We live in a world that seems to be overrun by social media from top to bottom. Chances are, you’ve at least heard of the term ‘social media,’ but it can sometimes be confusing when it comes to pinning down an accurate definition. So many people view social media in different ways. There are hundreds of different social media platforms to choose from, giving people mixed ideas about what it is, what it can be, and how it could be beneficial or even entertaining in any way. The bottom line? Social media is essentially what you make it.
From Facebook to Twitter, Instagram to Tumblr, or Snapchat to Vine, the world of social media and interacting with friends, and people all over the world, continues to grow in popularity and advancements of technology. But, at its very core, social media remains the same – it is the basis of ‘social networking,’ which allows people to create original content, or share existing content with others who are also participating in that particular networking.
For example, if you were to create a Facebook profile, and noticed several of your friends were also on Facebook, you could add them to your list of friends on the networking site, and any content you posted would be seen by them. That’s social media in its most basic form, only to be branched out upon from there. When it comes to Twitter, it’s the same concept, with shorter, more concise content. With platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and Vine, you use pictures and videos to share what you have to say, instead of actual text.
These just skim the surface of what social media platforms are, and how they are constantly changing to allow us to connect to more people and share more of ourselves. But, the basis of social media itself never changes as we continue to network with more and more people. It is a wonderful way to stay connected with old friends, family members, old classmates, fellow-employees, or make new friends halfway across the world. Social media allows us to share a part of ourselves with others that we may not otherwise get to, and as it continues to grow and change, the way we communicate continues to adapt in such a way that social media itself becomes a whole additional world to keep up with, but it’s certainly always an exciting ride!
