Use Of Technology And Social Media - 1062 Words

The use of technology and social media makes our life a lot easier. Social media and technology play a huge role in our everyday life and friendship. In today’s world, people, mostly teenagers use social media and technology every day to communicate and interact with others. Technology gives us an opportunity to connect with anybody we want from anywhere we are, saving us time. According to â€Å"Daily News† 84 percent of people worldwide say they couldn’t go a single day without their mobile device in their hand. That means almost everybody uses their phone in order to communicate and stay updated. I use my phone every single day and I cannot imagine living my life without a smartphone. I go on social media websites every day to connect with friends and see what they are doing. It is the fastest way to interact with friends and I love technology for that. A couple decades ago people didn’t have good communication devices therefore it was much harder for t hem to connect with each other. Technology makes it much more convenient and easy for us to use, saving us a lot of time. Having technology makes our life easier and at the same time virtual. It is very convenient and just normal for our society to use it everyday. In my opinion modern technology provides more options and opportunities to connect with our friends. I really don’t think that technology and social media ruin our friendships like most people would say. It all depends on how you use it. Technology and Social mediaShow MoreRelatedUse Of Technology And Social Media1564 Words   |  7 Pagesparties, many of us see technology and social media being used. The growth of technology and social media has evolved drastically and has pushed itself into the modern world and is used as an electronically communication tool. Information spreads and people retain information that is posted on social media. According to Pew Research Center’s article â€Å"Social Media Usa ge:2005-2015†, almost two-thirds of the American adults which composes about 65% of the population, uses social networking sites (PerrinRead MoreEfficient Business Communications in Companies Today Means Full Use of Social Media and Modern Technologies1411 Words   |  6 Pagescommunications around the world. Technologies and their advantages Technology seems to be in a state of constant evolution. New technologies are being developed all the time, and the impact this has had on the world of business communication is immeasurable. In spite of that speaking to someone in person is the best method of business communication, technology has allowed you to communicate with people around the world through other methods to save company money. Technology plays an important role inRead MoreHigh Dependence On Social Media Technology1648 Words   |  7 Pagesthere is high dependence on social media technology in daily human interaction and sharing of information. This has shaped the social interactions and development of personal relationships of people more so teenagers. Individuals in the modern society use social media technology extensively, which has caused significant change in time people spend in alternative activities. That is, given a time constraint of 24 hours in a day, time spent in using social media technology is drawn from another activityRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Technology1265 Words   |  6 Pagescharacteristics of the innovations, UTAUT pays attention to new technologies in an organi zational setting and its constructs place more emphasis on a user’s perception and expectation of the technologies. In this present study, social media is treated as a new technology being adopted for crisis communication in an organizational context. The first construct, performance expectancy, is the degree to which an individual expects that using a technology will help improve job performance (Venkatesh et al., 2003)Read MoreSociety s Addiction On Social Media Buzz Essay1124 Words   |  5 PagesAddiction on Social Media Buzz Throughout the past few years, society has become more and more technologically advanced. Whether it be a cell phone, tablet, computer, television or any other device, most people have some sort of technology. With technology comes social media and social buzz. Everything people do, adult or teenager, can be linked with social connections. A simple tweet or Facebook status can be posted in a second. News can travel throughout the media instantly. Is all this technology andRead MoreThe Effects Of Social Media On The Treatment Of Diabetes1451 Words   |  6 PagesDiabetes technology and online patient presence has reached a point where social media could make a substantial impact on diabetes treatment. The ideas are already starting to take hold, with social technology like DiaSend and CareLink, as well as social networks like TuDiabetes and PatientsLikeMe, leading the way. The future of diabetes and social media involves patients and physicians sharing information with each other like never before. The benefits include more efficient hospitals and moreRead MoreSocial Medi A Good Thing Or Bad Thing?1727 Words   |  7 PagesSocial media has revolutionized the way United States society functions. Society will change based on technology whether we like it tor not; it depends on how we use technology to see the positive and negative effects of it. It is up to the individual whether or not to let social medias take over his or her life. From kids to teens to adults technology is crucial part in daily life. It is important to find a balance between social media and a personal life. It is up to the individual to create aRead MoreSocial Media And Its Impact On Society1068 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the most prominent areas of information technology present in today’s society is that of social media. Facebook users make up 62% of the entire adult population and Twitter users compose 20% of the population (Mobile Messaging and Social Media, 2015). Sites li ke these allow users to transfer information, in the form of social content, to the Internet community with no limitations. These sites also ease communication across great distances, allowing for a diverse audience for any informationRead MoreThe Controversial Issues Of Young People Using Internet And Communication Technologies1680 Words   |  7 PagesNowadays, technologies of internet and mobile media has been widely used. The consequences of them on young people are powerful, however it has been an argumentative issue throughout years as the impacts contain both positive and negative sides. Based on the data from American life Project, there is an increasing rate of young people using smartphones and online social networking site such as Facebook, Twitter. This essay focuses on the controversial issues of young people using internet and communicationRead MoreA Brief Note On Technology And Social Media952 Words   |  4 PagesTechnology and Social Media: Crucial to Society Social media is one of the most popular means of communication today. The general public uses social media to talk to loved ones, find long lost friends, and participate in online discussions. As technological capabilities have advanced over the years, so has the public’s reliance on social media. Debates have surfaced about whether the public is misusing social media. Many people are questioning whether social media is replacing human interaction

Bethoven´s Monnlight Sonata History - 569 Words

Beethoven’s first movement from his infamous Moonlight Sonata is most illustrious for its bittersweet melancholic sound. It is in the key of C# minor as it has four sharps in its key signature and sounds like it is in the minor tonality. Beethoven gives an indication to how the performer should interpret their role with the phrase adagio sostenuto which means to play at a slow tempo (66 beats per minute) and to effectively utilize the sustained pedal. Sempre e senza sordino means to the whole piece ought to be played with the utmost delicacy and without damper. From the interpretations of his instructions, it can be concluded that Beethoven wanted this movement to be interpreted with sensitivity and colour. The bass line is a prominent feature in texturizing the movement. The most distinctive characteristics in the bass line are its Neapolitan chords which are strategically placed amidst chords of double octaves. This prevents the movement sounding too much like a lullaby and adds more colour and tension. The movement starts out pianissimo and diverges between pianissimo and piano to maintain a soothing sound. Its luxurious ostinato triplet melody creates a lullaby-like feeling within the piece. However, the melancholic tone is instilled within the 3rd bar where the d natural within the triplet melody stands out. This adheres to the purpose of advancing the momentum of the piece as the lowered d provides variation in the triplet melody so it is not as repetitive. To

Pet Shop Essay Example For Students

Pet Shop Essay Ive been in lots of pet shop, and they fve alwaays seemed to be cute, happy, friendly, clean places. That fs why, on a recent Sunday afternoon, I stopped in a pet shop for to see pets. I fd been visiting my friends, whom I talked about cute pets, and saw that we were favorite pets. A pets shop, however, was not the place I had impression-it was different. Even the outside of the pet shop was dirty. These were much kind of birds in cage they showed in front of the shop, which looked like a zoo. A pet shop leaved bird fs dropping and fell down theirs feather all over. They were screamed and made noise when the customer entered in shop. We felt small and surprised when we listened them. The pet shop was noisy when I entered. Same things the entrances, inside noises were injured our feel. Almost dogs and cats in cage, they were gathered stress because they couldn ft walk and run about in free. Therefore they barked when they saw the customer. Some dogs and cats were disciplined not to bark, but I felt that they wanted to free and to go out of theirs cage. The pet shop rules have a cruel for unsold pets. They had to sold before they were reached full growth because pet fs nurture easily when they were child therefore almost the customers wanted to buy puppy and almost people liked puppy than grew up pets. The pet shop fs owner reduced the price by 50 percent; nevertheless, if they couldn ft sell they were killed. When I went to the pet shop. I saw a dog. He was good dog and popular type of dogs and he was so smart. In addition to he had pedigree but he was grown up already. I was taken the dog but I couldn ft buy to him because I had not enough to money for buying him and I couldn ft have a dog as a pet. Later on I stopped in same pet shop and I asked the clerk to make sure that the dog whether sold or not.   Oh, that dog didn ft sold so, my owner took order with him. I don ft know after what do. h She said. Some time the pet shop terribly cruel places when I visiting there but the pet shop was gave us to pleasure at least when we bought pets and we saw cute puppy and kitten.

Research Highlights Discrimination Experienced †MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Research Highlights Discrimination Experienced. Answer: Introduction Mental health problems have become a major contributor to the global burden of disease. Nordqvist (2017) defines mental health as cognitive, behavioral and emotional well-being. Mental health is about individuals thoughts, feelings and behavior and at times it can be used to refer to the absence of a mental disorder. It is a condition that has an impact on physical health, relationships and daily life. Mental illness, on the other hand, is a combination of a variety of psychiatric disorders such schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, mood, eating, and personality. Poor knowledge regarding mental health issues and the negative attitudes held towards people with mental illnesses is widespread amongst the public. It is so unfortunate that many individuals do not understand mental health problems and therefore are likely to view people suffering from the condition negatively (Sane.Org 2016). This often results in patients of mental health to be treated in a bad way or the society labels the m in a way they hurt their place in the community. This is commonly referred to as stigmatization and discrimination. This report will, therefore, look at the widely held perspective of mental health and compare and contrast the attitudes towards mental health between Australia and New Zealand. World Health Organization defines mental health as a state of complete physical mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence a disease or an infirmity. This definition has three primary ideas that may result in the improvement of mental health and are important. The value difference across countries, counties, genders, classes, and cultures may appear too big to agree on a definition. However, another proposed definition of mental health by WHO has been a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can contribute to his or her community." Mental health is, therefore, the basis for the well-being and effective functioning of the community and individuals. There is some level of interdependency between social, physical and mental health and therefore physical and mental health cannot exist alone (World Health Organization, 2015). Individuals in Australia wants a good life shared with friends and families and full of opportunities in involvement in making contributions to the various aspects of life (Mental Health Commission 2014). Good mental health is a basic thing in building and maintaining a good life. According to Mental Health Commission (2014), one out of five people in Australia is likely to experience mental health problems at least once in their lifetime. This is an indication that Australians are affected by poor mental health either at an individual level or through a colleague, friend, family member or even neighbors. It is important to note that lifelong mental illness that is experienced by people has a significant impairment in every facet of their lives and at times requires long periods of hospitalization. Mental Health Commission (2014) notes that mental health issues can be accompanied by other challenges such as physical health, alcoholism and other drug-related issues, interaction with t he criminal justice system and disabilities. The stigma associated with mental health issues can be shameful and result in isolation for the victims. Some challenges are encountered from the negative attitudes towards mental health such as high suicide rates and vulnerability of young people to developing mental health problems. However, according to the report by Mental Health Commission (2014), many individuals have invested their time and energy in sharing their experiences of living with mental health challenges which have, in turn, resulted in more support towards the desired changes. Negative attitudes persist amongst the members of the society where the stigma acts as a disgrace that sets individuals apart from the rest. Some of the identified negative attitudes effects are the shame, blame, hopelessness, distress, reluctance to seek help and misrepresentation in the media (Healthywa.wa.gov 2015). WAAMH.org (2018) therefore actively seeks to promote positive attitudes in the wider community through informing and educating them on how to respond effectively to these challenges, build resilience and reduce stigma to enhance the promotion of a community that is mentally healthy. In a study conducted by the University of Melbourne concerning attitudes towards mental health across the country, the findings indicate no significant difference for all the analyses done in stigmatizing attitudes to the Australian population (University of Melbourne 2015). Also, the levels of discrimination and stigma did not differ in the national population. In another study by Lam, Jorm and Wong (2010), conducted on the Chinese community members in Melbourne regarding their attitudes towards individuals with mental illness and training regarding the mental health first aid knowledge on mental disorders indicated the prevalence of negative attitudes on the mental health. However, significant improvements were noted in mental disorders recognition and treatment, and there were reduced negative attitudes. With an increase in knowledge concerning this condition, the community at large is determined to change the perceptions of mental health. The general community members have less k nowledge about mental health problems even though mental disorders are so prevalent in the society where virtually everyone is prone to developing the disorders or have close contact with an individual who suffers from the condition. Different individuals in different settings tend to have varied perceptions regarding the issue. New Zealand is a country found in Australia. Kazantzis et al., (2010) states that people with mental illness challenges have for a long time been treated in psychiatric hospitals that are perimetered to separate them from the community. The integration with community members is challenging because of the stigma associated with mental illness. In the research by Kazantzis et al. (2010) on community attitudes in New Zealand, they note that from the 1950s to the mid-1990s, they found out that older community has strong authoritarian views where they view mentally ill people to be inferior. The relationship between gender and attitudes provide conflicting results where the studies conducted in New Zealand show that both age and gender has no significant contribution to negative attitudes towards mental health In another study by Debbie Peterson (2005) on family attitudes toward mentally ill people, the families have been seen to contribute to mental illness by either causing or aggravating it. The family members also appear to be uninformed and have strained relationship coupled with discrimination. The attitudes towards mental health are so negative that mental illness is rarely mentioned because people do not like to talk about it, the media and the government seems to ignore it. It is a subject that is left behind closed doors. Due to the negative attitudes showed towards mentally ill people, there have been high rates of suicide and high levels of untreated mental illness cases. Stuff Nation (2017) states that the issue of mental illness is viewed as a taboo and people have been taught to deal with it privately. Mental health has been treated differently to physical health but they are equally important, and this is an area that the government of New Zealand ought to pay more attentio n to. Another contributor to the negative attitudes is lack of mental health education among the community and thus results in increased stigma and discrimination. The community of New Zealand requires to talk more about the mental health, reach out to families and friends to stop the increased stigma and discrimination. Discrimination and stigmatization are widespread in almost all sectors of the society, and this is an important health issue that requires being solved. The negative attitude limits social integration and recovery. There is a widespread negative attitude that compares the two counties. Mrtensson, Jacobsson, and Engstrm (2014) identify stigma as a social construct which happens when society members distinguish and labels individual differences causing them to experience discrimination and status loss. The attitudes can, therefore, be identified as responses either behavioral or cognitive towards individuals with mental health problems. Australia and New Zealand compare in that despite the attitudes held, with increased knowledge and awareness creation in mental health, people are taking up responsibilities to develop positive attitudes that will aid in recovery and a sense of self-worth (Mrtensson, Jacobsson and Engstrm 2014). In areas where there are different cultures especially fro m the study conducted by Lam, Jorm, and Wong (2010), on the Chinese community in Melbourne, there is the prevalence of more negative attitudes compared to stigmatization. The attitudes in New Zealand appear to be more negative, and there is the need to enhance more public awareness in both countries at large to enhance positive attitudes. The beliefs of people towards mental health set out their interaction, opportunities offered and support given to individuals with mental health conditions. (Kobau et al. 2012). Kobau et al. (2012) also note that the beliefs and attitudes held towards mental health frames how individuals express their own experiences on emotional issues and psychological distress. This also determines their disclosure of the symptoms and steps of seeking care. The mental disorders are common, and anyone can get affected. Personal knowledge shapes the beliefs and attitudes towards mental health disorders, and when the attitudes are expressed positively, inclusive and supportive behaviors arise. Also, when the beliefs and attitudes are negatively expressed, situations such as discrimination, exploitation, exclusion from daily activities and avoidance are likely to happen. Stigmatization arises from the attitudes held and mainly comprises of negative attitudes and beliefs that compel the public to show rejection, fear, avoidance, and discrimination against individuals suffering from mental disorders. It is notable according to Kobau et al. (2012) that discrimination and social exclusion that arises because of stigma, unequal employment opportunities, resource accessibility, educational opportunities and lack of a supportive community. Victims of stigmatization also lack access to quality healthcare, and when these disparities arise, the cumulative negative impacts may have a long-term effect. In an article by Relationship Australia Organization (2015), there is a concurrence that discrimination and stigma interfere with connections and relationships with community members, friends, family, and friends. The article further notes that the recovery process of people with mental health issues is affected. However, to enhance a reduction in individual and i nstitutional discrimination, the understanding of the community requires being strengthened. When this happens, people can identify and have a better understanding of the early signs of mental distress (RelationshipAustraria.Org 2015). O'Hara (2009) and Sane Organization (2016) identifies that attitudes towards mental health are changing for the better. In a survey conducted by Sane Org (2016), people with mental health problems appear to be receiving better treatment from co-workers, partners, family and the community when looking for jobs. They have been receiving positive treatment, but there are some exceptions that O'Hara (2009) and Sane organization (2016) notes that are still prevalent such as when looking for work in the insurance, banking and the legal system. The research by O'Hara (2009) notes that there are some aspects on the attitudes of mental health that remain negative and the campaigners who are destined and tasked with changing the perception of people towards mental illness and health have given warnings that the negative attitudes are bound to persist especially with severe conditions such as schizophrenia. Caution should also be taken against the persistent of media links between mental illness and violence that foster negative stereotypes (O'Hara, 2009). In Australia, according to Sane.Org (2016) findings, the workers are fearful of disclosing their mental conditions as compared to those from the European nations. This is an indication of the role played by stigmatization towards mental health attitudes. RelationshipAustraria.Org, (2015), Sane.Org (2016) and O'Hara (2009) suggests that success in the reduction of discrimination against people living with mental health will be attained through instilling initiatives that are a nti-stigma, anti-discrimination with long-term and broad positive effects. The differences in mental health attitudes appear to be severe in communities where a society comprises different cultures, and there is a high value that is placed in conformity. Individuals who are mentally ill tend to deviate from the norm, and this will mean that in such societies there will be a tendency of having more negative attitudes compared to where there are common cultural values (Griffiths et al. 2010). From the comparison and contrast on the different attitudes of mental health in the two countries, several things can be deduced from mental health disorders. The common attitudes held are likely to cause the victims always to perceive the likelihood of discrimination in their society. The stigmatizing attitudes towards mental disorders victims have being on the decline throughout the country (University of Melbourne 2015). The perceived unpredictability and danger associated with suicidal thoughts, chronic and early schizophrenia have recorded an increase from studies conducted in Melbourne and throughout the country, but on the other hand, social distance has declined (University of Melbourne 2015). Because of the reduction of social distance, the study carried out in Melbourne indicates that there is a higher likelihood of individuals becoming more aware of other people who are suffering from mental health disorders. It also possible that the attitudes towards mental health arise from the generalization of the beliefs of the danger and violence associated with mental health disorders patients such as schizophrenia and thus the negative treatment they receive (Griffiths et al. 2010). Mental health first aid training amongst the Chinese in Melbourne's study show essentiality in that the training increases the participant's ability to recognize the various disorders, the altered beliefs on mental health and in turn a decrease in stigmatizing attitudes (Lam, Jorm and Wong 2010). Negative mental health attitudes are high in cases where the society has little of no mental health literacy. Expectations are that increased knowledge will reduce the levels of discrimination and stigmatization gradually. Another finding from this research is that persons with mental health disorders are likely to be avoided that to be discriminated against by friends and families (Sane.Org, 2016). This is a key highlight to the importance of social connections in all area of interactions such as educational institutions, workplaces, and other social environments. This shows the need for the society to support mental health victims to overcome anticipated discrimination in social environments and educate employers in the workplaces to support the reduction of stigma (University of Melbourne 2015). This can be done through anti-stigma campaigns to focus on eliminating negative attitudes. Australia has adopted several approaches to challenge stigma because it is the responsibility of all individuals to create a mentally healthy society that is in full support of social inclusion, support recovery and is active in the reduction of discrimination (Healthywa.wa.gov 2015). Some of the approaches that the society engages in are through learning and sharing facts related to mental illness and health, knowing people who have mental illnesses experiences, protesting when negative stereotypes and false beliefs are being portrayed by the media, family, friends concerning mental health and by offering support to people who are mentally and physically ill. New Zealand should also adopt approaches and programs that will enhance reduction of stigma and promote positive attitudes. To enhance positive mental health attitude, people should also treat mental health patients with dignity and respect and allow them free participation in social activities without any form of discriminatio n (Healthywa.wa.gov 2015). Conclusion From the studies and research conducted in Australia and New Zealand, awareness and training enhance effective recognition of mental health disorders and in turn, reduces the stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs to allow a positive approach to treatment. The similarity in the levels of stigma and discrimination shows the prevalence of the attitudes towards mental health. This is a representation of similar attitudes across the globe, and therefore widespread campaign should be facilitated to allow improvement in mental health literacy. To change the attitudes in the countries and surrounding, respect and participation is a key aspect where dignity and respect are accorded to people with mental health problems and in their participation in the different aspects of life to enrich the community life. Engagement of individuals suffering from mental health as advisory partners in mental health developments across all level will aid in recovery and changes in perceptions of mental health amo ngst people. Acknowledging diversity and quality of life by maintaining meaningful relationships has been undertaken to reduce stigma and discrimination towards people with mental health issues. Bibliography Lam, A.Y., Jorm, A.F. and Wong, D.F., 2010. Mental health first aid training for the Chinese community in Melbourne, Australia: effects on knowledge about and attitudes toward people with mental illness.International journal of mental health systems,4(1), p.18. This is an article which speaks about first aid training in case one has mental health issues in the Chinese community. that lives in Melbourne. It analyses the effects that mental health first aid training has on the knowledge and attitudes that the major population has towards those who suffer from mental health. Mrtensson, G., Jacobsson, J.W. and Engstrm, M., 2014. Mental health nursing staff's attitudes towards mental illness: an analysis of related factors.Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing,21(9), pp.782-788. This article is an analysis of the kinds of attitudes that nurses have towards patients who are mentally ill. The attitude that a nurse has can have an impact on the type of service they offer to mentally ill patients. Other factors that lead the nurses to have such attitudes are further analysed. Healthywa.wa.gov.,2015. Stigma. Retrieved 04 14, 2018, from Government of Western Australia: Department of Health: https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/S_T/Stigma The article is written by the Government of Western Australia and looks at stigma related to mental health. Many patients with mental illness face stigma hence leading to late treatment as they feel like they are constantly judged by the society. Stigma has devastating effects as it aggravates the problems of mentally ill patients. Griffiths, K.M., Nakane, Y., Christensen, H., Yoshioka, K., Jorm, A.F. and Nakane, H., 2006. Stigma in response to mental disorders: a comparison of Australia and Japan.BMC psychiatry,6(1), p.21. The article compares the types of stigma that mental patients undergo both in Australia and Japan. Different countries have different cultures hence the stigma faced by mental health patients varies. The way the population perceives mental health patients in Australia and Japan are totally different. Kazantzis, N., Wakefield, A., Deane, F.P., Ronan, K.R. and Johnson, M., 2009. Public Attitudes Toward People with Mental Illness in New Zealand, 19951996.The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling,15(2), pp.74-91. This article looks at how the New Zealand population views people with mental health. It does a research in 1995 and 1996 and how attitudes are during these years. It looks at the effect of attitudes on people with mental illness and the rates at which these people can come out and seek help. Mental Health Commission. ,2014. Governmen of Western Australia Mental Health Commission. St Georges Terrace: Mental Health Commission (https://www.mhc.wa.gov.au/media/1316/mhc-strategic-plan.pdf). This article gives an overview of various factors that affect mental health in Australia. It looks at the trends in the country and the various initiatives that the government has taken to resolve mental health issues. It also looks at steps that are being taken to assist those with mental issues and reduce the rates of people suffering from mental health. Nation, S. ,2017. Suicide and mental health: NZ's quiet crisis. Retrieved 04 15, 2018, from Stuff Nation: https://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/share-your-news-and-views/14884954/Suicide-and-mental-health-NZs-quiet-crisis The article looks at how mental health leads to higher suicide rates. It is done in New Zealand and speaks about how mental health patients are committing suicide due to the stigma and frustration associated with the same. Many patients are afraid of seeking help or speaking out and resort to committing suicide. Nordqvist, C. (2017, 08 24). What is mental health? Retrieved 04 14, 2018, from Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154543.php This article gives a description of mental health and the symptoms that one should watch out for. Some people have mental health issues but are not aware of the symptoms hence ignore to seek help. It further looks at the effect of mental health on various aspects of life. O'Hara, M. ,2009, 06 12. Attitudes to mental illness 'changing for the better'. Retrieved 04 14, 2018, from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/jun/12/mental- illness-health-attitudes This article explains how there are generally better attitudes by the population about mental health. Decades ago there were many stereotypes as pertains to mental health. With a lot of education, a lot of changes are being witnessed in the society and it is a positive direction. Peterson, D. ,2005. Families Attitudes and Mental Illness. Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. The article looks at the perception of families on mental health. Families have a great impact on how a mentally ill patient will recover. Their support is vital in the journey of a mentally ill patient. Lac of family support is what escalates suicide rates among mentally ill patients. RelationshipAustraial.Org. ,2015. October 2015: Mental health stigma. Retrieved 04 14, 2018, from Relationship Australia: https://www.relationships.org.au/what-we- do/research/online-survey/october-2015-mental-health-stigma The article looks at the prevalence of stigma towards mental health. Mental health is an issue that has not been discussed in the open for a long time. It further looks at the effect of stigma on how mental health is handled among people. Kobau, R., Zack, M.M., Barile, J.P., Marshall, C., Bornemann, T., Otey, E.M., Davis, R.K., Garraza, L.G., Walrath, C., Manderscheid, R.W. and Palpant, R.G., 2012. Attitudes toward mental illness: Results from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system. This looks at a study that was carried out by looking at the behavioral risk factor surveillance system to understand the attitudes that people have towards mental illness. It analyses the different reactions they have once they hear that one has a mental illness. Sane.Org. ,2016,. New research highlights discrimination experienced by people with mental health problems looking for work. Retrieved 04 14, 2018, from Sane Australia: https://www.sane.org/media-centre/media-releases-2016/1714-new-research-highlights-discrimination-experienced-by-people-with-mental-health-problems-looking-for-work The article looks at the difficulties those suffering from mental health undergo while they are for work. Employers prefer not to employ such people as they have stereotyped them. It gives advice on what should be done so that more people with mental illness are employed and how such people can be embraced in the society. University Of Melbourne. ,2015. National Surveys of Mental Health Literacy and Stigma and National Survey of Discrimination and Positive Treatment: A report for the Mental Health Commission of NSW. Mental Health Commission of NSW, Sydney. The study done by the University of Melbourne looks at the statistics surrounding mental health literacy and the stigma that faces those with mental illmess. It looks also at various initiatives intended in bringing positive treatment to mentally ill patients. It also look at the literacy levels of populations as regards mental health. World Health Organization. ,2015. Promoting Mental Health. The WHO looks at ways in which mental health can be promoted by educating people so that rate of stigma is reduced. It looks at initiatives that can be taken by health institutions and families so that mentally ill patients are at ease.

