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TWITTER AS A SOCIAL MEDIA TECHNOLOGY
1
Running head: TWITTER AS A SOCIAL MEDIA TECHNOLOGY
Twitter as a Social Media Technology
Student’s Name
Institution
Twitter as a Social Media Technology
Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION 3
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 4
2.1. Research Questions 5
2.2 Research Objective 5
Chapter Three 6
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 6
3.1 Research Design 6
3.2 Population and Sample 7
3.2.1 Population 7
3.2.2 Sample Size 7
3.3 Sample Technique 7
3.4 Data and Data Collection Instruments 8
3.5 Validity and Reliability 8
3.6 Data Analysis Method 8
4.0 RESULTS AND RESEARCH FINDINGS 9
Chapter five 14
5.0 CONCLUSION 14
Appendix 1 15
Questionnaire 15
References 16
Figure 1 Demographic Data 7
Figure 2 Twitter has the appropriate technology to categorize it as a social media 8
Figure 3 Twitter has similar characteristics as other social media technologies 9
Figure 4 That Twitter has enabled people from different global locations interact 9
Figure 5 The number of hours Spent on other social media platforms other than twitter 10
Chapter one
1.0 INTRODUCTION
In spite of being American social news, Twitter is also a social media platform majorly known for creating and following Hashtags. Twitter provides an overall platform where people can follow their favorite individuals like friends, celebrities, companies, and politician among many more. Hashtag technology also makes it possible to follow or participate in a given topic of discussion (Kietzmann, 2011). It, therefore, more than the original news platform as it was intended but rather a social media where various issues can be discussed. Twitter has more than 320 million active users that engage various twits more often (Murthy, 2018). In this case, it has managed to create a virtual platform for interaction of various personnel and individuals making it portray much more characteristics of a social media. Users share light moments, follow their timelines and daily activities among several things. It, therefore, creates a virtual interaction where many people can use it just like other direct social media platforms like Facebook.
This paper, therefore, provides in-depth research which tends to prove that social media platform is a social technology. It uses secondary sources of data to help uncover the technologies used by twitter which qualifies it as a social network. The comparison is also made with other outstanding social media platforms to determine the similarities that make it qualify as social media technology. In this case, the paper uses Facebook as a point of reference. The research questions for this paper tend to uncover the technology used in twitter that qualifies it as a perfect social media and differentiates it from other news platforms and websites.
Chapter Two
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
Over the last century, technology has promoted inventions that have stimulated efficiency and growth across the globe. However, the increased dependence on technology has made us appear like technological addicts. Currently, we prefer using technology to find solutions to every challenge that we face. Undoubtedly, technology is becoming the next household item that everyone needs to perform their daily activities.
Technological advancements such as social media and online shops contemporarily allow us to shop without having to visit a shopping mall. Twitter has played this role as a social media technology in the current era of business evolution. We are slowly becoming physically inactive and relying on technology to accomplish all the tasks that would have otherwise engaged us mentally, physically, and psychologically.
The rapid invention of smartphones technological which has penetrated to the different part of the globe has enabled the usage of Twitter to a majority of people who can afford the gadgets. To sign up to the media platform is easy and does not require one to pay for the registration procedure. The use of Twitter and other online social media are on the rise across the globe an aspect that has immensely benefited the business community to improve on marketing and advertisement. The organizations can leap more from technology while investing less in the marketing strategy. Twitter and other social media applications have worked to bring cohesion and understanding among people from different backgrounds and cultures. People are able to meet over these virtual worlds and interact accordingly. The sharing help to accept the various cultural diversities in the world we live in.
People are able to socialize, make deliberations and moderations on the various matter of global interest. Twitter is a form of entertainment and a way to pass our leisure time. It offers some opportunity to catch up with buddies, family members and business associates in different locations across the globe. Twitter, like any other social media application, has helped connect families, friends, and people in the business world in a real time scenario which works to brings togetherness and understanding.
2.1. Research Questions
What are technologies used in twitter that makes it operate as social media?
What are the technological similarities between Twitter and other social media platforms?
What visible characteristics does twitter possess that qualifies it as social media technology and what are the social media technologies.
