Online Platforms

            Executive summary

The paper reflects on online platforms and electronic communications. It has highlighted the impact technology advancement has had in the long-run, specifically on the communication sector. The realization of online platforms has heightened electronic communication with the integration of these apps enabling people to interact online and share information. Shared information range from videos, message, audio, documents, to pictures solving some of the difficulties people have experienced for a long time. Embracement of technology in communication has positively impacted businesses, organizations, and people of different walks of life. Even though there exist disadvantages of online platforms and electronic communications, it remains critical in modern times, and thus solutions remain enlightening the masses. Even though it might bring disconnection and low levels of face-to-face interaction that results in low self-esteem, sensitizing the masses about the importance of traditional ways of interaction remain critical.

Introduction

In the modern world, the level of technological advancement has resulted in improved communication through electronic communications. Technology has continued to enhance communication with online platform growth increasing every day. Different people use several online platforms to engage while others prefer a specific online platform. The choice of the platform an individual use depends on satisfaction, accessibility, and the ability to provide different services. There are online platforms that offer a chance to send messages, video chatting, sharing of pictures, and engaging more than those in your contact list. Facebook is an online platform that enables its users to engage with more than those they know physically. It provides a platform for people to interact while in different parts of the world (Voorveld, 2019). It is also an example of an online platform that has enabled the organization and media to share critical information while also advertising. The online platform ensures the level of communication continues to improve every day, and with the technology making it easy to interact through smartphones. The online platforms have created apps that enhance easy electronic communication on the grounds they are compatible with smartphones. A smartphone user is expected to download an app for them to use it for communication. Thus, research demonstrated the advancement in technology has positively impacted communication by providing different means of communication without challenges. With the advancement of technology that impacts communications, it remains significant to explore the advantages of online platforms and how to use them effectively.

In an attempt to realize the advantages of online platforms in enhancing communication and how they can be used effectively, comprehensive remained critical. The study started with a clear collection of primary data where a random sample among students was selected to collect data from the masses. The data collected from different populations aimed to reflect how online platforms are used and how they are integrated. Raw data plays a crucial role in research on grounds; it enables researchers to understand the population better. In our case, we aimed to understand the advantages and disadvantages of online platforms and how their effectiveness in communication can be improved.  It is important to highlights the existing knowledge about online platforms and electronic communications. Different researchers have reflected on the issue of online platforms and their impact on communication. Voorveld (2019) posits that social media continue to be an important part of daily consumer lives, with an estimated 2.62 billion people using it as of 2018 globally. The huge usage of online platforms has triggered innovations and creativity from different sectors and people to understand how they can use them to positively impact their businesses. As per our research, online platforms had a huge impact on organizations where it connects people in different ways, such as during recruitments. The companies benefit by advertising different vacant positions where a huge number of people can view them and respond through email applications. Many of the interviewees responded by acknowledging the online platforms enhance interactions and made it easy from different perspectives. The marketing department has embraced technological advancement and online platforms in particular, to reach a huge number of people (McMullan, 2017). Different people use varying online platforms, while others are in using more than one platform. It enables the marketing department to showcase its products and services to not only the local market but also the international market.

Strategic tool

The online platforms are strategic tools in many sectors. It was a common response from interviewees, where they acknowledge online platforms enable organizations to understand the taste and preferences of the people. Reviews from different people demonstrate what people want in at that particular moment. When change is witnessed in the market or in society, generally, it is understood through the reaction of the people online. People are quick to react to issues they appreciate or point out displeasure online as compared to one on one interactions. Thus, the online platform improves transparency, making it easy for interested parties to rely on the available information available online to make critical decisions. (Oyza & Edwin, 2015) Argues that online platforms serve as a strategic tool for every person willing to make a strategic decision that involves people and specifically young people. They air their issues on social media since it gives them a platform where they are likely to receive an adequate number of responses relating to the issue. Different people have used available info to create a strategic tool that positively impacts their goals. Reaching a wide range of people in an online platform where they provide up-to-date information guarantees an individual ability to plan based on what is needed at the moment. The most valued or coveted services and products trend in social media, and thus an individual is able to point as the market changes or society and adjust accordingly.

Employers to use an online platform to enlighten

For employers or interviewers, they need to adjust to the new model of technology to enlighten the people what they expect. A disconnection may arise where one party fails to adjust and still hold on past ways of doing things. The interviewers need to enlighten the youths and job seekers what they are looking for when they ask for resumes and cover letters through email. They need to use online platform and showcase what needs to be included and how job seekers need to respond to some of the questions that seem tuff. With technology, adequate information needs to be available, and as pointed out by interviewers in our research, it was clear resumes fails to meet the expected standards. Thus, an online platform can be a perfect model to enlighten and educate some of the issues that are critical in the modern world.  The platforms provide people with different options, such as creating videos and posting them online, providing important information. It is a trend that needs to be upheld by human resource stakeholders in a different organization to guide people on what they need to prioritize. Job seekers have expressed challenges in online platforms indicating discontent from the human resource department for failing to respond or point why they failed to reach the cut (Kuss & Griffiths, 2011 ). With several forms of writing resumes, it is challenging for job seekers to understand the best format to uphold to convince the human resource department.

