What is Social Media? Part 2
This article probably should have been What is Social Media Part 1! I realized that many of my clients and potential clients are grappling with what social media is. Many in small business need to get to the basics of social media to determine the benefit, and my other clients like churches are often struggling with how technology or social media can help them communicate better. When I step back today and think about what social media is, I am forced to look at media generally, try to define it, and then look at how social media different. I hope this will help you!
Media surrounds us in our lives every day. What we have come to call “traditional media” includes things like newspapers, radio, television, movies, video games, even music. Media is ingrained in our lives. Then we have newer form of media that is a little higher tech. It includes computers and an assortment of technical gadgets that provide entertainment. Media essentially is a host of tools that permit the transmission of data and information. That data can be news…that data can be entertainment. Included with the host of media is a term we call Mass Media which includes those far reaching media platforms like television, radio, and newspapers which can broadcast the given information quickly and with greater reach.
Social Media is a term that has its roots in technology and differs from the traditional forms of media and mass media in that it uses web-based platforms to generate conversation (as discussed yesterday) around any topic and includes the use of the written word, audio, video, and pictures. The platforms open the media such that anyone can voice their opinion or share information on a topic and genuinely have their say. Maybe they write a blog post to endorse or critique something. They may use a podcast, a video, or represent their thoughts through digital photographs. The medium allows them to be heard. Where the conversation comes in is in the commentary that most social media platforms encourage. Anyone who agrees, disagrees, or wants to dig deeper on the topic has the opportunity to do so by posting a comment. This allows the conversation to sprawl into any direction those who interact with the content desire. All this allows for that social aspect, though digital, to emanate from the conversation that traditional media platforms do not allow.
Traditional media is much more static and controlled than social media. Social media can get messy at times and certainly is not as polished or scripted as traditional media platforms tend to be, but there truly seems to be an etiquette of respect and monitoring of proper conduct that is usually policed by the person who initiates the conversation. I think social media expands the sharing and growth of knowledge in a broader context and with more rapid development than traditional media ever could.
For a little more depth on social media you can check out the entry in Wikipedia (a social media platform).
I encourage your thoughts and additions to this conversation…what did I miss? What do you agree or disagree with?
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