2.2 Research Objective
The research seeks to the technology that is applied by twitter that qualifies it to be a social media platform. The study also shows the similarities between Twitter and other social media platforms.
Chapter Three
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The methodology has applied various statistical techniques to design the data collection tool, to collect data and analyze it to give useful information about the use of Twitter as a social media platform.
3.1 Research Design
The research gathered qualitative and quantitative data to come up with needed information that qualifies twitter as a social media platform. Quantitative data was collected to come up with the number of individuals and organizations using twitter as a social media avenue where they converge to discuss issues and do business in case of business organizations. Qualitative data were used to gather non-numerical data about the interactions with the Twitter user interface and to what extent they perceive twitter to be a social media technology. The data collected was analyzed and critically examined to come up with the best results and analysis. The design and methodology used in the dissertation were based on the nature of the information required to ascertain the validity and reliability standards.
3.2 Population and Sample
The population in research is the total number of the individual who qualifies as participants in a study while a sample is a group of individuals picked from the population as a representative and should contain sufficient characteristics of the population for inferential statistics to be drawn. The research utilized both primary and secondary data from college students and business organizations around California. A sample of thirty was used for the study. The participants were varying in their gender and Twitter usage and experience. It was aimed at ensuring that the research is valid and reliable by incorporating different aspects of the research processes.
3.2.1 Population
A non-probability method was used to obtain a population of about six hundred students and stakeholders utilizing social media technology. The method guarantees that the selection process is completely randomized and without bias.
3.2.2 Sample Size
A sample of thirty respondents was picked through a systematic sampling technique to be a representative of the study population in the social media platform.
3.3 Sample Technique
A purposive sample of thirty students was selected from a population of approximately Six hundred. Systematic Sampling was employed where the 30th member of the population was chosen as a study participant. Systematic sampling allows the selection of the kth member thus getting a sample that is free from biases. The members of the population are first assigned some numbers where the member coinciding to the set interval value is picked. Systematic sampling allows the selection of a sample through a predetermined criterion. A sample of thirty is small and sufficient enough to help the researcher carry out an in-depth study of the sample. A sample of thirty facilitated the researcher to reduce the cost and save on the research period since the industry is huge to conduct an individual member census.
3.4 Data and Data Collection Instruments
The research utilized questionnaires which are an important tool in ensuring that the researcher collects ample information on the different aspects of social media technology in California. Primary data from the students and other stakeholders in the business community was obtained using structured questionnaires.
3.5 Validity and Reliability
The validity of the research too used was established by consulting experienced researchers who rated the ability of each question in the questionnaire to capture what it was supposed to in order to get the sought data. The questioned were assessed to ensure the required data would be meaningfully analyzed concerning the stated objectives and research questions. Suggestions and advice offered were used as the basis to modify the research items and make them more adaptable in the study. Reliability of the research instruments was determined using a pre-research pilot model to check on the suitability and ambiguity of the research instruments designed.
3.6 Data Analysis Method
The data was entered into Excel workbook for analysis. The qualitative data was used to support quantitive data obtained to make meaningful analysis and conclusions. Bar graphs and pie charts were used to present the analyzed data to give insights on the study topic.
Chapter Four
4.0 RESULTS AND RESEARCH FINDINGS
This chapter deals with the analysis of the data obtained from the research tool. The data is analyzed using Excel for efficient manipulation. Bar graphs and pie charts have been utilized to represent the results for easier conceptualization.
Figure 1 Demographic Data
Gender
Number
Percent
Male
16
53.3%
Female
14
46.7%
Age groups
20-25
2
6.7%
25-30
3
10.0%
30-35
9
30.0%
35-40
7
23.3%
40-45
45-50
50+
5
3
1
16.7%
10.0%
3.3%
Responsibility
Employee
9
30.0%
Student
16
53.3%
manager
5
16.7.0%
The above table reveals that the majority of the research respondents are male in the gender category, students in the category, and aged between thirty and thirty-five years in the age category. Students actively on social media to catch up with friends and to socialize. Individuals in the age between thirty and thirty are in the marketing sector, who are continuously advertising their organizations and are ambitious to make fortunes to be eligible for promotions in the workplace. They can afford to buy and access gadgets that can access social media applications and can surf the web effectively.
