Social Media Means
Photo by Maria Orlova Pexels Logo Photo: Maria Orlova

Which of the following is the most basic building block of a social network?

1. Identity: This is the most basic functional block of social media.

What is the least stressful IT job?
What is the least stressful IT job?

A web developer is one of the most stress-free jobs in technology. This position oversees and executes the design of the website. They also work to...

Read More »
What is social media honeycomb?
What is social media honeycomb?

The seven functional blocks of social media. Kietzmann, Hermkens, McCarthy, and Silvestre (2011) developed a honeycomb framework that identifies...

Read More »

How do you use social media?

To read stories, articles, gossip, comics?

To share them?

To tweet your own activities or opinions?

Each of these ways, plus others, are the social media phenomenon. We are now content curators, and social media is a building block in our daily activities.

But what is the framework of social media?

The Social Media Building Blocks

In "Social media? Get serious! Understanding the functional building blocks of social media", researchers provide a framework that defines social media, which includes seven functional social media building blocks: identity, conversations, sharing, presence, relationships, reputation, and groups.

Let's take a look at each block.

1. Identity: This is the most basic functional block of social media. It represents "the extent to which users reveal their identities in a social media setting" and can include information like name, age, gender, profession, location, and also information that portrays users in certain ways. 2. Conversations: How do users communicate with other users in a social media setting? Many facilitate conversations among individuals and groups (i.e. Twitter's #hashtags, *cue Jimmy Fallon*). These conversations happen for variety of reasons such as to meet like-minded people, to find love, to build their self-esteem, or to be news-breakers on innovative ideas or trending topics.

3. Sharing: "Social" often implies an exchange between people, which in turn means sharing. We now distribute and receive more content in less time than all of humanity has done previously. What are the implications on the social media sites that mediate these ties?

4. Presence: Have you ever checked Facebook or Foursquare to find out where your friends are? The presence block refers to the accessibility of which you can know where others are, virtually and/or physically, through status updates or check-ins. This social media building block has benefited from the world's hyper-connectivity and bridged the gap between virtual and physical. 5. Relationships: The relationships block is pretty straightforward. It represents a connection between more than one user through conversation, sharing information, meeting up, or just listing each other as a follower or friend. Consequently, this can lead to duping, such as "catfishing". Everything has its evils.

6. Reputation: Reputation can have different meanings on social media platforms, but at its core it's a sense of identifying the status of others and yourself in a social network. The study states that "reputation is a matter of trust". Do you think so?

7. Groups: What communities and sub-communities exist on a social media platform, and how easy are they to construct? As your network becomes bigger with friends, followers, and contacts, it becomes necessary to sort your cronies into different groups. This is exemplified in Twitter's lists and Facebook's public, private, and secret groups.

The Building Blocks of Four Networks

It's quite apparent that many sites have crafted a careful balance between each cell of the honeycomb. The darker the color of a block, the greater this social media building block functions within the site.

Final Thoughts

Social media has changed communication between organizations, communities, and individuals. Customers no longer want to be talked at, but listened to. Companies can find this honeycomb framework as a useful tool for their social media strategy. By analyzing the seven building blocks—identity, conversations, sharing, presence, relationships, reputation, and groups—they can "monitor and understand how social media activities vary in terms of their function and impact" on their target audience.

What's Your Reaction?

Do you think there are more than seven social media building blocks? What's missing?

Let us know in the comments below!

How long is 5K?
How long is 5K?

3.1 miles A 5K run is 3.1 miles. Don't be daunted by the distance. A 5K run is a great distance for a beginner.

Read More »
What is the fastest way to monetize on TikTok?
What is the fastest way to monetize on TikTok?

Have 10,000 or more followers on TikTok. The creator must be at least 18 years of age or older. Be in good standing and not in violation of the...

Read More »

What are the 3 applied social sciences?

DIASS provides opportunities to explore, apply, and experience social sciences theories and methodologies in real-life settings through the practice of three applied social science disciplines of communication, social work, and counseling.

Dr. Ernesto Y. Sibal was one of the few Filipinos in academic publishing who can irrefutably lay claim to these three titles—Patriot, Pioneer and Innovator. A staunch patriot, Dr. Sibal fiercely advocated the vision of designating Filipino-authored books for young Filipino learners. This vision was enabled by the establishment of Alemar’s Bookstore in 1958, and through the foresight and drive of Alegria Rodriguez, who shared in the vision of her husband, she helped galvanize then fledgling Alemar's Bookstore as the place to go for textbooks and school needs, propelling it to become the first established bookstore chain in the country.

How does Baby Shark have 10 billion?
How does Baby Shark have 10 billion?

By February 2021, "Baby Shark" had more views than the entire human population of Earth, becoming the first YouTube video to do so. If its 10...

Read More »
What's a marketing genius?
What's a marketing genius?

Marketing Genius is about achieving genius in your business and its markets, through your everyday decisions and actions. It combines the deep...

Read More »
What qualifies you to be verified on Instagram?
What qualifies you to be verified on Instagram?

Requirements to apply for a verified badge on Instagram Authentic: Represent a real person, registered business or entity. Unique: Represent the...

Read More »
What are 5 examples of digital communication?
What are 5 examples of digital communication?

These include email, phone calls, video conferencing, and many types of instant messaging like SMS and web chats. Even blogs, podcasts, and videos...

Read More »