The effect of the global financial crisis on political and financial risks

Introduction The current global financial crisis is one of the worst financial crises in history. It has affected many businesses and individuals all over the world. Businesses have closed down and many people have lost their jobs. Uncertainty, political risk and financial risk have also increased (Global Economics Crisis Resource Center, 2009). The negative effects of the global financial crisis have been felt in most parts of the world i.e. in the advanced countries, the emerging markets and in the developing world (Yadav 2008).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The effect of the global financial crisis on political and financial risks specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The global financial crisis According to Allen and Synder (2009), the global financial crisis is a disturbance in the economic environment which brings about a drastic drop in the value of assets, failure of financial institutions and a disruption o f the stock exchange (p.36). Business organizations begin to cut costs so as to avoid liquidation therefore the unemployment rate escalates. he purchasing power of many companies and households is reduced as prices of commodities soar. Interest rates, real estate, international investments and international business are also affected. The high cost of doing business in such an economic environment drives many companies to restructuring or closing down the company (p.37). Toporowski (2009) asserts that International business operations have particularly been affected by the global financial crisis because most target markets have cut expenses due to the crisis (p. 162). Therefore the political and financial risk associated with international business has increased. Multinational companies are unable to avoid the effects of the financial crisis and will have to succumb to the constraints in the markets that they operate in. However, different firms are affected to a varying extent dep ending on the markets that are targeted and where the finances are focused (Toporowski 2009)). The effect of the global financial crisis on the tourism industry in Australia As with most other industries, the tourism industry has been affected by the ongoing global financial crisis. The services sold can only be used on site therefore stable conditions are necessary. The tourism industry in Australia is at an all time low and this has increased the political and financial risks associated with the industry (Elks Roberts 2008). The Australian tourism industry depends heavily on international visitors therefore there are numerous challenges that are being faced due to the reduction in expenditure for luxury. Tourism globally has been exposed to increased political and financial risks due to the global recession.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Investment in the Australian tou rism sector is very low as most investors are delaying, reducing or even canceling investment ventures. Therefore there is reduced business from foreign investors. In addition, investors are also careful because the political atmosphere in Australia may become volatile due to the recent elections and the effect of the financial crisis (Geoff Carmody associates 2009). Political risks Political risk is the risk of financial, strategic or human loss due to political issues in a country. It is the likelihood that a business or investors will lose money or make less revenue than expected because of political decisions and events in a nation. Political risk that is most commonly experienced by the companies involved in international business is transfer risk which is a situation whereby it is not possible to send out currency from a country because of central bank restrictions (Hendrix 1991). From history, it is evident that economic instability usually creates political instability. For instance, there was a decrease in the political instability of many countries since the end of the cold war. This means that the financial crisis can bring about problems such as riots, violence and increased criminal activity. The increase in piracy activities at the Horn of Africa is has been largely attributed to the global financial crisis because of heightened poverty and costs of living. This situation could therefore worsen an already troubled economic situation. (Othieno 2008) There have already been several cases globally of social unrest which have been linked to the financial crisis. In Bulgaria, anti-government protests were held in a bid to push the government to bring reforms in the economic and social sectors. Vehicles were damaged, windows smashed and businesses affected by the riots that ensued. In Lithuania, protestors threw stones at parliament as they demanded that the government reduce its spending because of the economic crisis. One of the worst cases of civil unrest was in Madagascar where more than 100 people were killed when violence erupted during a demonstration. (Thinking Shift 2009) In light of this, the global financial crisis has increased the political risk that organizations engaging in international business and international direct investment face. Hendrix (1991) asserts that a stable and safe political environment is important for the success of International business. If the environment is not stable, there will be a drop in the tourism and foreign direct investment in the tourism industry.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The effect of the global financial crisis on political and financial risks specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Financial risk Financial risk in the international market has been transformed due to the global financial crisis. Problems that have arisen include inflation, intensified competition in the international market, uncertainty, cr isis in the financial markets and increased market volatility. Financial institutions and international business are finding it difficult to increase profits, cut costs and to deal with financial risk. According to Yadav (2008) financial risk encompasses other types of risk such as market risk, foreign exchange risk and credit risk (p. 40). Market risk is the possibility that a firm will loose money to a financial institution because of extreme price changes in the financial market. Foreign exchange risk is the possibility of financial loss due to changes in the money markets. Credit risk is due to non-payment by a borrower of the principal and interest according to the terms of agreement (Yadav 2008). Toporowski (2009) asserts that foreign direct investment is subdued because of risk aversion, reduction in financial leverage and scarcity of capital (p. 162). Many companies are holding on to liquid assets such as cash and marketable securities instead of investing. Cutting capital e xpenditure is likely to impact the economy in a negative way because it will reduce the opportunities for earning revenue. In addition, if investment is restricted, the net profit of the companies will be reduced (Toporowski 2009). The effect of the crisis on International trade The world economy has been largely affected by the global financial crisis. Risk and uncertainty are at a very high level. Therefore, the economic forecasts are likely to have substantial errors. The confidence of consumers and investors has been shaken since the financial problem began. In addition, the attitude of the important players in the economy is unlikely to improve since most expect the situation to get worse (Allen and Synder 2009) Difficulty raising capital Raising capital has become very difficult in the wake of the current financial crisis. The banks and financial institutions have become very careful about lending while investors are reluctant to invest in risky markets. There is a lot of comp etition for finance against other industries which are deemed more profitable. Therefore many businesses suffer from insufficient capital to invest and expand business. (Elks Roberts 2008). The inbound tourists to Australia are much fewer than in previous years. Local tourism has also been affected by the financial crisis as people struggle to meet their financial obligations. The number of tourists from within the country is much less than in previous years. This is very discouraging to investors and players in the industry thus affecting the availability of capital. (Tourism Australia 2008) Governments’ response to these risks In order to cope with the financial crisis, many countries have had to restrict the capital flow. This is primarily aimed at stabilizing the financial systems of the country (Toporowski 2009). According to the Global Economics Crisis Resource Center (2009), many countries have employed protectionism as a means of dealing with the financial problem.Ad vertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Protectionism is a situation whereby a country restrains trade activities with other countries (p. 21). The governments restrict imports of goods and services by imposing tariffs and quotas on imports. Governments also regulate the ownership of local companies by foreigners. By taking this measures a government will be able to protect is citizens and local businesses (Global Economics Crisis Resource Center 2009). Most governments have employed the traditional monetary tools such as reducing the interest rate and putting in place specific reserve requirements for the banks. Some countries began schemes which were aimed at rescuing banks and financial institutions that are in trouble. The activities under these schemes include purchasing unprofitable assets and offering credit (Burakovsky 2009). Burakovsky (2009), states that long-term plans to boost the economic situation have also been put in place so as to increase the demand of investments and consumption by households. Some coun tries plan to reduce tax for businesses and individuals in future. Research and development is being focused on investment opportunities and new technologies. Burakovsky (2009) points out that regional development is being considered as a means to increase economic development (p.81). Cooperation amongst countries is been sought to prevent such a crisis in future. International forums such as the G-7 and G-20 are useful in ensuring that there is international coordination so as to reform the financial systems (Burakovsky 2009) The international Monetary Fund has been offering financial assistance to countries that are in grave situations. They have provided emergency financial assistance in order to assist the countries to survive and to prevent an economic collapse of the nations. In addition, the IMF provides the advice to the affected governments as to how they can best curb the situation and come out of the financial problems. Managing risks and operations appropriately will ens ure that the companies in the Australian tourism industry endure the problems in the market. The governments and central banks of all the countries that have been affected by the crisis are taking unprecedented measures. The governments are giving a lot of support to the banks and financial institutions so as to stability the economy. In addition control measures have been put in place to monitor the economy (Burakovsky 2009). Uncertainty of government policies Although the interventions by governments are expected to yield positive results, there is uncertainty concerning the effectiveness of those policies in alleviating the problems faced due to the financial crisis. According to Carbaugh (2008), some policies adopted by government have negative effects (pg. 486). For instance, if the government decides to rescue banks that are in financial problems it is a moral hazard because there is no consequence faced for mistakes. Therefore investors may avoid such an environment. If the g overnment deals with a deficit by simply creating money, this will give rise to inflation. It is this issues which affect the credibility of government policies. (Carbaugh 2008) Conclusion Governments should work at reducing the problems faced by citizens and businesses in their country due to the economic crisis. It is important that businesses are offered support to reduce the closure of businesses due to financial problems. The governments should put in place policies that reduce political and financial risks so as to improve the business environment and attract foreign direct investment. However, policies with negative consequences such as protectionism should be avoided. References ABC News 2009, Financial crisis hits Australia zoo, Available from: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/25/2526276.htm . Allen, R Synder, D 2009, ‘New thinking of the financial crisis’, Critical Perspectives on International Business, vol. 5, no. 2, pp 36-55. BBC 2008, Australia slashes interest rates, Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7656161.stm . Burakovsky, I 2009, ‘Coping with the effects of International financial crisis’, Problems of Economic Transition, vol. 51, no. 10, pp 78-96. Carbaugh, RJ 2008, International Economics, Ohio, Cengage Learning, 2008 Elks, S Roberts, G 2008, ‘Tourism fears a big hit from financial crisis’, The Australian, Available from: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24743201-5013871,00.html . Geoff Carmody and Associates 2008, Tourism prospects as Wall Street crunches Main Street, http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/Economic%20Crisis%20Report%20-%20Summary.pdf . Global Economic Crisis Resource Center 2009, Global Economic Crisis: Impact on Business, Cengage Learning, USA. Hendrix, S 1991, Political risk and international business, Available from: http://www.stevenhendrix.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Wisc_Intl_Trade_-_Political_Risk.103143045.pdf . Othieno, T 2009, The global financial crisis: risks for fragile states in Africa, Available from: http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/download/3064.pdf . Thinking Shift 2009, Global pandemic of unrest, Available from: http://thinkingshift.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/global-pandemic-of-unrest/ . Toporowski, J 2009, ‘International business and the crisis’, Critical Perspectives on International Business, vol. 5, no. 1, pp 162-164. Tourism Australia 2008, Tourism Australia global market monitor, Available from: http://www.tourism.australia.com/content/Global_Market_Monitor/GlobalMarketMonitorShortDecember08.pdf . Yadav, V 2008, Risk in international finance, New York, Routledge. This essay on The effect of the global financial crisis on political and financial risks was written and submitted by user Heaven Vaughn to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Sample Block Style Compare Contrast Essay - How to Examine Your Opponents

Sample Block Style Compare Contrast Essay - How to Examine Your Opponent'sSo you're preparing to take a comparison and contrast essay. A lot of people make the mistake of taking a comparison and contrast essay, thinking that is all it takes, to get the job done, when in fact you need to be able to build your essay, by exploring different perspectives.To do this, you will want to focus on several different viewpoints, because you want to examine each of them carefully, and then compare and contrast what they have to say. Many people take the easy way out, and they simply write down a bunch of things that might support their views, and then write down a bunch of things that would oppose their view. In many cases, this approach does not work, because the opposing points of view are never explored thoroughly.When you do this type of essay, you often only discover new ways to contradict what you already believe, instead of uncovering the new truths in your own world. This is why people of ten give up too soon on this type of essay. You will find that you are often missing out on the valuable information that could have been discovered if you had spent more time looking for it.Instead of wasting so much time, do a little more of the research that you need, and then write your essay. You will find that by spending some extra time on your essay, you can really explore the ideas and theories of your opponents. Once you are able to uncover the new perspective, you will have a solid base for developing your own views on these things.The next step in writing a comparison and contrast essay is to start looking for websites that deal with the topic that you are currently addressing in your essay. There are many websites that are devoted to showing you these kinds of essays, so try to read the site, and find one that fits your needs, and then start reading. You will discover that there are quite a few different variations of this topic, and most of them are interesting to stud y.After you are able to find an essay that speaks to you on the topic, read through it, and then start to compare and contrast, what you discover from reading this particular essay, is what you think about in the context of your essay. You will find that this is very helpful in preparing your essay, by helping you to address any issues that might come up in the process.The biggest benefit that you will be able to reap from exploring the different perspectives, that you will find to be very useful in addressing issues in your essay. Even if you do not uncover anything new or unique to your topic, this will help you to consider the viewpoints and identify any gaps in knowledge, that exist in your world.It is important to take your time to do a comparison and contrast essay. If you do not spend some time looking at the many different aspects of the different opinions in your world, you will only be wasting your time and effort.

Social Media and the Hospitality Industry

Social Media and the Hospitality Industry Introduction Lately, social media sites have grown enormously in terms of usership and popularity. As a matter of fact, social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Flickr are slowly replacing traditional forms of internet communication such as email.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Social Media and the Hospitality Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They have become important tools for people to stay in touch, meet new people, and share experiences on sites. With Facebook’s usership surpassing 500 million, social media has today become so mainstream that it has become the newest marketing channel. As the world of online marketing continues to expand, and innovative ways of communicating with the target customers come to the fore, social media has withstood the onslaught of critics and emerged out strongly. Keeping pace with these developments, hospitality industry operators have been scrambling to work through the ever-changing web of social media, with a goal of increasing contact with their customers, gauging customer satisfaction, strengthening brands, and improving sales. Despite these developments, a challenge still remains for hoteliers and other stakeholders in the hospitality industry to invent creative ways of utilizing social media so that they can reach their prospects and customers in a manner that can establish a robust and healthy long-term relationship (Hospitality Industry, 2010). With the buzz around social media marketing gaining grounds, the hospitality industry has not been left behind as they have made significant inroads with the leading social network sites in fresh and innovative ways. Indeed, most hoteliers today include Facebook and Twitter share buttons on their websites for satisfied customers to share the word! In addition, hoteliers have become more acquainted with the return on engagement (ROI) instruments existing presently, however, the abilit y to translate these fans and followers into customers making actual room stays continues to remain a challenge for many (Schneider, 2009).Advertising Looking for report on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Hence the reason for this research is to propose ways in which operators in the hospitality industry can