blogger. WordPress is an open- source content management system that allows you to host and create your own (news) website. With Blogger users can create a blog by choosing from a selection of easy-to-use templates. Impact of social media on News Production The impact of social media on the production of news has been significant in recent years. Social media has fundamentally changed the way news is produced and disseminated. With the rise of social media, anyone with a smartphone and an internet connection can become a news producer and share news content with a global audience. Social media platforms have become an essential source of news for many people worldwide. Social media has also provided new ways for journalists to gather and distribute news content and enabled news producers to reach a broader audience, allowing them to disseminate news content to people outside their traditional demographic as well as providing a new way for audiences to consume and interact with news. However, social media has also given rise to the spread of fake news and misinformation, with many people using social media to spread false or misleading information. Here are some ways in which social media has affected the production of news: