Social Media Means
Photo by Karolina Grabowska Pexels Logo Photo: Karolina Grabowska

Why was social media created?

Social media originated as a way to interact with friends and family but was later adopted by businesses that wanted to take advantage of a popular new communication method to reach out to customers.

What is referral fee?
What is referral fee?

A finder's fee or referral fee is a commission paid to the person or entity that facilitated a deal by linking up a potential customer with an...

Read More »
How much money does 1k views on TikTok make?
How much money does 1k views on TikTok make?

The best estimate is that you can make 2-4 cents per 1,000 views. These views are calculated by video, not your account as a whole. For example, if...

Read More »

What Is Social Media?

The term social media refers to a computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information through virtual networks and communities. Social media is internet-based and gives users quick electronic communication of content, such as personal information, documents, videos, and photos. Users engage with social media via a computer, tablet, or smartphone via web-based software or applications. While social media is ubiquitous in America and Europe, Asian countries like Indonesia lead the list of social media usage. More than 4.5 billion people use social media, as of October 2021. Key Takeaways Social media is a computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information through the building of virtual networks and communities.

There are more than 4.5 billion social media users around the world.

Social media typically features user-generated content and personalized profiles.

By 2023, the number of social media users in the United States is forecast to increase to approximately 257 million.

Understanding Social Media

Social media originated as a way to interact with friends and family but was later adopted by businesses that wanted to take advantage of a popular new communication method to reach out to customers. The power of social media is the ability to connect and share information with anyone on Earth, or with many people simultaneously. There are more than 3.8 billion social media users around the world. Social media is an ever-changing and ever-evolving field, with new apps such as TikTok and Clubhouse coming out seemingly every year, joining the ranks of established social networks like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. By 2023, the number of social media users in the United States is forecast to increase to approximately 257 million. According to the Pew Research Center, social media users tend to be younger. Nearly 90% of people between the ages of 18 and 29 used at least one form of social media. Further, these users tend to be better educated and relatively wealthy, or earning over $75,000 per year.

Types of Social Media

Social media may take the form of a variety of tech-enabled activities. These activities include photo sharing, blogging, social gaming, social networks, video sharing, business networks, virtual worlds, reviews, and much more. Even governments and politicians utilize social media to engage with constituents and voters. For individuals, social media is used to keep in touch with friends and extended family. Some people will use various social media applications to network career opportunities, find people across the globe with like-minded interests, and share their thoughts, feelings, insights, and emotions. Those who engage in these activities are part of a virtual social network.

How much does it cost for 100k followers?
How much does it cost for 100k followers?

Facebook influencer marketing pricing Number of followers 10k 100k Price $250 $2,500

Read More »
Does Elon Musk own PayPal?
Does Elon Musk own PayPal?

In 2002, PayPal was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion in stock, of which Musk—the largest shareholder with 11.72% of shares—received $175.8...

Read More »

For businesses, social media is an indispensable tool. Companies use the platform to find and engage with customers, drive sales through advertising and promotion, gauge consumer trends, and offer customer service or support. Social media's role in helping businesses is significant. It facilitates communication with customers, enabling the melding of social interactions on e-commerce sites. Its ability to collect information helps focus on marketing efforts and market research. It helps in promoting products and services, as it enables the distribution of targeted, timely, and exclusive sales and coupons to would-be customers. Further, social media can help in building customer relationships through loyalty programs linked to social media.

145 minutes The average daily social media usage of internet users worldwide.

Benefits of Social Media

Social media has changed the way we all interact with each other online. It gives us the ability to discover what's happening in the world in real-time, to connect with each other and stay in touch with long-distance friends, and in order to have access to endless amounts of information at our fingertips. In many senses, social media has helped many individuals find common ground with others online, making the world seem more approachable. According to a survey by Pew Research Center, the use of social media is correlated with having more friends and more diverse personal networks, especially within emerging economies. For many teenagers, friendships can start virtually, with 57% of teens meeting a friend online. Businesses are also using social media marketing to target their consumers right on their phones and computers, building a following in order to build a loyal fan base, and create a culture behind their own brand. Some companies, such as Denny's, have created entire personas on Twitter in order to market to younger consumers using their own language and personas.

Examples of Social Media

What do Japanese use instead of YouTube?
What do Japanese use instead of YouTube?

Niconico (ニコニコ, Nikoniko) (known before 2012 as Nico Nico Douga (ニコニコ動画, Niko Niko Dōga) is a Japanese video-sharing service on the web.

Read More »
How many steps is 5K?
How many steps is 5K?

How many steps is a 5k? A person of average height can expect to take around 6250 steps over a 5k distance (based on an estimated stride length of...

Read More »

While social media has its positive side, many point to the platform and call out negative features, likening its overuse to an addiction. Some contest it contributes to inattentiveness, stress, and jealousy. The National Center for Biotechnology Information links heavy social media use to depression. Social media may also be a conduit for misleading information and falsehoods. The 2016 American presidential election has well-documented accounts of the impact of the ability to spread false information through the platform. Such a phenomenon leverages the power of social media, allowing anyone to reach an audience of millions with content that lacks oversight or fact-checking. Facebook (2.74 billion users) YouTube (2.29 billion users) WhatsApp (2 billion users) Facebook Messenger (1.3 billion users) Instagram (1.22 billion users) WeChat (1.21 billion users) TikTok (689 million users) QQ (617 million users) Douyin (600 million users) Sino Weibo (511 million users) What Is the Use of Social Media? Social media allows individuals to keep in touch with friends and extended family. Some people will use various social media applications to network and find career opportunities, connect with people across the globe with like-minded interests, and share their own thoughts, feelings, and insights online. What Are the 6 Types of Social Media? The six types of social media, though this can be broken down in many ways, include social networking, bookmarking, social news, media sharing, microblogging, and online forum sites.

The Bottom Line

Social media has taken the world by storm, capturing more than 3.8 billion users worldwide and counting. Whether or not each platform resonates with you personally, there are endless ways for businesses to market to their consumers and target them to ultimately make a purchase. Allowing us to stay connected with friends, find information easily, and add our own personalities to the online world, social networks are here to stay.

What is the richest paying sport?
What is the richest paying sport?

Basketball Basketball is the most lucrative sport globally, which is not surprising. The finest basketball players in the NBA not only make...

Read More »
How many years does it take to study marketing in university?
How many years does it take to study marketing in university?

Typically marketing degrees last three to four years at bachelor's level, but in some countries it is possible to do a two-year associate's degree...

Read More »
What do gifts do on TikTok?
What do gifts do on TikTok?

What is LIVE Gifts on TikTok? LIVE Gifts is a feature that, once activated on your account, allows your viewers to react and show their...

Read More »
What is the hardest college sport to get recruited for?
What is the hardest college sport to get recruited for?

Hardest Men's Scholarship to Earn Wrestling: only a 2.7% chance of earning a scholarship. Of the 395 programs, 78 of them are NCAA DI offering 9.9...

Read More »