Question 3

Question 3: Digital Communication and Fluencies

In South Africa the availability of social technology has benefitted us immensely as it has allowed us to keep developing as a country. It makes our daily lives that much easier, increases efficiency and allows problems to be solved in a much shorter period of time for individuals, communities and companies alike.

The Benefits:

Digital communication has increased the number of ways that people and business can communicate with one another. This enables the public to be able to communicate with the business as a person and enables the company to communicate with their employees and the publics.

The digital world can be classified as an asset for a company and for society. This is where the digital world provides information on not only the employees but news on the world and the people within it. The digital divide has also given ways to improve the financial transactions that occur in businesses and the corresponding publics.

A business can grow by using the digital world to expand their employee database. This benefits the business when hiring a new employee and when the business wants to do a background check of that person. The business goes and checks socially on the media and can learn what the person has been up to and their general background.

The Risks Involved:

The digital world when being used by a company can have also negative connotations for instance, if a business or person has a negative online reputation it can influence the business or the individuals reputation in real life.

There are many financial risks involved when dealing with the digital world as there are many cybercrimes. These cybercrimes are continuously evolving and most are financially directed with a few cases of identity fraud.

Many people can get a different personality on the internet which can confuse people and make a person disclose personal information about them. People also tend to be more forward and aggressive online and businesses might get the wrong idea.

 A South African approach

South African Companies are using the digital world to advertise and promote their businesses. They are also creating personalities with which people can connect with and do business through them.

An example of this is Woolworths who have a social media presence which people connect with and do business with them. They also have a media page where they can get consumers input and preferences.