Social Media. Utilized hotly by a plethora of demographics, the utility of Social Media can be compared to the synapses of the mind. Like how synapses serve as the junction for electrical pulses between neurons, Social media in society serves as the junction for people!
Storified by jsk206 ·
Thu, Dec 07 2017 04:56:42
Introduction
From its inception,the internet’s purpose was to serve as a channel for sharing information. When it sprang up around the turn of the century, social media also was to serve as a platform for sharing things. And that it did. Ripe and ready for use and experimentation, Social Media changed the development of relationships by changing the way people connect and enjoy each other’s company, changed the work world by adding new layers of communication between businesses, talent, and consumers, changed culture by facilitating the spread of trends, and changed entertainment by facilitating the sharing of media. Similar to how synapses of the mind act as the junction for electrical pulses between neurons, Social Media acts as the platform for the exchange of peoples' ideas and media.
Social media & relationships
Social media fams - Based on data collected by the Pew Research Center, about two-thirds of social media users agree that social media allows them to connect with and maintain relationships with their friends and family. This statistic is also stated to have come from a diverse group having no dominant trends between demographics. This is easy to believe as social media is a powerful communication tool.
![Using Social Media to Keep in Touch]()
Using Social Media to Keep in TouchRoughly two-thirds (67%) of social media users say that staying in touch with current friends and family members is a major reason they use these social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or LinkedIn.
The good and the bad; Social media & relationships - Social media platforms like Facebook have disrupted our relationships in both positive and negative ways. Generally, Facebook has disrupted in a positive way by making things more accessible. Examples of this would include its use in maintaining new and/or romantic relationships and its use as a space to practice those relationship maintenance techniques. However, social media has disrupted in a negative way by making things more complicated. Examples of this would be all of the new social dynamics and cues that must be navigated with caution such as going "Facebook official".
Predictions about Social Media & relationships - Two predictions one could make about the future of social media are that the average size of peoples’ networks will as a whole, increase. Another prediction one could make about the future of social media are that although the size of peoples' networks will increase, the quality of those relationships will not be as deep in value.
![The future of social relations]()
The future of social relationsOverview of responsesBackgroundTechnology experts embrace the use of networked communications technologies and are naturally inclined to find them to be useful
Social Media & The Work World
The work world's foothold in social media - One of the most obvious effects of society’s social media use is the advent of social media marketing and targeted advertising. We're seeing it and hearing it being talked about everywhere. With a target audience of billions, its no wonder targeted/fine-tuned advertising is the marketing world's next big thing.
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A brand new gameAs people spend more time on social media, advertisers are following them
Headhunting will never be the same - One area where social media has had a particularly positive and negative disruptive effect on is the recruitment of talent. Employers are now on social media which adds another element to employment screening, job boards and social networking sites such as LinkedIn are on the rise, and generally social media again serves as a powerful networking tool for applicants and recruiters alike.
Is the future wearable tech & social media? - One prediction for the future of business is that if wearable technology booms, social media will have yet another platform for advertising and marketing. Some examples would include location based advertising and flash sale notifications among other targeted benefits.
Social Media & Culture
Social media brings the memes - One way that Social media use has affected culture is acting as a platform for the spreading of internet memes. Through memes, people are able to share and alter prevailing or relatable ideas about their current lives or current events. From distracting, funny content to interesting content, memes also serve as a method for passing down stories on the internet and as a venue for self-expression and creativity.
The dark side of social media - A commonly debate in modern society is the question of social media’s possible role in social anxiety. How this has exactly come about is that with social media now being a thing, friendships and relationships are now in a way, directly quantified. This leads to lots of perceptions of inferiority and sometimes even paranoia and also unhealthy comparison to people around you. Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) is a modern construct that many people claim to experience.
Social media → Cultural bonanza! - In the future, social media will affect our culture by continuing to do what it does now: That is, facilitating the exchange of ideas and allow us to make our own individual contributions to the cultures around us. This includes social media's influence on challenging the status quo, making way for a more diverse culture, garnering support for people and the things we like, and general inclusion and authenticity.
