What is social media and social networking, why do people give it so much attention and importance? Who are the people using it? Facebook, Twitter and all forms of social media communication technology just a few years ago were a new kind of communication technology. These websites and applications are now recognized as household names in the United States, throughout the continent of Europe and many countries in the world utilize the effectiveness of social media. Social media has become one of the main sources of interaction in modern society and it keeps people connected. Social media has broken barriers of social class, economic class, and education, creating a world of activism and awareness.
As human beings we are social creatures. We have a natural need to connect with others and communicate with other people. We enjoy sharing our ideas, work, and art. Since the time we are children all throughout adolescent into adulthood humans have a need to communicate. In the past, due to geographical location and economic class, interaction between people was limited.
Social media communication technology is made up of individuals that are connected to one another by ideas, values, trade, and much more. Social Networking was a function that was conducted by the famous and wealthy at private gatherings. People would exchange contacts and ideas at these extravagant events.
Communication has been instrumental to a large extent to the growth of social networking, and media communication technology. Today there are a lot of online social networking sites where individuals volunteer information about themselves and their social networks. Social networking allows for all people to interact with one another. An online social networking site is a place where a user can create a profile and build a personal network that connects to users from all over the world. What used to be just an interactive activity has today taken the proportions of a global phenomenon that engages tens of millions, and in some cases even billions of Internet users.
A social network allows independent artists, music labels and video content owners to upload share and sell their content to a community of users with interests in the particular media. Users in turn benefit by being able to sample, hear, download and share songs with friends and other members. The social network sites have emerged as a powerful and effective means for people to not only link and get connected but to use these services as effectively as possible. The popularity of social networks is growing more and more each day.
Social Media has become one of the main sources of interaction in modern society and it keeps people connected. It has broken barriers of social classes, economic class, and education, creating a world of activism and awareness. Social Media has become one of the main sources of interaction in modern society and it keeps people aware. It has broken barriers of social classes, economic class, and education, creating a world of activism and awareness. All people should use and have access to social media because of the positive impact it has had on media communication technology and broadcasting.
Facebook, Twitter and other social networking websites have changed the way people communicate with each other. Personal communication used to be about one on one interaction whether in person or over the phone. Even group reunions used to be about one on one. If you had a story to tell you would have a specific audience who was listening to you, and you were limited only to the people you could reach in your social circle or the area you are in. Facebook, Twitter and so many other social media websites and applications have made drastic changes to the way we communicate. Now personal communication involves photos, statuses, Likes, and re-shares. When a photo is posted it is shown to only your online friends, depending on your privacy settings, you can share to even more people and allow the online content you share to be public and viewed by every user on your social network of choice. Therefore, your story can be transmitted to a large group of people, most of who you may have never been able to convey a message to before social media. We consciously make the decision as to what we want people to see on our social media profile pages. A photo is only but an instant, a very limited snapshot, of everything else in the real world image.
Facebook, Twitter and other social media websites are tools that allow everyone to stay in touch, easily and quickly. Before social media, there was no mass personal information sharing, other than sending a mass email. Many argue that Facebook and Twitter allow for bonds to stay strong and friends and family to stay in contact. This point is valid since before Facebook if someone wanted to know about another person they had to actively seek information. Facebook presents information to you in the “news feed,” just as a newspaper presents its news. Going by the concept of technology is what we make of it, Facebook allows you to stay close with people you are already close with, or build relationships with people and users you would have never met in person.
Personal communication is as important as ever, the difference lies within the way we communicate. Being aware and conscious about your use of social media and its possible effects allows for intelligent decisions. Though Facebook has radically changed the way we communicate, creating our lives into public forums
Where we choose what people see, as well as intensifying our societal need for independence, this section does not call for you to erase your Facebook page, it is the opposite, it seeks to highlight the way Facebook has changed communication in attempt that you will learn from it.
I will be describing the impact in media communication technology; let us beginning with Facebook. Facebook was started in 2004 formally named “The Facebook”. There are now over 1 billion active users every month. Twitter was created and in 2006. These two forms of media technology are the heavyweights of the social networks. Social media allows people to communicate with people all over the world, reconnect with old friends, say happy birthday to a relative, market your business or products, share a funny video, or start a peaceful protest that will lead to a revolution, and much more.
Social media technology drove the success of president Barack Obama’s campaign in 2006. His technology adviser Chris Hughes assisted him. Obama made history and had a successful campaign and could not have become president without the massive online outreach to voters. Social media technology like Twitter allows you one hundred and forty characters to convey your message to the public. News can be spread rapidly, through social media like Facebook and Twitter instantly. It is informal way of communicating to people without them having to reply.
Forty-eight percent of eighteen to thirty-four year olds check Facebook every morning. More than thirty percent of the entire users on Facebook are over thirty-five years old. Seventy-two percent of the United States web audience is on Facebook. Fifty-seven percent of people talk online more than they do in real life. Forty-eight percent of Americans receive their news through Facebook. Seven hundred fifty million photos were uploaded to Facebook over the weekend of new years 2013. Every twenty minutes there are over one million links shared, one point million tagged photos, about three million photos uploaded, over ten million comments made over one point five million wall post, and close to three million messages sent through Facebook every twenty minutes on Facebook. Social media has help to create a global connection. Social networks and social media enable democracy and activism to mobilize. Increase access to information and improves education. Encourages accountability and transparency. Influences the media through citizen journalism.
Social media has influenced social change. In countries like Jamaica the health workers there distribute information about HIV via online social media networks. Citizens in Mexico are using social media to report information about drugs wars and cartels. In India acts of corruption are reported via social media channels. Over 30 million people viewed a fund raising video for Syria by Save the Children. The Ushahidi platform uses social media to locate people in the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster or conflict such as the massive earthquakes in Haiti tsunamis in Japan and typhoons in the pacific saving thousands of lives in danger. Social Media revolutions have helped topple governments around the world in countries such as, Libya, Egypt, Iran, Yemen, Jordan and so many more to come. Countries that have fallen behind Europe and the United States when it comes to mobile technology are advancing at a rapid rate. In 2008 china has gone from only 17.6 million mobile Internet users to 464 million in 2013. As of 2014 there are more mobile phones in the world than there are toothbrushes Social media has become one of the main sources of interaction in modern society and it keeps people connected. Social media has broken barriers of social class, economic class, and education, creating a world of activism and awareness.