take advantage of the current social media craze to retain old customers and attract newer ones and hence convert their social media friends and followers into real customers. Neha Gupta, a research analyst at Gartner posits that marketers will begin to transition from onetime placement and click of ads toward ongoing engagement with the Internet user and will therefore allocate a higher percentage of their advertising budget to social networking sites (Withiam 2011, 2). Social media, with the help of special analytic tools, have the ability to unlock the interconnected data structures of u sers including their list of friends, their comments and messages (tweets or updates), images and all their social networks, contact information and related information (Miletsky, 2010). To ensure success in the digital space, hoteliers and other hospitality industry operators must take a relook at the entire business structure and this involves setting up new structures, metrics, and processes that bridge the gap between marketing and sales in areas of the company that could result in its ability to understand and engage with consumers on a higher level. Obviously, a customer relationship management strategy demands that hospitality companies must be active in social media, but the question of what activity is relevant remains unanswered. Specifically, hospitality firms must incorporate social media in their marketing efforts- a process that will require new approaches to marketing. Despite the challenges that the hospitality industry experiences in realizing the full potential of the social media, some companies are already reaping profits after making necessary structural and operational changes to incorporate social media marketing in their mainstream marketing channels. One of these companies is the Roger Smith Hotel located in the heart of New York (Miles, 2011). The hotel has a large online presence that it is today known as the â€Å"social media hotel† of NYC! Roger Smith Hotel continues to attract a large number of customers who have received information regarding its ambience and approachability from various social networking channels (Hessinger, 2011). This research paper will look at the structures that have been instituted by the hotel to translate its online presence in to profits.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Social Media and the Hospitality Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Social Media Popularity Social networking sites continue to enjoy a huge usership, an d the figures continue to rise. Today, more that 600 million people (nearly 10 percent of the global population) are on Facebook. The demographics are amazing; 90 percent of persons aged between 28 and 24 are on Facebook. More specifically, 66 percent of travelers are on Facebook (Hird, 2009). Research shows that Facebook referrals are far more likely to result into bookings that referrals from travel review websites (Mà ¼ller, 2011). This underscores the need for companies to make themselves more visible on social media sites. A large proportion of hospitality companies already have a web presence, the challenge is how to convert anonymous visitors into customers (Hospitality Industry, 2010). A look at the top social media sites: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and You Tube, shows that 50 of the largest hotel chains in the world have already registered their presence in at least three of the platforms (Conrady and Buck, 2011). This shows the extent to which social media have become pop ular in the hospitality industry. Due to the fame of negotiation sites such as Priceline.com and Hotels.com, along with the influence of online travel agents, customers are regularly looking for deals. However, with the strength of Facebook, online travel agencies are losing some advertising and hotel bookings to Facebook. In addition, if a hotel can gain a referral through Facebook, it gets the full benefits rather than having to pay to a commission (Mà ¼ller, 2011). There is no cheaper alternative to this. However, as in the case of conventional word of mouth, friends and family remain the most significant factor in making travel decisions and unless hospitality companies make efforts to market themselves by delivering quality services and meeting their customers’ expectations, referrals will not directly lead to an increase in room bookings or visits. Roger Smith Hotel has built a culture that not only involves being approachable and building up online relationships but a lso offering great services at low services (Hessinger, 2011). This has enabled the company to penetrate the heavily saturated market that includes industry heavyweights such as Marriots, Sheraton, Hyatt, Hilton, and so on. Social Media for Customer Service One of the biggest mistakes that hotel owners and managers commit is to ignore negative comments. While other companies seek and take action with respect to their customers’ feedback or comments, others simply do not care and only take action when they see a comment regarding the poor service or other negative aspects of their experience at the hotel from some social media.Advertising Looking for report on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Still, such interventions are much better than ignoring the comment and letting other people to read it without a comment from the hotel. Hospitality operators can realize improved customer when they initiate a process of monitoring social media for customer feedback. Social media makes is easy for customers to complain when services are not to their expectations. Customer complains must be intercepted as early as possible, with an objective of improving service and minimizing damage from the complaints. A company cannot prevent or even remove negative comments once they are posted on any social media platform, but a good approach is to ensure that the bad reviews come to the knowledge of the firm, especially if they are posted on mainstream social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. For this reason, operators in the hospitality industry must not only increase their presence on the web, but also make use of web analytic tools to monitor customer comments (Miletsky, 20 10). For instance, a concierge desk could monitor a Twitter feed for customer comments and take immediate action on the negative comments while acknowledging the positive one too. A firm must act both on the bad and good comments (Laudon and Traver, 2007). To become a leader in the competitive hospitality industry, then it is critical that a set of tools, standards and practices be adopted. Apart from creating a best-practices website for use by all stakeholders, RS Hotel applies a comprehensive monitoring tool to monitor and provide feedback to customer comments. This tool connects with more than a dozen social sites in one application, merging technology with sustainability. Customer service not only entails improving services, it also involves smoothening out communication with customers. Hospitality companies must make full use of the real time communication tools that social media provides. For instance, because Twitter is free, hotels can make real time communication with thei r clients without putting them on hold or even having to spend money while placing calls. Customers are able to get instant feedback and it means the reception staff do not spend a lot of time making phone calls. It is also easier to make clarifications. For instance, a guest can tweet Roger Smith Hotel, â€Å"i need to change my booking from a twin to a double for the 17th, is it possible?† or â€Å"I’ll be in NY for three days, arriving tomorrow @9pm, can I get a single room booking?† the hotel staff will be able to reply immediately. It is cost-effective, real time and convenient for the customer. One aspect that has made RS Hotel to achieve success on the digital space is its responsiveness to customer requests and comments. While negative comments cannot be avoided, the hotel highlights the positive ones (Walsh, 2010). The firm monitors social media for customer comments and as the Director of Social Hospitality, Brian Simpson, points out, the firm has made significant improvements in customer satisfaction since it started monitoring customer comments. Simpson underscores the need for service firms of all kinds to institute a process for social media, including the tool to be used and how it should be utilized (Weinberg, 2010). With a systematic approach, social media can become a very powerful tool for improving customer service and ensuring satisfaction. Social Media Marketing Most social media sites allow users to promote products and services on an individual level. On Twitter, hospitality companies can give short messages that explain the services provided by a company (Callari, 2012). These messages appear on the company’s followers and can link back to the company’s homepages, Facebook profile, YouTube, and so on. Facebook allows a more in-depth marketing channel than Twitter. The site allows companies to create a fan page that includes images, videos, reviews, and more detailed descriptions and links. Videos can show the inside and outside features of a hotel, services, rooms, staff, customers giving feedback, and so on. Customers can also share their photos of the hotel area on Flickr, accompanied by brief descriptions. All of these channels form an inexpensive channel for marketing and enhancing brand awareness. In addition, specialized sites such as Flip.to and Foursquare permit a higher level marketing. Flip.to, developed in 2010, allows hospitality firms to monitor positive reviews, comments and quotes from recent customers and displays them right on the company’s homepage (Mowat, 2010). This feature not only enhances the reliability of the company, it also accords visitors a chance to take action before navigating away from the site. Through this process, Flip.to allows potential customers to learn more about the company while the company also learns more about the visitors (who would