Roughly 15 or 20 years ago, if you asked people what social media sites they used they would be completely clueless as to what you were referring. In today’s society, social media is a normal part of almost everyone’s lives. Two contributing factors to the popularity of social media are the ease of access to the internet, or Wi-Fi, and the availability of smartphones and tablets. Almost anywhere a person goes, as long as they have their smartphone, tablet, or even their laptop with them they can access the internet and this means they have access to social media websites.
Why People Use Social Media
Stay in Touch with Family, Friends, & Co-Workers
People create social media accounts for a number of reasons. One of the main reasons people use websites such as Facebook, Google +, and LinkedIn is to stay in contact with friends, family, as well as co-workers. Instead of making countless phone calls to friends and family, people are able to make important announcements via their social media accounts. Social media also provides an efficient platform for the sharing of photos amongst family members. This saves time and money.
Helps People Stay Abreast of Current Events
Social media has become one place people go to get the latest information related to current events. The creation of hashtags and trending topics helps people find out information when major news story surfaces. In recent years, when major disasters strike, be it a major snow storm, or terrorist attacks, sometimes the only means people have for contacting friends and family is on social media websites such as Facebook. People who are unable to make phone calls on their cell phones but can connect to a Wi-Fi signal can notify worried friends and family that they are safe.
Invaluable Tool in Crime Solving
When crimes occur, it is possible for police departments and other agencies to turn to social media to help in locating criminals. By sharing information and/or photos of potential suspects, law enforcement agencies open the door to potential witnesses and information, which can lead to their arrest. Furthermore, social media is an excellent tool to use when people, especially children, go missing.
Marketing Tool for Businesses
Businesses have realized the importance of social media websites as a marketing tool. Business accounts on social media accounts serve a variety of purposes. Businesses are able to get their brand out to the masses with a single post or tweet. The information shared could relate to a new product, service, or a sale. In addition, business can provide better customer service to their customers on their social media accounts.
Social media is not just a place for sharing funny pictures, jokes, or music videos as it was back in the days of My Space. Today these social media websites are a great way for family members and friends to stay connected. Businesses benefit from social media in that it affords co-workers with a means to stay connected as well as serves as a tremendous marketing tool. People also turn to social media to learn about the latest news and weather around the world. With so many different uses it is quite clear why social media is not only fun to use but also is incredibly important in today’s society.
References
http://inspirationfeed.com/articles/social-media-articles/importance-and-benefits-of-social-media-in-todays-world/>
http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/01/09/social-media-update-2014/>
http://www.brandignity.com/2012/11/6-reasons-why-social-networking-is-so-popular-these-days/>