WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA ? CLASSIFICATION, ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

All of us are familiar with wikipedia, the free encyclopedia in Internet. We have also heard about people responding to social issues through facebook, twitter, etc. Also we know that people use youtube to share videos and for promotion of products or business. All of these are part of social media which is changing the way we communicate, entertain and live. Social media refers to the use of mobile and web based technologies through which individuals and communities can create, share, discuss and modify content.

In social media, interactions among people happen in virtual communities and network over Internet. These digital technologies influence the formation and activities of civil communities to a great extent.

CLASSIFICATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA

INTERNET FORUMS

An Internet forum is an online discussion web site where people can engage in conversations in the form of posted messages. Each Internet forum will have sub forums which may have several topics. Each discussion on a topic is called a thread. People can login and start a thread or respond to discussion in a thread. Some forums allow anonymous login also. Discussion can be about programming, social/political issues, fashion, etc. These discussion help us to learn and find solutions to problems. Ubuntu is a popular forum.

SOCIAL BLOGS

A blog is a discussion or informational website consisting of entries or posts displayed in the reverse chronological order i.e., the most recent post appears first. Some blogs provide comments on a particular subject; others functions as personal online diaries and some others as online brand advertising for a particular individual or company. Initially blogs were created by a single user only. But now there are multi-author blogs that are professionally edited. Blogger.com and Wordpress.com are popular sites that offer blogging facility.

MICROBLOGS

Microblogs allow users to exchange short sentences, individual images or video links. People use microblogs to share what they observe in their surroundings information about events and opinions about topics from a wide range of fields. Microblogging offers a communication mode that is spontaneous and influence public opinion. Twitter.com is a popular microblogging site. 

WIKIS

Wikis allow people to add content or edit existing information in a web page, to form a community document. Wiki is a type of content management system. Editing done by user is very closely monitored by other editors and therefore incorrect information, advertising, etc. are removed immediately. wikipedia.org the most popular wiki on web.

SOCIAL NETWORKS

Social networking sites allow people to build personal web pages and then connect with friends to communicate and share content. We can share text, pictures, videos, videos, etc. and comment to the posts. A social networking site can be for general topics or for a specific area like professional networking. Public opinion is greatly influenced by the discussions and posts in these websites. Popular social networking sites are facebook.com and linkedin.com.

CONTENT COMMUNITIES

Content communities are websites are websites that organise and share content like photos, videos, etc. Youtube.com is popular video sharing site and flickr.com shares pictures. 

ADVANTAGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA 

• Bring people together: Social networking allows people to find long lost childhood friends and make new ones.
• Plan and organise events: These sites help users to organise and participate in events.
• Business promotion : Social media offers opportunities for businesses to connect with customers, implement marketing campaigns, manage reputation, etc.
• Social skills: These sites allow people to express their views over a particular issue and become and become an agent for social change.

LIMITATIONS IN USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

• Intrusion to privacy : The personal information of users can be used for illegal activities. Information like the e-mail address, name , location and age can be used to commit online crimes.
• Addiction: Addiction to these sites wastes our valuable time. It will negatively affect our mental states and may lead to depression and tension.
• Spread rumours : Social media will spread the news very quickly. It can facilitate or worsen a crises by spreading negative information or misinformation at an incredible speed.