HAS SOCIAL MEDIA SHAPED US UP OR SHAPED US OUT OF OUR 'FUN-LIVES'?

Not too long ago, a lecturer from the department of languages and linguistics in one of the universities in the south west was reported to have got into trouble following the release of a video tape of his alleged sexual involvement with a 400 level English student of the University. Even though many claimed the student was raped by the lecturer, the video clip which was released by the student, notwithstanding that some people said real sexual intercourse was not captured in it, according to reports, was allegedly recorded in a hotel room.

A few years ago, I watched with a mixture of anger and pity, a video clip of a lecturer, pants down begging students who set him up with a student to let him go after signing a cheque with a sum as ransom for his release. I watched with anger because the man should have disciplined himself but he chose to go after students in the game of ‘give me sex and I’ll give you good grades’ and with pity because I could only imagine how his children, wife and other family members would feel if they saw that video. From the discussion which ensued, it was obvious that it was his ‘modus operandi’ to sleep with his students for ‘good grades’ but on that particular ‘operation’ it was a shameful one as nemesis really caught up with him that day.

Where am I headed in all of these enumerations?

A short while ago, I stumbled on this picture /post as shown above and the caption/statement there gave rise to this write-up. I laughed when I saw it, but then, it did make a lot of sense and will no doubts stir  up some nostalgic feelings from the lovely ordinary way life was until technology took over.

In the past, when we go for events or outings, we could afford to misbehave as we always knew where the cameras were so we would avoid them especially when we want to, for example dance in a funny way, laugh and banter the way we felt free to go and you will not see any of the outcome on any social media platform so people ‘loosened’ up easily at events, parties, get-togethers and what have you. We just lived our lives feeling so free until, gbam! Social media became the ‘rave of the moment’ and everyone started being too careful and uptight whenever they are out there for fear of being recorded and uploaded on any of the ‘one click’ social media platforms. With that, our freedom to ‘mingle and play’ at meets went out the windows. What a life!

A lot of people are of the view that this technology ‘thingy’ just crept up on us took away our ‘freedom’ while another group believe that it has helped in a lot more ways than ‘freedom’ taking. Topic for another day, so I’ll stop here.

And so, while you are waiting for that topic, a quick question is  “has social media shaped us up or shaped us out of our ‘fun-lives’”?

THE POWER OF A BRAND: WHAT BRAND ARE YOU?

Hello everyone! It’s a beautiful Monday and everyone is back to work after the good number of days off work for those in Nigeria, given the bank holidays last week not to mention the weekend that followed immediately after.

It means everyone has had a good rest no doubts, right?

Good because it definitely would bring positive vibes and results on whatever you do. Make that business and brand more profiting this week.

Aha! Speaking of brands. An encounter ‘yours sincerely’ had in the course of the weekend reminded me again on the huge effect a powerful brand can have on people especially the youths which is nearly always the biggest target market of many producers especially when it has to do with electronics, information technology, fashion and the likes. Make a good impression of your brand on our youths today and I kid you not, your business will go places without you having to ‘sweat it out’ too much like your counterparts would do.

Many of you would agree to a large extent that the youths of today, fortified with technology make the world go round. With them on your team, you will always have a boost of energy whenever the need arises as long as you give them the wherewithal to be all they can be. In line with what the team represents though!

Why did I decide on this topic?

In order not to renegade on a promise made to one of my wards which was to buy her a new phone; over the weekend I decided to fulfill that promise therefore, on my way home from work on Friday, I stopped at an outlet for phones and after going through several arrays of phones given the number of brands stands in the outlet, I was eventually convinced by the attendant at one of the stands to buy a particular brand which she said was new in the market.

Now, the phone in every way looked very good to me safe for the name. Nevertheless, even though the brand of phone didn’t ring a bell, as an outcome of good marketing by the attendant, I decided on this ‘no bell ringing’ brand as the phone and all of the accessories looked really nice to the eye so I paid and left the shop happily with a feeling of  ‘at least I have fulfilled my promise’. Yeah right, you wish!

Alright fast forward!

My predicament started when I got home and I went, “guess what, your new phone is in my laptop bag” and I continued towards the bathroom.

While in the bathroom, I was expecting someone to knock or hear some excitement coming from the sitting room having seen the phone, but alas, I got no “yippee” or even a weak “yeah”. Hence I decided to keep calm, finished all I was doing and then when I got to the dinning, she was fiddling with the phone and a look on her face told me all I needed to know. She didn’t fancy the phone one bit.

Alright, sitting next to her at the dinning, “you don’t like it right”?

She nodded unconvincingly in the affirmative but I knew she was trying not to upset me so I said, “alright just pack it up, I will get someone to buy it and get you another one”.  And to my amazement, without even giving it a second thought, she did my bidding in flash.

Later on, before bedtime, she came to me and said “please I don’t want you to be angry, the phone is very fine, but I don’t like the NAME. You can even buy me a cheaper phone than this one as long as it’s as big as this one but it has to be a Samsung”.

At that point, I was immediately reminded that you can never underestimate the power of a good BRAND.

I’m not holding forte for Samsung, rather the butterflies in my stomach right now is an upshot reminder that the little advert done here by this mere mention was not paid for *winks* but then in order to get my message across, I have to say it as it is. Who knows, I just may get a paid advert from Samsung soon. *smiles*

Now back to the main issue.

My ward insisted on having this brand because that is what most of her friends have and according to her, the picture quality is “baaaaad” hence she would have none other but the almighty Samsung.

And so the next day, we went hunting for her choice of Samsung phone and luckily I got someone to buy that my ‘no bell ringing’ brand even though I lost a few bucks.

Interestingly, after a long hunt, she eventually got another brand which of course rings many great bells as she got very confused when she was faced with too many options. The bottom line is she got exactly what she desired even though I had to end up spending more.

But then, I am still fulfilled that she made her choice and she was happy for it as the “Yippeees” and “thank you” that followed would ever remain priceless. As at this morning, I was still getting the happy “thank you”.

Well everyone is happy and my predicament ended.

Never underestimate the power of a good brand!