3 Things Social Media Has Made Everyone
Social media involves all forms of electronic communication such as social networking and micro blogging websites through which users create online communities to share ideas, information, personal messages, and other contents such photos and videos. We are living in a globalized world and as such information spreads across shores and climes with with the speed of light. The importance of social media cannot be over-emphasized. It has become an integral part of our everyday lives. Social media tools including Facebook, Twitter and Youtube allow producers to speak directly to their consumers without spending a dime. Using these social media platforms also allows politicians to circumvent the traditional method of reaching voters through paid advertising.
We all are displaying one or more media skills when we post things on social media. We are either reporting, advertising or selling an idea on social media platforms. So using social media platforms:
1. Everyone is a reporter
At this time in history, one would largely assert that 'everyone has a phone', 'everyone has a camera'. Chances are you are reading this piece on your phone.
With the increasing technological advancements, nothing can stay hidden anymore. Take the just concluded Big Brother Naija reality TV reality show for instance, all social media platforms were agog as everyone reported the game as it progressed. People recorded videos of specific episodes and shared online; giving room for heated interactions that kept people debating. Millions of viewers took to various social media platforms to cast their votes for their favourite contestant.
Our vote is based on a feeling and that feeling is created by the information we see, not the information we seek.
The social media gives us the information we see. These information informs our behaviour and decision in most subtle ways.
2. Everyone is an advertiser
The value of social media is in its immediacy. Flaunt a product or idea 'out there' online and before you know it, it could become the new trending hashtag on social media. The funny part of this, is that one could actually advertise much products without paying money. One could just advertise anything from the comfort of their homes. People make heavy incomes just working as online marketers; something you don't really need to go to school before you starting up.
Take a picture of your product, post it online and before you say jack, people in their numbers will get to know about what you sell. Thats the power of the social media. With it everyone is an advertiser!
3. Everyone is an Event Maker
People show you what they want you to see. On social media, everyone is living the good life (no troubles, no worries...lolz). Its all about the happy moments, the the engagements/weddings, the Dubai trip, the adventure in the Bahamas, the glitz & glamour and so on. Oh! its usually an amazing sight to see people happy and the surest platforms the see 'happy people' is on social networks.
Suffice it say, that with the social media everyone is an event maker. Through videos and photographs people write and tell their ow stories online. Everyone is creative in their own special way and this could be seen in the snapshots of special moments at events. Special selfie sessions with celebrities and high-profile people who also make it to these events are also littered all over the social media to the admiration of many users.
Social media & Politics
One chief reason while social media is effective in politics is that it engages the youths (Young voters). In America for instance, older people constitutes the largest number of voters who actually go to the vote in elections. But in recent times, social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook have energized the youths which eventually had a profound impact on the outcome of the polls. Ex-POTUS, Barack Obama was the first American politician to leverage on the power of social media during his two campaigns that successfully saw him leading at the WHITE HOUSE.
Social media platforms over the years, have allowed electorates to readily join forces in other to petition the government and their elected officials, leveraging their numbers against the influence of powerful lobbyists and special interests. Truth be told, lobbyists and special interest still have the upper hand, but the day will come when the power of social media allows like-minded citizens to join together in ways that will be just as powerful.
It is be pertinent to note at this point, that even with all these glaring impacts of social media as it were; It is still evolving. And the coming years will witness a more useful turn of the likes Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and others.
