Social

This is a discussion post for my online class. The question was: How does the Web foster the growth of social media and social networking? Use examples from social media/networking sites.



Social media and social networking are not new terms, but to my peers and I, it is hard to even consider them without considering the internet and websites like Facebook.



Social media is sharing media. Only a few years ago, this could have meant showing someone a photo album, but now with sites like Facebook, it can mean showing 1,000 people a collection of photos with only a few clicks.



Social Networking is connecting with people. Similar to social media, this has also changed dramatically in the last few years. It used to mean getting business cards or adding an entry to an address book. Now, social networking has become simpler and easier. Instead of having to send snail mail or call a person, you can just send a facebook message or an email. These resources have made it easy to keep in contact with many people even if they move or change phone numbers.



The web also helps to extend the possibilities of our social networks by allowing us to easily exchange ideas and form friendships with people who do not live anywhere near us. For example, I read blogs by people in California, watch Video blogs of teens in Britain on youtube, and IM a person I met on a trip who lives in Oregon. Only 10 years ago seeing someone's casual writings or seeing a video of someone would have required much effort, but now it can be done in a few clicks. The internet has connected us all to people we could have never even heard of otherwise and allowed us to exchange ideas and media with the click of a mouse.