A popular online dictionary defines social media as “web sites and other online means of communication that are used by large groups of people to share information and to develop social and professional contacts.” Blogging, Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus are all different platforms that people use to stay connected with their online communities.
There are different ways to approach social media. Social networking is more portable and accessible than ever with access via Smartphone, iPod and tablets. The prevalence of social media on-the-go is part of what has made our digital devices seem indispensable.
One of the major benefits of social media is that you can connect with people all over the world, for free. You can send messages on Facebook or “tweet” them on Twitter and they can respond quickly from wherever they are. This is such a huge advance from the use of snail mail and waiting a week or longer for a response. In this way, social media has strengthened the ability to maintain personal relationships, even with people at a great distance.
This ability to communicate quickly and easily with people who are not local, has made conducting business, faster. Social media platforms provide an inexpensive, easy way to quickly communicate your point to your customers or clients, wherever they are. You can send a private message, publicly share something or video chat, for free. Using social media in business is very cost effective and time efficient.
Although social media definitely makes staying connected easier, it can also add to stress. Some people become “addicted” to social media and are checking or updating their status constantly, to the detriment of being productive. Oversharing can be another problem. And for all of these sites, some concerns about privacy and safety exist. Some users unfamiliar with the privacy settings of these websites put up too much personal information, leaving them vulnerable to information theft. Social networking also provides a new venue for stalking or bullying.
Users of social networking need to spend some time learning about the privacy controls and should be careful in sharing personal information or becoming friends with people they don’t know or trust. Used properly, social networking can be a big help in staying connected with friends, family and conducting business in real time.