Social Media Means
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What are today's three most important uses of social media?

In fact, analysts consider it an aggregator of news and entertainment. The next three main uses of social media are finding content (done by 30 percent of internet users), seeing what's being talked about (28.7 percent), and finding inspiration for things to do and buy (27 percent).

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Why is social media popular?
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Whether you’re thinking of starting a new business or are already running one, social media should be at the forefront of your marketing strategy. And to do it well, you not only need to know how the most popular social media platforms operate like the back of your hand, but you also need to understand the main purpose of social media. In other words, you need to know what social media platforms are being used for.

So then, what do users say is their primary reason for using social media?

According to a recent survey, the biggest reason people use social media is to keep in touch with their friends and family. As many as 47 percent of internet users list this as one of their top uses of social media. This is no surprise, considering that’s exactly what the purpose of social media is. From profiles and messaging and commenting opportunities to milestone events and day-to-day updates, there’s not a whole lot about an individual (and a business, for that matter) that does not ultimately end up on social media. The second main reason people use social media is to tackle boredom – 35.4 percent of internet users say they use social media to fill their spare time. This is followed by reading news stories at 34.6 percent. Given that social media is visual content-heavy, making it very easy to consume, and offers infinite scrolling, its entertainment value is extremely high. In fact, analysts consider it an aggregator of news and entertainment. The next three main uses of social media are finding content (done by 30 percent of internet users), seeing what’s being talked about (28.7 percent), and finding inspiration for things to do and buy (27 percent). The seventh most popular reason internet users go on social media is to find products to purchase. As an (aspiring) ecommerce business owner, this is a statistic to pay extra attention to: 26.2 percent of people use social media to browse for purchases. That’s more than one in four – a whole lot of sales opportunities – and certainly highlights the benefits of social media marketing. Sharing and discussing opinions with others also rank among the top uses of social media, with just under one in four users doing so. At around 23.6 percent each, watching live streams and making new contacts make up the top ten uses of social media.

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What is new new media?

New media — often known as multimedia or digital media — relies on digital means to communicate, as opposed to traditional media like print newspapers or television. New media technologies include blogs, videos, websites and internet ads.

It’s no exaggeration that the digital age has transformed how businesses and creatives connect with their audience. While print newspapers and TV ads can still facilitate this connection, new technologies present new opportunities. Social media, for example, allows users to form personal connections with businesses and brands that the one-way nature of print newspapers and TV ads preclude. Print newspapers, TV ads, billboards — these are known as traditional media. They don’t rely on digital technology to connect with an audience. New media, on the other hand, refers to platforms that depend on digital technology to communicate with an audience. In today’s nomenclature, new media can also often be referred to as digital media or multimedia.

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