The chronicle of mass communication and media stretches from the prehistoric forms of writing and art. However, this was through the basic printing technology which existed around 800AD. Examples of inventions that took place during this period include the printing press in 1455, the invention of the radio in 1895, the television in 1925, and the internet web, which came through in 1990. It is through periodization that brought about numerous inventions and technological developments in communication and media. Numerous topics navigate the field of communication and media, such as advertising and branding, ethics and laws, health communication, visual communication design, social media, and online communication. Each of these topics has its genre, which helps create both the structure and context necessary for understanding the ideas of art. As the case, social media and online communication is the topic of focus which has its genre as the status update produced by a discourse community. Despite social media and online communication possessing numerous genres, the essay will analyze how states update as a genre works.
Consequently, genres have features that can easily make an individual notice what the context is all about. The features of a particular genre may be intertwined with the activities performed by a particular genre. According to Bazerman et al., since genres portray their district features and how they are used, they elaborate on the function (Bazerman, 2004). The status update genre’s features illustrate how the genre is used and what it implies. The status update genre can be used in various ways since the contemporary world is dominated by technology. People always use the status update to get informed about various issues that occur in daily life (Zou & Subramaniam, 2022). There are ways in which status updates can be used. For example, the status update can share current events like meetings. A status update can be used through personal updates whereby an individual can reach out to the entire community concerning a particular event, wedding ceremony, and project launch. The status update genre can also be applicable in a working environment whereby employers can use this site to communicate with the employees, and professionals can use status updates to share ideas related to their work. Therefore, the status update genre is significant since it helps share precise ideas and information to reach the desired persons immediately.
Status update genres are always regarded to deal with various issues and activities in people’s daily lives. However, since the status update genre deals with social media and online communication in communication and media, this particular genre can be categorized as dealing with topics that offer updates concerning current events. Besides the status update genre dealing with updates from a general perspective, these can range from current affairs to stories concerning personal life (Kapoor et al., 2018). following how the status update genre functions, it indicates that various issues are associated with this particular genre because it generally transmits messages and ideas the online platforms. Examples of issues that the status update genre deal with include trends in online platforms, personal stories like for celebrities, recent political, economic, and social issues, ideas about inspirations, and sometimes a status update can be a place whereby people can entertain themselves through sharing and exchanging messages of jokes and humor (Menon, 2022). On social media platforms, numerous debates are usually discussed whereby people should air their views concerning a particular matter. Concerning the status update genre, there are debates that this genre can handle. For example, online users send pornographic videos and images to the social media platform, debate how online platforms can be used appropriately under the regulations of the state government, and debate about propaganda and misinterpreted information about something or somebody.
Based on the current world being more advanced, it can be challenging to tell how many people read and write a particular genre in media and communication platforms. However, according to the perspective that the status update genre does share precise information concerning a particular matter, it can be affirmed that this genre can be read and written by all individuals who are actively available on social media platforms, for instance, Twitter (Zou & Subramaniam, 2022). There are various reasons why online users find themselves engaging in posting or updating certain issues or topics or debating on a particularly burning issue. Firstly, online users can write status update genres by giving personal testimonies and experiences (Zou & Subramaniam, 2022). Today, people are surrounded by various challenges whereby they can share to an online platform to solve problems or get motivated. Secondly, a person can be fond of sharing and updating current activities and affairs around the globe(Zou & Subramaniam, 2022). In every social media platform, some specific individuals are known best to be providing current events at any given level. Therefore, the individuals who write or read the status update genre are always from all corners of life. This is the reason why on online platforms, there are different updates with different views.
Following on how status updates function and portray their essence in the online media platform. It shows that this particular genre provided various ways for the readers and writers as a way of fulfilling its purpose. As stated before, the status update allows individuals that are both readers and writers to share messages and ideas that range from the personal level to the international level. that is, people have the mandate to share their stories, emotions, and progress. At this point, the status update genre has fulfilled its purpose to the writers and readers by providing a very accessible platform where people can share their ideas and thoughts (Boukes, 2019). People or online users majorly get success on online platforms through downloading applications like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The status updates allowing everyone to get engaged to online platforms show that it has attained its purpose to the readers and writers. Secondly, the status update has fulfilled its purpose to the readers by allowing them to be active on the platforms so that they can be aware of what is happening in recent days (Zou & Subramaniam, 2022). At this juncture, as the readers are getting associated with the thoughts and feelings of the writers, they can be able to learn and expound their knowledge concerning issues related to a real-life situation. as well through this, it can be described that status updates can be a way of learning to the readers. Finally, status updates have fulfilled their purpose for the writers, making them explore and update issues and ideas concerning their personal life(Zou & Subramaniam, 2022). This is whereby the readers can participate by airing their viewings in accordance with their favorite followers. Hence, status update acts as a bridge between the writers and readers because each of these groups relies on one another for effective social media and online communication.
To sum up, communication and media is a field that narrows down numerous topics associated with the contemporary world because of digitalization. However, tracing back to how communication and media started, periodization has revolutionized everything up to the current state. Communication and media can be narrowed down to social media and online communication, which have various genres, status update being one of them. The status update genre has various samples in the discourse community, for example, updates about the music industry and new trends in clothing styles. The status update genre is important because readers and writers can share their ideas, emotions, and feelings. The status update genre is used when people want to transmit information concerning a particular issue, as it is composed of topics, issues, and debates that make its users get engaged most of the time. Sometimes people claim that these topics, issues, and debates make the online platform interesting since there is a sense of humor. In addition, the status update genre is written by people from all areas or regions across the globe, provided they can access online platforms whereby the updates made are done under various circumstances. To recommend status updates, it is a significant criterion in which colleagues, family, relatives, and friends are connected, and for it to function accordingly, the messages conveyed should be positive, inspiring, and brief.
References
Bazerman, C. (2004). Speech, Acts, Genres and Activity Systems: How Texts Organize Activity and People. https://doi.org/322-328
Boukes, M. (2019). Social network sites and acquiring current affairs knowledge: The impact of Twitter and Facebook usage on learning about the news. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 16(1), 36–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2019.1572568
Kapoor, K. K., Tamilmani, K., Rana, N. P., Patil, P., Dwivedi, Y. K., & Nerur, S. (2018). Advances in Social Media Research: Past, Present, and Future. Information Systems Frontiers, 20(3), 531–558. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-017-9810-y
Menon, D. (2022). Updating “Stories” on social media and its relationships to contextual age and narcissism: A tale of three platforms – WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. Heliyon, e09412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09412
Valkenburg, P. M., van Driel, I. I., & Beyens, I. (2021). The associations of active and passive social media use with well-being: A critical scoping review. New Media & Society, 24(2), 146144482110654. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448211065425
Zou, P., & Subramaniam, S. (2022). On the Value of Information in Status Update Systems. Entropy, 24(4), 449. https://doi.org/10.3390/e24040449
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