Social Media: Trading Off Accuracy for Immediacy

Jennifer Leggio in Znet:

Social media is providing the ability to report and take in unfiltered
news in a more direct way than ever before possible and we’re doing it
on a mass scale. It’s no longer just a toy for early adopters and
Internet nerds; it’s taking its place as an influencer far beyond
technology. There is, however, a downside: there’s very little way to
know what is true and what is rumor. As fellow ZDNet-er Michael Krigsman said to me the night, “we’re trading off potential accuracy for immediacy.

The Power of Twitter

ٰThe power of social media tool “Twitter” has once again become obvious in the recent events in Mumbai:

In many cases, Twitter updated developments faster than many TV
networks or newspaper websites. The site’s contributors also questioned
the veracity of some news reports, pointing out contradictions and
errors. When Indian reporters announced that the siege at the Taj hotel
was over, for example, Twitter contended that gunfights were
continuing. “Locals say gunfire still happening at TAJ,” said one feed,
hours after fighting was said to have finished. “Twitter comes of age -
Mumbai coverage way ahead of traditional media,” added another
contributor.