Buff State needs social media classes

I was recently able to sit in on a guest lecturer in an Internet marketing class. Her name was Jennifer Starkey and she's a 2008 graduate from Buffalo State College with a major in communication studies and a concentration in public relations.  She uses social media constantly and numerous times a day, as she specializes in utilizing search engines as well as social media technologies. One of the main topics she spoke on was social media and its importance in the world today.

She put emphasis on the business aspect of social media. However, Starkey's lecture touched on the communication aspect as well. "Social media falls more under the public relations and marketing category," she said. "It's a form of communication. It is something that should be taught and learned, especially in the communications department."

Social media is used to describe technologies on the Internet and on your mobile phone that help communicating and the exchange of information be an interactive motion.  Popular forms of social media include Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and smart phones such as Blackberrys and iPhones.

I remember I first got a Myspace in seventh grade, as it was the popular thing to do at the time. Then in high school I was introduced to Facebook and Twitter. At the time it was all done with the intention of entertainment and a place to keep touch with friends and share personal things such as pictures and thoughts. I also got a Blackberry my freshman year of college, and it changed my life. I can now receive emails straight to my phone and have access directly to the Internet to check my Twitter or Facebook.

 These outlets of social media play a bigger role in our lives than most even think about, which is why I think Buffalo State College needs a class on social media. These technologies and mediums are used out in the "real world" to promote, influence, educate, inform and entertain.

As Starkey said, "You can't buy the type of publicity that Twitter can provide you with." In the job world today when you're applying, it's almost assumed that you are familiar with these technologies and know how to use them. These sites can be used to update the public on what's happening all over the world before it even gets printed or broadcasted on the news. They can also help get your company or publications name out to the public and help with promoting it. If there is such a need in jobs to be familiar with such channels, why isn't there a class offered on social media at Buffalo State College? I feel that the communication department would benefit greatly by having such class available to students.

Although not very prevalent, some colleges today do offer social media related classes. Some of those colleges include Harvard University, Columbia University, University of California and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Drury University in Missouri even offers an online social media certification program.

The world we live in today is far more technologically advanced than it was 10, even five years ago. Having a class on social media offered at Buffalo State College would benefit any individual who will take it. If not a class on the topic, possibly having seminars or workshops a couple times a semester would give students the opportunity to begin to become capable of fully taking advantage of social media.

Caitlin Waters can be reached by email at waters.record@live.com.