What is Social Media?
By Anna Paul
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Social media are primarily interactive, electronically mediated digitally mediated technologies which facilitate the generation or sharing/ exchange of information, views, career objectives, and various other types of expression through virtual communities and online networks. It facilitates communication among individuals, groups, and organizations. These online resources can be made use by individuals in many different ways to develop career goals, as well as enhance interpersonal relationships. In particular, it helps people in looking for jobs and in building professional networks. Moreover, social media have also become a great way for people to connect with each other.
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Foursquare, and many others are used widely to share information and communicate with friends and loved ones all over the world. There are even social media platforms designed to cater to specific industries or job positions. However, these media are also commonly used to share information about common interests and hobbies, as well as news. So, what are social media?
Understanding social media is a must before one is able to effectively utilize it. For example, it is important to know what type of media allows users to share content on a website or on blogs. In essence, the type of media that one chooses to use determines how accessible it is. For instance, video sharing websites allow users to share video content on their site; thus, making video sharing a popular option for Internet users.
Social media platforms vary widely based on the types of media that they allow for sharing. Some of the most popular are Facebook, Twitter, Digg, StumbleUpon, WordPress, and Flickr. All of these have pros and cons. For instance, Facebook has become one of the most popular social media sites, though it also has some unique limitations.
Facebook, in particular, has become popular due to the privacy options it provides its users. While it does not allow users to share content with anyone they do not know, it also allows them to block anyone they feel is a threat to their safety. Facebook can also be used as a business networking site, though it is more popular among college students than any other sector of the population. This is because college students are usually more technologically savvy, as they are more likely to be using Facebook than other age groups. So, Facebook becomes an ideal place for businesses to advertise their products and services.
As far as Twitter is concerned, many people think that it is similar to Facebook, though Twitter is not quite as popular. However, for those who want to engage with their friends and loved ones, Twitter can be the ideal platform. It is fast, easy, and allows users to connect with others instantly.
Meanwhile, YouTube is yet another social media website that has gained a lot of momentum recently. Many people enjoy watching videos on YouTube, so it stands to reason that video-sharing would also be a good way to engage one’s audience. However, many people post instructional videos and content on YouTube without ever thinking about engaging their audience. It is for this reason that it is important for businesses to do so too. If you can share helpful information with your audience and encourage them to engage with your content, you will be able to draw in many new customers.
Social media is an exciting development in the online world. Social networks allow us to connect with others, form friendships, and form relationships that last for years. The key to making social media work for you is to think about how you will be using it, whom you will be sharing it with, and how you will receive feedback from your followers and peers. Doing so can help you create a strategy that benefits you and your business.
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