27 Apr 2017

Social media has become an alternative hub of information as compared to traditional media like television, radio and newspaper.
Speaking in an interview with one of the residents of Bobonong, Ms Pinki Motlhagodi, she said  that social media operated in many sources to many receivers unlike traditional media such as radio which broadcasted the same programmes to the entire community.
She added that in social media domain engines such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Whatsapp distributed information suitable to all age groups.

Ms Motlhagodi said  she used social media like Facebook to search for jobs and research for other things that are of great importance to her life.
She emphasised that using social media was cheap as social media tools were available to anyone with access to  Internet, a computer or any mobile device whereas in many regions as well as in remote areas people did not have access to newspapers, radio or television. “Social media is more advantageous as I can check my account numerous times throughout the day as compared to radio and television”, she said.

Ms Motlhagodi said that the time lag between communications produced by industrial (traditional) media is long and can take days, weeks, or even months but in social media information is responded instantly to receivers.
For his part, Mr Camfort Seleke, said that although social media was good in disseminating information,what mattered was that the information transmitted could be altered.
He pronounced that, industrial media like television could beat social media if they could broadcast human interest stories as well as increase time of broadcasting their content.
However, Mr Seleke stated that he prefered news or information transmitted by television and radio than social media.
Mr Seleke explained that on social media, people sometimes tweeted, blogged, made online comments and sent messages to other users to meet new like-minded people, to find a romantic partner, to build their self-esteem, or to be on the cutting edge. ENDS