otherwise remain anonymous) and this builds a wide pool of potential customers they can contac t in the future. Flip.to also allows contains a Suggestion Page that allows users to make recommendations to their friends besides having a component that collects reviews from one’s followers and displays them on a page created specifically for each and every guest in the hotel (Callari, 2012). Other sites such as Trip Advisor, with more than 50 million reviews, 85,000 destinations, 475 hotels, and 675 restaurants also offers an ideal platform for a hospitality firm to market its services (Hird, 2009). The site contains apps that can be used on LinkedIn and Facebook in such a manner that customers to learn more about the company, with reviews displayed on each company’s page. Part of the success realized by RS Hotel is due to the marketing and networking activities that were undertaken through various social media sites. Brian Simpson explains that he initially built up followers by searching for interests that were appropriate to him on behalf of the company. Once co nnected, he looked at their friends and followers to see if he could make more friends and followers. He says â€Å"The use of Twitter was mainly for the brevity and ability to drive traffic to our blog and booking site rogersmith.com† (Weinberg, 2010). Using word of mouth and communication through various platforms by social networking sites, the company was able to build a loyal customer base that helped it to further market its products by recommending it to friends or writing reviews. In addition, the company offers a social media/Twitter discount to customers who get to know of the customer through social media, thereby making them feel special. Under such circumstances, it is highly likely that a customer will recommend the hotel to more friends, or write positive reviews about it. The most important element in social media marketing is to have true followers, fans or friends. â€Å"It’s not always about the quantity but about the quality†¦ Once we had one follower, I was happy. It has never been about the numbers but more about the people† adds Brian (Weinberg, 2010). A loyal customer base helps to build strong relationships and this is the most important factor in any marketing campaign. Social Media for Customer Participation Social media provides a channel through which customers can provide feedback and hence the company can gauge satisfaction levels in all quarters, including email, the website, telephone conversations, service delivery, and even the social media. McDonalds is another company that has made heavy use of the social media by encouraging participation from its customers. The services were initiated more than two years ago partly in realization that the company creates lots of buzz around the web. Every few seconds someone is commenting about the firm, and this includes people from all ages. The company’s Facebook page has more than 3.1 million fans while its twitter account has more than 50,000 follower s (Cambria, Grassi, Hussain, and Havasi, 2011). This lets it to engage with its customers and incorporate customer opinions into its brand, creating a relationship between the company and it customers. The relationships created on social serve two important functions: the company can resolve any issues as soon as they come up rather than wait to solve it at a later date during which the company’s reputation will have ben damaged, and secondly, the relationships address the cautionary issues of gaining information from the internet, particularly, anonymous responses, representativeness of those who offer comments, and their accuracy. Hence, the company is better place to correct a false or misleading opinion posted on any social media. McDonald uses an analytic tool that captures any mention of its name on the web and sends the information to the relevant departments for action. The basic concepts in such a procedure include â€Å"understanding the content and topics of consu mer comments, determining the volume or frequency of messages, checking on consumer sentiment, and identifying immediate customer-satisfaction issues† (Withiam 2011, 3). Using information provided by its customers, McDonald has been able to roll out several new concepts and products much to acclaim of its customers (Callari, 2012). For instance, it introduced a chili sauce brand that was only available during the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Many people commented on various social media that the product should be continued even after the games, and consequently, McDonald availed the product in markets where its demand was high. Mobile Apps Since more than 80 percent of all guests travel with a mobile device and more than half of the number uses them while travelling, it is only logical that hospitality industries develop apps that allow interaction with customers and potential guests through the mobile phone. The Hilton group of hotels has excelled in this area with the design of mobile apps for every Hilton brand around the world. Its mobile apps have seen more than 340,000 downloads, and customers used them to book more than 100,000 rooms in 2010 alone (Michael and Salter, 2006). These room bookings partly contributed to the company’s revenue increase of up to 200 percent during the same duration. It is known that a significant number of customers log in to their Facebook accounts everyday, irrespective of the demographic, market or audience. Hospitality operators can take advantage of this insight by creating Facebook booking apps that allow them to book rooms and check out special offers while they are on Facebook. Facebook room booking apps, for example, Bookassist, can be very useful. The positive aspect of mobile apps is that once a user adds an application to their profile, all of their friends will be notified through a news feed. Social media users will also be invited to download and use the apps when a friend involves them while using the application (tags them, or mentions them, for example). Conclusion Social media presents an ideal platform for the hospitality industry to increase contact with its customers, with a vital objective of enhancing partnership for brand growth and development. Primary to that opportunity are the twin dangers that hospitality operators will misuse their social media contacts or that clients will move, leaving the industry behind. Therefore, just as hotels and some restaurants have designed their websites, they now have to make sure their site is optimized for search engines, have mobile apps, and specifically, keep clients involved in a conversation about their operations, or rather their services. Although a number of hotel chains have embraced mobile apps, Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks, others are hardly visible at all on the social media firmament. One important advantage of social media is that guest are normally ready to share information regarding their likes or di slikes on a range of issues. By employing suitable analytic instruments, hoteliers can get to know what guests generally want and how they react to specific services and to the hotel generally. The most important thing right now is for operators in the hospitality industry to develop mobile apps, since travellers are increasingly using their mobile devices to find the best places for accommodation and even booking rooms or accessing other services on the spot. An all-inclusive strategy of customer engagement should incorporate social media, be it Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Flickr, so that operators can get hold of new customers and know of their desires without specifically asking them. References Callari, R. (2012). Achieving Social Media ROI for the Hospitality Industry. Available from http://inventorspot.com/articles/achieving_social_media_roi_hospitality_industry Callari, R. (2012). Social media marketing strategies for the hospitality industry. Available from 4hoteliers.co m/4hots_nshw.php?mwi=9454 Cambria, E., Grassi, M., Hussain, A., and Havasi, C. (2011). Sentic Computing for Social Media Marketing. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. Conrady, R., and Buck, M. (2011). Trends and Issues in Global Tourism 2011. NJ: Prentice Hall Hessinger, S. (2011). Social Media With The Roger Smith Hotel. Available from bizsugar.com/blog/2011/01/26/social-media-with-the-roger-smith-hotel/ Hird, J. (2009). 20+ more mind-blowing social media statistics. Available from http://econsultancy.com/blog/4402-20+-more-mind-blowing-social-media-statistics Hospitality Industry. (2010). Hospitality industry continues to grapple with effects of social media. Available from hotelmarketing.com/index.php/content/article/hospitality_industry_continues_to_grapple_with_effects_of_social_media/ Laudon, K.C. and Traver, G.C. (2007). E-commerce. New Jersey: Pearson-Prentice Hall. Michael, A. and Salter, B. (2006). Mobile Marketing: Achieving Competitive Advantage through Wireless Technology. MA : Elsevier Press. Miles, S. (2011). Roger Smith Hotel: Social Media Beats Location-Based, for Now. Available from http://streetfightmag.com/2011/04/13/qa-adam-wallace-personal-connections-bring-people-in/ Miletsky, J. (2010). Principles of Internet Marketing: New Tools and Methods for Web Developers. NY: Cengage Learning. Mowat, B. (2010). Social media: Is it a friend, or foe? Canadian Travel Press, 42(26), 8-22. Mà ¼ller, C. (2011). The Impact of the Internet and Social Media on the Hotel Industry. Berlin: GRIN Verlag oHG Schneider, G.P. (2009). Electronic Commerce. Cengage Learning: Course Technology Walsh, R. (2010). Hotel social media perspective. Available from hotelmarketing.com/index.php/article/hotel_social_media_perspective/ Weinberg, T. (2010). How a Small New York City Hotel Put Itself on the Map through Social Media. Available from techipedia.com/2010/roger-smith-hotel-nyc/ Withiam, G. (2011). Social Media and the Hospitality Industry: Holding the Tiger by the Tail. Cornell Hospitality research Summit Proceedings, 3(3)