Social media has definitely invaded our daily way of living. When we wake up in the morning some of us are inclined to check our Facebook and Twitter first before heading to the coffee maker. Our definition of social media is as diverse as the demographics of people who are using its tools such as YouTube, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter and many others.
If we will be strict in checking the definition of these two words, the word social function as an adjective, which means interacting or interlacing of man as part of the society. It is man working out his own role or function in the community he or she is in. While media came from the Latin word medius which means a halt or stop, a go between aspirates and teneus or a middle ground; Combining the two we can deduce that the earliest meaning of social media is a ground or platform that is being utilized for connecting, intermingling and working together within a society.
If we will be comparing our perception before of traditional media, it is composed of television, radio and print. Now with the advent of the online world, we have seen another facet of media which was formerly unknown to us although it is what we have always wanted. We are nearer to the original meaning of what media is really supposed to be right from the get go.
Formerly information only flow one way, but now we are able to make a statement, to add our own content to the discussion or branch out an entirely new one which people can add to. Participation at a topic is at a whole new different level ever since social media came out. Social media in essence is now the dominant network wherein people exchange ideas in the form of commenting, contributing, partaking and networking with other people across the globe with any of the available multimedia that can be used online. The end result is the kaleidoscope of photos, videos, remarks, and likes that we see on all footprints of the internet today.
Based on its suggested meaning, social media now is not just about interacting but also interrelating. You will never get in touch with your other family member by reading a newspaper or watching TV, but with the tools at anyone’s disposal online you will be able to contact them anytime of the day, any day of the year. Sharing with them your sentiments for a certain event will be easier if done real time. They will always be updated on the whereabouts and activities of anyone you want to keep close to your heart.
The business world is even taking a bigger advantage of the enormous traffic situated on websites that has social media as its service. Numerous promotional marketing materials are floating around different social media sites to help maintain the awareness of people on the company’s offer.
We are still considered to be on the early stages of social media’s history. We have yet to see its full manifestation. One thing is for sure, the best is yet to come.
