Social Media Tools: I love thee? I love thee not?

In the exciting world of social media I find that the options are limitless to reach countless new audiences and sources of information. So today, I played a game and I called it, "Can you use me?" These are the top three social media tools that are user friendly and useful (according to me).

The first winner is (drumroll, please), "Podcasts" I decide that the Center for Disease Control has some really relevant and useful information in the scary world of Ebola so a podcast from the cdc should be a really good idea. Here it is:
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=8633481

This is an excellent and information couple of minutes (exactly 2 minutes and 45 seconds to be exact). It was easy to use, loaded effortlessly, and saved quickly. According to Aids.gov states that of online users, "52% reported viewing and listening to both video and audio within a given month".

The second winner is (again, drumroll) "Blogs" this choice is interesting as I have recently found creating and posting in a blog to be a fairly easy tool, however, I have not used it as way to discover more information about the world around me. In this game, I found the blog of woman who is sharing her journey of living with Aids ( http://www.thebody.com/content/75048/checking-back-in-after-my-long-hospitalizations.html ) it is a personal account and unique perspective.Aids.gov states, "By the end of 2011, there were an estimated 181 million blogs worldwide, up from 36 million in 2006".

The third winner in today's game is photo sharing sites. If  a picture is worth a thousand words, so imagine the stories that are told by just photo journalism alone. A good representation of photo journalism can be found at  http://facing.aids.gov/gallery/  The images of humans living with or choosing to create awareness for Aids is truly eye opening, it is not a discriminating disease. I am suddenly aware, more than ever, that everyone I meet and know has their own unique story and struggles, we should interact with each other with respect and compassion.

These three are the winners, in my book, because even the novice social media user can access these tools without creating accounts, remembering passwords, or downloading specific apps. These are tools that deliver solid information (if that is what the creator intends) and is easily accessible.

There is no longer an excuse for not having enough time to research a topic - in two minutes and 45 seconds you too can understand a world crisis like Ebola, find compassion for a woman brave enough to share her journey with Aids, or understand that all communities are facing Aids. We are better consumers for the ability to use these social media tools.

So don't wait to be invited to "come on down" to your favorite game or topic - just podcast, blog, or photo share your way there.

References

Arnold, L. (2014, September 30). Checking back in after my long hospitalizations. Retrieved from The Body website: http://www.thebody.com/content/75048/checking-back-in-after-my-long-hospitalizations.html

Facing aids gallery. Retrieved from Aids.gov website: http://facing.aids.gov/gallery/

New media tools. Retrieved from Aids.gov website: http://aids.gov/using-new-media/tools/index.html#tool-podcasts

(2014, August 8). Ebola virus disease. Retrieved from Center for Disease Control and Prevention website: http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/index.asp