What Exactly Are Social Media and How Have They Evolved?
Social media are interactive technologies that facilitate the creation, sharing, and aggregation of content amongst virtual communities and networks. These platforms have transformed the way we communicate, share information, and interact with one another online. Common features include online platforms, user-generated content, service-specific profiles, and social networking capabilities.
The Birth of Social Media
Let’s take a step back in time to understand how social media came into existence. The term ‘social media’ originated from the idea of platforms that enable communal activity. It can be accessed through web-based apps or custom apps on mobile devices, allowing individuals, communities, and organizations to share, co-create, discuss, participate in, and modify user-generated content.
Early Precursors
Before the widespread use of social media as we know it today, there were precursors like the electronic bulletin board system (BBS), which appeared by 1973. One notable BBS was the Computer Bulletin Board System in Chicago, launched on February 16, 1978. This marked the beginning of a new era where people could connect and share information through digital means.
The Internet Revolution
Tim Berners-Lee integrated HTML hypertext software with the Internet in 1991, creating the World Wide Web. This breakthrough led to an explosion of blogs, list servers, and email services. Message forums migrated to the web, evolving into Internet forums supported by cheaper access and the ability to handle far more people simultaneously.
Popular Social Media Platforms
As we moved into the 21st century, social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, WeChat, ShareChat, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and LinkedIn gained widespread popularity. These platforms have become integral to our daily lives, with billions of users around the world.
The Evolution of Online Services
Online services progressed from serving as channels for networked communication to becoming interactive platforms for networked social interaction with the advent of Web 2.0. Social media started in the mid-1990s, with the invention of platforms like GeoCities, Classmates.com, and SixDegrees.com.
Mobile Social Media
The rise of smartphones and mobile devices brought about a new era of social media use. Mobile services can further make use of the user’s immediate location to offer information, connections, or services relevant to that location. This has led to four types of mobile social media activities: space-timers, space-locators, quick-timers, and slow-timers.
The Viral Nature of Social Media
Viral content can spread rapidly on social media platforms, making it a powerful tool for businesses, nonprofits, and activists. However, this virality is not guaranteed; few posts make the transition from local to global success. Bots play a significant role in spreading content, but they also lead to an analytical crisis as it becomes difficult to differentiate between human interactions and bot interactions.
Marketing and Activism
Social media sites provide specific functionality to help users re-share content, such as X’s ‘like’ option. Businesses use social media for marketing, branding, advertising, communication, and more. Political campaigns also leverage social media to spread messages and influence voters. The 2016 US election saw unprecedented Twitter usage by candidates.
The Impact of Social Media on Society
Social media has had a profound impact on society, influencing communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation, and providing a platform for activism. However, it also poses challenges such as cyberbullying, privacy issues, and the spread of misinformation.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
The use of social media has legal implications, including cyberbullying, privacy issues, and sending sexual images or messages. Governments around the world have varying regulations regarding social media usage, with some countries implementing strict censorship measures.
Conclusion: The Future of Social Media
Social media continues to evolve, offering both opportunities and challenges. As we move forward, it is crucial to strike a balance between leveraging its benefits and addressing the issues that arise from its use. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, marketer, or simply someone who uses social media in your daily life, understanding these dynamics will help you navigate this ever-changing landscape.
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This page is based on the article Social media published in Wikipedia (retrieved on November 28, 2024) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