Disadvantages

Apart from enhancing communication and providing adequate information on time to people, online platforms have several disadvantages. Some of the disadvantages include the disconnection they bring among people. With online platforms enhancing communication effectively cheaply, it becomes difficult for people to feel the need to interact physically. Face to face interaction enables an individual to understand some issues that cannot be realized with online platforms. The reaction of people when angry or happy and also boosting interrelationship where individual self-esteem is boosted cannot be done through an online platform. It becomes hard for an individual to fit in a congregation when they are used to online platform interaction. The online communication does not include all the stakeholders as opposed to face to face congregation where the final decision is reached amicably (McMullan, 2017). Even though there some platform provides an option for group forums, it faces some challenges where some people fail to contribute to debates.

Time-consuming

The online platform consumes time since people are expected to chat for long before reaching the final decision. People waste a lot of time chatting or communicating through an online platform, and to some extent, they lose the required attention to vital activities. In some cases, where the internet is ineffective, communication is halted, especially if they had opted for video conferencing or video chatting.

Infective

Infectivity arises since some reaction is critical in determining the final decision. For instance, eye contact and body language tell the reaction of an individual on some issues. Some communication does not translate well without the input of body language. An individual in some serious conversation needs to be guaranteed an individual is paying the required attention. With an online platform, an individual may fail to understand the seriousness of the matter and has been witnessed in many situations where an individual can cut communication without a conclusion is reached. In some instances, one party takes advantage of the situation and lie on various issues that cannot arise in a face to face communication.

Findings

With the collected findings from the interviewees, it was clear that electronic communication has been embraced in society as a result of the massive growth of online platforms. One of the major factors that have facilitated its embracement revolves around the cost when compared to traditional forms of communications. It is cost-effective which a pivotal factor is for many young people who aim to remain in communication with others. It is a factor that strengthens a bond in relationships where people talk often. Thus, online platforms have enhanced this factor and guaranteed remaining updated on issues at very low costs. Media houses are operating different online platforms where they interact with their listeners and fans while also updating news and any other important information. The online platforms have been embraced by the organization since it provides a large population and an easy way to reach them and share information. What matters is the number of people has liked a page in the case of a Facebook page, while twitter is a matter of followers (Baruah, 2012). The two online platforms, among others, provide the audience with an opportunity to stream live as things unravel. It ensures people are not restricted to the only traditional way of watching through the television or listening to the radio. People had found an easy way of interacting irrespective distance with video chatting solving the problem that had existed specifically when an individual was working overseas.

Recommendations

It is important for people to embrace online platforms, but also understand the significance of upholding the traditional ways of communications that ensured strong bonds existed. Visiting was a critical factor and strengthened the bond between people while also boosting self-esteem among people. The issue of addiction can be sorted by people have discipline of using smartphones or the internet to have some time for other things. People are using more time on phones as they chat or communicate a factor that requires intervention through sensitization about its disadvantages.  They use online platforms need to positively use it apart from chatting, considering it can be used to earn. There are many activities that can be done on online platforms that result in earning, such as content creation (Pantic, 2014). Some people have embraced online platforms such as YouTube channels where they upload content and earn through pay per click.

Conclusion

Online platforms have provided solutions to many hindrances that existed in communication. With electronic communication enhanced by the growth of different types of online platforms, people have experienced efficiency. Efficiency in communication assists in the realization of positive results in different sectors, whether in business or in any other operation, since it becomes easy to reach another person. The availability of internet and smartphone at low prices has enhanced the people, specifically the youth, to uphold online platforms. The disadvantages of this kind of communication revolve around the inability of an individual to develop interrelationship with others. The self-esteem for many used to electronic communication is low since it hinders face-to-face interactions (Kuss & Griffiths, 2011 ). In other instances, an individual becomes an addict to a phone where they spend more time as compared to other forms of interactions.

Bibliography

Baruah, T. D. (2012). Effectiveness of Social Media as a tool of communication and its potential for technology-enabled connections: A micro-level study. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 2(5).

Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2011 ). Online Social Networking and Addiction—A Review of the Psychological Literature. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health — Open Access Journal.

McMullan, J. (2017). A new understanding of ‘New Media’: Online platforms as digital mediums. Convergence is an international peer-reviewed academic journal.

Oyza, I., & Edwin, A. (2015). Effectiveness of Social Media Networks as a Strategic Tool for Organizational Marketing Management. Journal of Internet Banking and Commerce.

Pantic, I. (2014). Online Social Networking and Mental Health. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 17(10), 652–657.

Voorveld, H. A. (2019). Brand Communication in Social Media: A Research Agenda. Journal of Advertising, 48(1), 14-26.