1 Introduction
Hon Carmel Sepuloni is looking to find some ways to develop people through different social media channels. In NZ society, people seem assertive to get in a relationship, enhance interactions, and cooperate for various business deals as well. Depending on social media benefits, people have increased the use of social media. On the other hand, Hon Carmel Sepuloni has a strategic concern. Personal and business relationships are two significant elements of social development, and social media has become a prominent source. Now, the minister wants to navigate some positive and negative issues of social media to see the direction of social development. Also, on different social media channels, personal and business-related issues are in the limelight. These issues are also to be examined to make a better plan or program for society. Based on deriving insights, the study will also depict some suggestions for improving the social welfare of the NZ people.
The report is written for Hon Carmel Sepuloni. The report aims to streamline the use and impact of social media on different issues and social development.
In NZ society, people are triggered by positive and negative issues when using different social media channels. The elaboration of these issues is below.
2 Positive Issues Related to Social Media
2.1 People’s Safety
Social media platforms enable great help in different circumstances. It has been revealed that people are working as volunteers on these platforms to help society. For Instance, in the NZ society, social media users report bad weather reports to restrain people from travelling. The information allowed people to be safe and informed about several events. It seems a cheaper platform to keep people updated. Social media platforms are sources of quick communication, which may make people less vulnerable (Web Hosting Media, 2018).
2.2 Connectivity
Another decisive issue is connectivity. Social media has enhanced the connectivity for NZ society. People are connected with friends in different parts of the world. It provides a platform to find and make friends and connect with them all the time. People are getting support, improving relationships, and containing emotional and sentimental attachments due to enhanced connectivity.
2.3 Voice & Awareness
For a while, social media created the self-obese society. There is a difference between old and today’s age group. It took time to rationalise the good use of social media (Berry, 2018). People have to raise a voice on these social media channels. In this society, people have used social media as a voice to reason. Many social activists are active on these media platforms to create awareness regarding several social issues. It seems an open platform to get people’s attention and attraction and make some outputs predictable.
2.4 Content Discovery
Social media has become a place to discover content. An individual can find the content or information of interest. Creative individuals in the NZ society like to post the material or find the information to streamline others or personal outputs. Using social media websites is a better option for people to find valuable information, which can be used in both personal and business development. Content discovery has become one of the most prominent positives (Digital.Govt.NZ, 2018).
2.5 Marketing
Social media provides useful marketing tools for different businesses. Instead of streamlining the information and products on traditional media channels, companies are moving towards different digital media channels. The digital world also triggers NZ society. Companies are interacting with customers to build a long-term and robust relationship on these media channels. Better interactions on Facebook, Twitter, and many other channels help top derive insights regarding customer’s needs, trends, and behaviours. Thus, accordingly, firms can make better production decisions (OMG Solutions, 2016).
3 Personal and Business Related Issues
Personal and business related issues are also in the limelight, as far as the social media usage on the NZ society is concerned.
3.1 Personal Related Issue
3.1.1 Personal Information
Posting the information has become a prominent personal issue. People in society usually have narrow Facebook accounts with few dependable people. Social media sites provide an option for users to put the home address, phone numbers, and location. It is an issue, based on the dependability of people and security; the user can make a decision. Despite having options on these sites, sharing personal information is a major concern. Social sites are becoming more secure, which may enable people to include information for trustworthy people. However, having unknown people on the site is always risky.
3.1.2 Financial Status
People on social media channels are sharing financial status to get people’s attention. However, in this society, people have nothing to do with their financial status. Interestingly, people who want to run after the money may get an advantage. If an individual gets money and social status, showing off on social media has become a trend. However, there is a need to see and understand the big picture.
3.1.3 Explicit Content
In society, individuals may get frustrated due to different reasons. Personal frustration can be depicted on these social media channels. Sharing explicit content, which is not permitted by law, can create problems for an individual. Due to a personal understanding of any issue, things may get heated quickly. On the other hand, sharing explicit content may create awareness as well. Thus, personal issues may streamline some possibilities (Akshay, 2018).
3.2 Business Related Issues
Business-related issues are also quite visible. The business management is aware of social media use in the NZ society.
3.2.1 Using Social Media at Work
Using social media at work has become one of the main issues. Employees use social media sites during work, which is a big risk to efficiency, focus, and consistency. It diverts the attention of people from work. Conversely, modern organisations are looking to give some space to employees. Using social media at work motivates employees to work better. Integrating with social life enhances satisfaction at work, and it has a positive impact on the work process. NZ’s business community intends to implement the work-life balance activities. In a hectic work process, this initiative can work well for companies. However, social media users must be regulated. For Instance, the firm’s privacy should be protected. Separation of personal and professional lives is mandatory to rationalise the guise of social media at work (Share, 2017).
3.2.2 Responding Feedback
Responding to feedback is essential for the business to sustain the reputation or image in the competitive market. NZ society is integrated with many industries. It makes the business environment competitive. Weathering the negative feedback is a big issue to be relevant in the competitive landscape. For Instance, ignoring the negative feedback is not a solution to this issue. The firm needs to respond unquestionably to predictable feedback. It opens ways for the management to improve the product, business, and customer relations.
