Week+5

I believe that conventional means of mass media advertisement can translate into second life.

Since Second Life is an online virtual world. Similar to MMORPG game, a lot of players are connected to a virtual world and interact with each other. I do think that online games can be classified into a mass media, there is no doubt that Second Life, a social network of virtual human life; can make mass media advertising possible.

We are already seeing many companies are utilizing the unique virtual community feature of Second Life to market their products and services. Many Chinese companies are now changing their marketing strategies by having their products available to be tested in Second Life. If the user on Second Life is satisfied with the product, they have the option to purchase the product in real life. Entertainment companies are using Second Life to advertise their movies and music by having them available to listen and see on Second Life. Traditional mass media advertising can be done virtually on Second Life.

However, one of my concerns about mass media advertising on Second Life is that although it is possible for it to be done, the audiences can be very limited. Although Second Life is gaining popularity in the real world, it is still just a virtual experience. Users of Second Life are not obligated to continuously commit to Second Life. So if the popularity of the program runs out, people will stop using Second Life and the virtual advertisement on Second Life will be useless.

Therefore, mass media advertisement is possible on Second Life but we will not know the future of Second Life as it is merely a virtual world unlike real human life which we have to live it no matter what.