{"id":126505,"date":"2018-03-16T06:45:24","date_gmt":"2018-03-16T11:45:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=126505"},"modified":"2018-03-15T21:33:55","modified_gmt":"2018-03-16T02:33:55","slug":"social-media-good-thing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2018\/03\/social-media-good-thing\/","title":{"rendered":"Social media: can there be too much of a good thing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Caribbean consumers seem to be demanding of their mobile\/cellular providers more attractive packages geared towards social media and instant messaging. Should we be concerned?<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Although statistics do not seem to be readily available, a consistent and longstanding concern has been the low productivity that exists across the Caribbean region, which has resulted in the individual countries (and by extension the region) being less competitive than they should be. It can be argued that, to an appreciable degree, the region\u2019s business culture and environment have contributed to the poor attitude and behaviour of employees, but the blame cannot be placed solely at their feet. Personal electronic devices, particularly the smartphone, and social media, have been great sources of distraction, which are also eroding productivity in the workplace.<\/p>\n

It was thus a bit disconcerting to learn that regional mobile\/cellular giant, Digicel, has introduced new packages that focus exclusively on social media and Internet messaging:<\/p>\n

Digicel\u2019s one-day Unlimited Social and one-day Unlimited WhatsApp Plans mean that customers can access all their favourite and the most popular social apps all in one place \u2013 in other words, they\u2019re always on, always connected to the things they love. Best of all, these amazing plans do not use megabytes from customers\u2019 data bundle, so they can stay connected all day long without the fear of running out of data.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

(Source: St Lucia Times<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Aren\u2019t we already in the throes of social media overload?<\/h3>\n

So many of us have already developed a Pavlovian response to alerts we hear not only on our phones, but within earshot. Further, as we discussed in an earlier article, there have been growing concerns about social media addiction<\/a> and the higher instances of depression and suicide among teenagers who spent a lot of time on their mobile phones. Could service packages, such as those Digicel has launched, exacerbate what are already being flagged as growing problems?<\/p>\n

Further, based on s study conducted in Jamaica last year, over 80% of social media users were unemployed or junior workers, which included secretarial and administrative staff (Source:\u00a0 Loop Jamaica<\/a>). Generally, these are the workforce segments that cannot readily afford large data plans, and so might depend extensively on Wi-Fi \u2013 especially in the workplace \u2013 resulting in lower productivity.<\/p>\n

Finally, it must also be emphasized that although there is continually improving access to Internet service, the continuing buzz around social media, and the demand for more attractive packages, does not automatically mean that our citizens are becoming more digitally literate. As we recently explained in an article on the subject<\/a>, \u201c…being able to browse the Internet, check your emails, access social media, and shop online, does not automatically mean an individual is digitally literate…<\/em>\u201d. Moreover, all of the online activity that is occurring \u2013 thanks to social media \u2013 may be lulling us into a sense of false security about the digital divide that still exists.<\/p>\n

A business must listen to its customers<\/h3>\n

Having this, as a business that operates in a competitive market, Digicel ought to ensure that it caters to the needs of its customers. More importantly, it must be highlighted that these new plans are not free. In Saint Lucia, the Unlimited Social and Unlimited WhatsApp cost XCD\u00a05.00 (USD\u00a01.84) and XCD\u00a04.00 (USD\u00a01.47) per day, respectively, and must be activated daily (Source: St Lucia Times<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Whilst at first glance, the plans might seem attractive, they can add up. However, since they are for prepaid services segment, and several other plans are available, customers are in control. They can decide how to get the best value for money, based on their needs on any particular day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Image credit:\u00a0\u00a0howtostartablogonline.net<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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