Social Media in 2016

Karwoski, O. (9 April 2016) Top Sites. [Screenshot]

Today, in the USA, it is practically impossible to avoid all forms of social media. It is everywhere we turn. Everyone has it, even our grandmas. Business also use it as a major platform in their marketing. I am guilty of checking my numerous accounts 10+ times a day. But who could resist, you can keep family and friends up to date on the latest events in your life, both the big such as getting hired for a new job and the small like what you had to dinner. You can follow all your favorite brands and celebrities so you don’t miss a thing. Business can promote themselves and ongoing promotions. The possibilities and benefits are endless.

Although social media comes with many benefits, it also comes with consequences. Ann Smarty pointed out some of “The Bad” associated with social media in an article called “Social Media and Society: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” She brings up the valid point that often people hind behind their screens because it gives you a feeling of being social without actually socializing. Some additional issues include the permanence of everything you post. Jenny Q. Ta talks about what a large issue cyber bullying has become using social media as an outlet.

Personally, I use social media as a way to keep friends and family up to date on my life. More recently, I have started using it as a way of branding myself in my photography such as sharing links to my websites on my various social media accounts. In general, this is the way I see other use social media too. But larger business maximize social media by advertising directly to their target audience.

Ann Smarty points out that 10 years ago there was no Facebook or Twitter, and 15 years ago, email wasn’t even that popular. It is hard for people in our generation to imagine this because we were brought up along side social media. Even watching our parents struggle to use social media frustrates us because it comes to us so naturally. I can only imagine this will get exponentially worse as our generation starts to have children. Jay Scott touches on this in an article for the Huffington Post. He talks about all the great changes social media has already made for our society and hopes this will continue to grow.

Over all, most people are in agreement that social media has both its advantages and disadvantages. I think that if you use it in appropriate ways, it can be a great tool in almost all aspects of your life, both professionally and personally.

 

Sources:

Ta, S. Q. (13 August 2014) What impact social media truly had on society. [Web Article.] Retrieved from http://www.business2community.com/social-media/impact-social-media-truly-society-0974685#l3IQysp51CLqjfaR.97

Smarty, A. (N.d) Social media and society: The good, the bad, and the ugly. [Web Article.] Retrieved from http://www.seochat.com/c/a/social/social-media-and-society-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

Scott, J. (30 May 2014) Social media makes an impact on society. [Web Article.] Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-scott/social-media-makes-an-imp_b_5406126.html