The Social economy is a third sector among
economies between the private
business which lead negative impact other people’s lives for individuals it can
be a risk for the social economy, also Technology use is adversely increasing and its
becoming advanced. Individuals, communities and the corporate word benefit from
digital communication but it also carries risks.
The risk of social
technology:
Ø Job loss
Ø Lack of skills
Ø Increase of the loneliness
Benefits
of social technologies for individuals, corporates and communities :
Easy Access to information
Internet has made it very easy to get relevant
information anytime and anywhere, and users with gadgets such as tablets and
phones also have easy access to information because they use the Internet. This
is convenient for South Africans as they can get updates on current news
affairs on apps such as News24
Encourages innovation and creativity
While technology may be challenging to understand
and sometimes use, it sparks the brain to work to its full potential.
Technology has helped people establish their own businesses, which essentially
contribute the South Africa’s economy and may aid in job creation.
Improved communication
Modern technology has broadened the channels used
in communication (for example video chat or electronic mail), and South
Africans can communicate with friends and family overseas or even have meetings
over Skype.
Efficiency and productivity
Modern technology has helped South African
businesses in increasing their production through automation. The consistency
and accuracy of machinery during the production phase also results in increased
productivity.
Convenience in Education
Modern technology has made in much easier for
students to learn from anywhere through online education. In 206, the South
African government issued iPads to matric learners in order to enhance their
learning experience.
Social Networking
Modern technology has made it easier to form new
relationships and to stay in touch.
For individuals, the benefits of digital
communication would be that it is convenient, it is quick for the message to be
communicated and it is inexpensive to communicate. In South Africa, the postal
service is not as efficient as the postal service in the United Kingdom for
example. South Africans would rather use emails to communicate to people, and
this benefits South Africans because they are not losing out on any
communication but instead simply use emails to send communication instead of
using the postal service as a means of communication.
All around the world there are also risks of using
social technologies to communicate. For example, someone using Facebook should
be very careful as to what they post online on their profile. If someone posts
private information online, a stalker could use this information to stalk the
person, which could lead to harmful actions such as the victim being raped,
being robbed and hijacked.
For corporates, the benefits of digital
communication would be that it is convenient, it is easy for them to
communicate simultaneously to a large audience and it is inexpensive to
communicate to its customers. In South Africa, a company such as Woolworths
uses its Facebook page to share recipes, its latest deals and special offers.
It also uses its Facebook page as a platform to generate ideas and suggestions
from its customers in order to make Woolworths a better shopping experience for
its valuable customers. For a small business in South Africa such as a Cup Cake
baker working from home doesn’t have the funds to buy a website, so instead
uses Facebook to create a page for her business. The page doesn’t cost her
anything, it simply provides her with free advertising for her small business.
These are benefits for a corporates using social technologies.