3.2.3 Managing Social Media
Social media can be used negatively against any business. Therefore, managing business activities is essential (Law Society, 2014). Managing the business of social media is a big challenge, as it requires time and money. Normally, there is a perception that social media is free of cost. However, managing the business on these sites may take some time, which may also increase the cost of the business. For Instance, a firm in the NZ society may hire a social media manager to manage the marketing process. The firm has to pay for it, and ultimately, the cost will increase. The cost of the business and social media marketing is interconnected with each other. The management of the company may predict the substantial cost when managing the business of social media (Kilcoyne, 2018).
4 Suggestions for Improving the Social Welfare
4.1 Integrating with Philanthropic Organizations
NZ society needs some improvements. Social welfare has emerged as a basic need for society. It seems imperative to integrate with the philanthropic organisations. The minister must regulate philanthropic organisations to ensure social good. Campaigns should be run by the government and social activists to join these organisations on different social media channels. Bringing good to the community or society should be the main priority, which can also create a positive impact on personal and business growth and development.
4.2 Authenticity
Social welfare can be justified by authenticity. NZ society seems traditional when it comes to social media usage. For Instance, organisation or individuals must come up with some facts and figures to justify the authenticity. In the contemporary era, people like to make decisions due to some facts. It can enable the rational decision-making process in society, and it seems a major element of social welfare.
4.3 Event Promotion
Instead of just building relations and getting the business benefits, social media sites must be used for event promotions. Cultural events should be promoted, and cultural and relational emotions may help people to contain a strong bonding. Social welfare also refers to sustaining values a, norms and traditions of the people. Thus, promoting the social event may open new ways to get the benefit.
4.4 Story Sharing
Improving the social welfare can be done at both personal and organisational levels. For instance, people can share stories on different social media sites. The most important thing is to perceive different narratives in society. Hon Carmel Sepuloni is quite aware of a diverse society, and it seems important to evaluate several narratives. Heart-wrenching picture of people who need help in society is a kind of story for people at the bottom-line of society and different organisations. Thus, taking appropriate actions is obvious in the NZ society.
4.5 Customer’s Voice & Narrative Building
From the perspective of an organisation, social welfare can be done by celebrating the voice of customers. Instead of just focusing on an organisation’s content, values and interests of others must be shared on these platforms. It can help the company to build a narrative in society to create a positive impact.
5 Impact on future government programs and policies
The effect of social media on the policy-making process can be seen in NZ society. The minister is quite aware of the scope or importance of social media surge. The government makes programs and policies for people. Interestingly, these people are on social media channels. The government may create urgency on social sites before making the public policy. People’s feedback seems valuable, which can help to make some changes or improvements. The impact of programs or policies must be assessed on these platforms, as the government can interact with the immense people’s traffic (Russell, 2017).
6 Conclusion
6.1 In the end, it is to conclude that the role of social media in social welfare and public policy is essential. The NZ Society must evolve with time by integrating with new social media trends.
6.2 The study articulated a comprehensive analysis of social media impact along with several insights. The content increases the scope of social media platforms for people, government, and organisations.
6.3 The development process needs social media to enhance interaction, and it is going to work for NZ society.
7 Recommendations
7.1 With the perspective of the business, organizations must create several customer segments to enhance the attraction and positioning on different social media channels.
7.2 Personally, social media cannot be used to impose things open other people. It must be used to contain freedom of speech.
7.3 Government should use social media channels as free mediums to communicate with people and make policies to fulfil expectations in society.
8 References
Akshay. (2018, January 10). 10 Things You Should Never Share On Social Media. https://lifehacks.io/ten-things-you-should-not-post-on-social-media/
Berry, G. (2018, March 13). The flow-on effects of our self-obsessed society. https://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/social-networking/102190328/the-flowon-effects-of-our-selfobsessed-society
Digital.Govt.NZ. (2018, June 20). Social media — local research. https://www.digital.govt.nz/standards-and-guidance/engagement/online-engagement/research-how-digital-can-support-participation-in-government/social-media-local-research/
Kilcoyne, M. (2018, November 21). 3 potential social media problems for businesses. http://www.msmdesignzblog.com/3-potential-problems-with-social-media-for-businesses/
Law Society. (2014, August 1). What you say on social media is not just social. http://www.lawsociety.org.nz/lawtalk/lawtalk-archives/issue-847/what-you-say-on-social-media-is-not-just-social
OMG Solutions. (2016, June 23). Social media is alive and thriving for New Zealand business. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1606/S00693/social-media-is-alive-and-thriving-for-new-zealand-business.htm
Russell, J. (2017, February 8). Social Media in Government: Benefits, Challenges, and How it’s Used. Retrieved from Hoot Suite: https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-government
Share, A. (2017, May 31). Top 10 social media issues for businesses. https://www.nhbr.com/June-9-2017/Top-10-social-media-issues-for-businesses/
Web Hosting Media. (2018, March 8). Positive & Negative Effects of Social Media on Our Lives. https://webhostingmedia.net/social-media-effects/
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