Social Media

Social media
What is Social Media?

Social Media is....

Social media encourages contribution and feedback on users on content. Current media is a two way conversation creating a community of interest and connectedness.
NOT organised and NOT controlled by a central system.

“Network markets are beginning to self organise faster than the companies that have traditionally served them thanks to the web, markets are becoming better informed, smarter and more demanding.”- The cluetrain manifesto

Social Networking
In this modern day and age everyone is connected to each other via the internet meaning conversation with anyone, anywhere at anytime is possible!

Forums
These are a great way for people to debate and discuss topics which interest them and anyone get involved.
They are the longest established form of online social media due to the fact that the discussion is member lead, meaning that people can voice their own opinions without moderation
However, this can often get out of control and lead to “flame wars.”

Blogs
Blogs are online journals that other people are able to view and comment on. They can be personal, political, business related and mainstream e.g the BBC

Micro-blogging
Twitter leads the field in this area. This form of social media allows people to follow friends or celebrities and get up to date feedback on what they are doing or where they are with status updates, pictures, videos and geotagging.
This reflects the modern media consumers’ values of demanding up to date content at any time.

Content Communities
Content communities such as flickrand youtube allow people to create and share their own media and discuss it with others.
It used to be that only companies and corperations with the mean and funds could make media now anyone with a laptop and a webcam can takeover the internet!

To Summarise....
With over 110 million blogs, 123 million users on Facebook and YouTube worth over $1.65 billion, social media is a huge and ever expanding form of new media based around participation, openness, conversation, community and connectedness.
“ A good way to think about social media is that all of this is just about being human beings.”- Antony Mayfield