Everybody encounters New or Social Media throughout their day.  Do you use Facebook?  That’s Social Media.  Are you a Twitter addict like me? Also Social Media.  Watched anything on YouTube?  Yep, that’s Social Media, too.  So while we’re all pretty much addicted to one form or another, many of these platforms have had a problem figuring out how to actually make money.  Twitter and Facebook don’t actually have a business model; as a matter of fact, Twitter had a competition to see who could submit the best way to monetize their platform.  As our economy gets worse and worse and people turn away from “traditional” communication channels because they’re often too expensive, New Media is going to see quite a surge.  Therefore these companies are going to have to come up with viable business models in order to capitalize on their users increasing needs.Already, companies that have shied away from using online advertising are jumping on board because they are beginning to recognize the vast numbers of people they can reach and that they can create a truly interactive experience for their customers, which often helps create brand loyalty.  Here at Iconduit, we believe that customer loyalty and brand recognition are the cornerstones of good business, but also that any website we run or create should generate revenue.  So as 2009 and Social Media take off, Iconduit  will continue to find new and innovative ways to help our clients maximize their returns while being conscious of their standing amongst their customers and their own economic situation.

If you’re the parent of a teenage child, you’ve probably spent a good portion of your time worrying about how often and how long they seem to be online. They always seem to be texting, IMing, playing on Facebook, Myspace, or some other social networking site you’ve never heard of and you wonder what they’re actually doing. According to a study by the MacArthur Foundation entitled “Living and Learning with New Media” and published Wednesday in the New York Times, they’re doing exactly what they say they’re doing and it’s not a bad thing.

“It may look as though kids are wasting a lot of time hanging out with new media, whether it’s on MySpace or sending instant messages,” said Mizuko Ito, lead researcher on the study.” “But their participation is giving them the technological skills and literacy they need to succeed in the contemporary world. They’re learning how to get along with others, how to manage a public identity, how to create a home page.”

The study also found that: “New media allow for a degree of freedom and autonomy for youth that is less apparent in a classroom setting. Youth respect one another’s authority online, and they are often more motivated to learn from peers than from adults.”

So while it’s probably still advisable to know what your kids are up to, you don’t have to worry quite as much while they’re online. They’re learning new things, exchanging ideas, and engaging in a truly new social experience.

Read the full article here.