Current Issues in Social Media

Our society has become increasingly interconnected as a result of how pervasive social technologies are. Select one of the topics below and compose a 2000-2500 word (excluding title page and reference listing count) essay describing the key issues at play and how social media/social networking/social business is impacting this area of interest.

Where possible, please ensure you are providing Canadian context where possible to these topics.

Your essays should follow a typical essay format, and include the following information:

Topic overview and explanation
Context and background
Issues and opportunities
Current and potential tools (both from a social media/collaboration context and also a mobile platform perspective)
Ethical considerations, including, but not limited to, privacy and security, free speech, and intellectual property
Current trends and future prospects

You are to prepare your paper using APA Style Guidelines (6th Edition), including all citations and page layout requirements with the exception of an abstract. If you are unfamiliar with the APA Guidelines, you can either refer to the APA Publication Manual (ISBN: 978-1-4338-0561-5) or visit the following sites to assist you:

http://www.apastyle.org

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

Broad topics are provided below so that you can evolve them into an area that you find of interest. Links to articles and resources that provide an introduction to the topics are also included. These lists are not exhaustive, they are merely meant to help you get started exploring the various perspectives that you can consider incorporating.

TOPICS

Social Safety: Solving Crimes and the Rise of Digital Vigilantes

For context and background, please see:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/03/justice/ohio-rape-online-video/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/30/tech/social-media/fighting-crime-social-media/index.html

http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&issue_id=62011&category_ID=2

http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/01/connected-to-the-case/

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/technology/2012/07/how-cutting-edge-crowdsourced-crime-fighting-could-do-more-harm-good/2626/

Keywords/Key Themes: social media, crowdsourced solutions, criminal investigation, crime prevention, crime fighting, safety and security, vigilantes

Social Finance: How Crowd Funding is Creating opportunities in a connected society

For context and background, please see:

http://www.macrowikinomics.com/open-finance/

http://socialfinance.ca/blog/post/a-primer-on-crowdfunding-in-canada

http://www.kickstarter.com

http://mashable.com/category/crowdfunding/

http://www.ncfacanada.org/canadian-crowdfunding-directory/

Keywords/Key Themes: social media, crowdsourced solutions, finance, entrepreneurism, consumer choice, consumer behaviour, microfinancing, investment
Social Healthcare: Connecting and Collaborating Toward A Healthier Future

For context and background, please see:

http://www.macrowikinomics.com/collaborative-healthcare/

http://www.pwc.com/us/en/health-industries/publications/health-care-social-media.jhtml

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/claire-mccarthy-md/social-media_b_1891227.html

http://www.cma.ca/advocacy/social-media-canadian-physicians