Figure 2 Twitter has the appropriate technology to categorize it as a social media.
From the figure above most of the respondents in the interview agree that Twitter has the appropriate technology as a social media platform. All the categories(students, manager, and employees) agree with this fact. People using twitter can communicate on a real time basis as long as they log in to the application and have reliable internet connectivity. Two of the employees interviewed disagree with this fact which may be attributed to low interactions with social media technology. No manager disputed the fact that Twitter has the relevant technology to qualify as a social media platform. This is because most managers in the United States are using Twitter to communicate with the clients and other staff members. Twitter is an efficient social media application for making effective communication between organization management and its clients on real time media.
Figure 3 Twitter has similar characteristics as other social media technologies.
The figure above shows that respondents agreed that Twitter has a similar characteristic to those of other social media applications. Twitter users will need an account from where they can access the contents in the application.
Figure 4 That Twitter has enabled people from different global locations interact
Figure four above shows that the Employees, the student, and the managers interviewed agreed that Twitter has enabled people from different location to interact over a virtual platform. Connecting with people from a different location via Twitter is possible. People are able to socialize and conduct business activities through the same platform. Important messages can be relayed via social media technology and reach the intended audience within the shortest time possible as long as they are connected to a network. It has helped in the management of remote projects. Organizational managers can circulate information to employees and other managers in a different location through a single post.
Figure 5 The number of hours Spent on other social media platforms other than twitter
Figure five above shows the number of hours spent on other social media application other than twitter. Facebook seems to the second most used social media application as compared to Instagram. This means that Twitter has similar applicability as facebook. Facebook is easier to navigate and operate. Among the groups interviewed the students have the highest number of hours on social media applications. This could be attributed to the need of the student to interact and learn new technology. The students have more leisure time as compared to the employees and the managers. The students spend on three hours on average on social media technology than the employees and the managers.
Chapter five
5.0 CONCLUSION
From the above research findings, it clear that Twitter has the necessary technology to qualify it as a social media application. It has been accepted among the different categories including students, employees and managers operation in California state. The media platform has been embraced as a mean of catching up with colleagues and friends in different locations on a real time basis. People are able to pass information from one location to the other and through a big audience. Twitter has the required technology to be classified as a reliable communicationplatform for boh small and large enterprises. It has worked as a reliable means of managing fast-growing enterprises as people are able to interact and share on different aspects of life.
Twitter has a simple user interface allowing people to download and install the application. It is easy to navigate between the different icons in the application thus its wide acceptability and usability among people of different ages and socio-economic groups. The application is accessible through different gadgets that are capable of accessing the internet such as smart phones, laptops, and tablets. People have been able to connect through the media platform and convey different messages. People open Twitter accounts and allow others to follow their twitter handles through Hashtags technology.
Twitter provides an avenue where people can follow their favorite individuals like friends, celebrities, companies, and politician. Hashtag technology also makes it possible to follow or participate in a given topic of discussion. It, therefore, more than the original news platform as it was intended but rather a social media where various issues can be discussed. Twitter has over three hundred and twenty million active users across the globe and has managed to create a virtual platform for interaction of various personnel and individuals making it portray much more characteristics of a social media. Users share light moments, follow their timelines and daily activities regarding business and social engagements.
Appendix 1
Questionnaire
Part 1: Personal Details
Q1. Circle where appropriate
Male
Female
Q2. What is your age?
20 – 25 ( ) 25-30 ( ) 30-35 ( ) 35-40 ( ) 40-45 ( ) 45-50 ( ) 50+ ( )
Q3. Position in the workplace
Student
Manager
Employee
Part 2:
To what extent do you agree to the statements below?
Q4. Twitter has the appropriate technology to categorize it as a social media application
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Q5. Twitter has similar characteristics as other social media technologies
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Q6. That Twitter has enabled people from different global locations interact
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Q7. On average how many hours do you spend on Twitter compared to other social media platforms
Others (Specify)
References
Kietzmann, J. H. (2011). Social media? Get serious! Understanding the functional building blocks of social media. Business Horizons, 54(3), 241-251.
Murthy, D. (2018). Twitter. Polity Press.