“I [blank], therefore I am”: Social Media
Before anything else, what is social media? I think social media can be simply define as a means of communication in the virtual world in which people could get and share information, as well as creating large social communities. I think that definition is just about right, however according to Mr. Andreas Kaplan, Professor of Marketing in ESCP Europe that specializes in social media, and Michael Haenlein, Associate Professor of Marketing in ESCP Business School in Europe, —Social Media is a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of User Generated Content (A.M. Kaplan and M. Haenlein 2010) – See the full study: Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of Social Media
Since social media is a broad definition, Kaplan and Haenlein (2010) classified the different websites into different types: Collaborative projects (e.g. Wikipedia), blogs (eg. Twitter and Tumblr), social networking sites (e.g. Facebook), content communities (e.g. Vimeo and YouTube), virtual game world (e.g. massively multiplayer online role playing games – MMORPG) and virtual social world (e.g. second life).
For the past few years, social media definitely affects us in every possible way. It is a very powerful tool, it changes our way of life – from how we perceived ourselves to how we define the world we lived in. As a university student, going into social media is part of my daily routine; on checking my emails, talking to my friends, checking what is happening on the other side of the world, and even playing games.
How we use these types of social media could define what kind of person we are or we are transforming into:
[Tweet]
It is good to have Twitter if you want to be updated about the news, your favourite sports teams and celebrities, or just to catch up on what your friends are doing. Twitter helps us to be informed on what is going on around us – it brings awareness and connections to its members. This was the case during the “Egyptian Twitter Revolution” of 2013, see Egypt’s Revolutionary Fire. Civilians used Twitter and Facebook to ask for support from the other countries, ask for support and to disseminate information about organizing the revolution; Social Media had been the catalyst of awareness during those times. It is nice to see that this micro blogging site could have a positive effect on people.
[Like/Post/Share/Tag]
These four words clearly represent the Facebook world. Accroding to Ashwini Nakardni and Stefan Hoffmann of Boston University, on their research study, Why Do People Use Facebook?, social networks accommodate 2 primary human needs: belongingness and a need of self-presentation, see Study: Why Do People Use Facebook? I definitely agree to what the researchers said. Facebook clearly satisfies our needs of acceptance in the society – this could be seen when friends on Facebook ‘likes’ our posts or photos; it gives us a sense of belongingness! Facebook also gives us the freedom on how we present ourselves in the platform.
Facebook is a well develop social networking site. It clearly helps to connect people in every possible ways. Facebook could also be seen as an information platform about anything and everything around the world; as I said about Twitter, Facebook raises awareness from people. As an immigrant and university student, connecting ti my friends around the world was really hard – well thanks to Facebook!, it is easier for us top communicate now!
With all the greatness that this social networking site has to offer, it also has some downfalls. Because people needs to be accepted on the community, they tend to fool themselves – to represent themselves as not what they truly are but as what the others want them to be.
Facebook and narcissism, we tend to show ourselves to people – through our photo, social views, pages that we shared. We our overly attache and focused to ourselves and think that we are superior from everyone else. Narcissism is definitely one of the problems in social media. According to Jean Twenge of New York Times, “Narcissism clearly leads to more social media use, social media use leads to postives self-views, and people who need a self-esteem boost turn to social media.” See the full story: See, It’s Narcissism Enabler.
[Take Selfies]
The NowSourcing Inc., a premier social media firm, best describe ‘selfie syndrome’ through an info-graphic design: Social Media and Narcissism.
Conclusion
Social media is a powerful tool in a way that it could change how we feel towards ourselves as well as how we see others. There are advantages and disadvantages with this medium; we must use this with caution and provision. Remember, “Think, before you click!”
What you do reflects who you are.
P.S. Happy 10th Birthday Facebook!
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