What is Social Media to Kids Today?

Early stages of communication

Michael Mandiberg, author of the book The social media reader states that early stages of media began with the printing press and with delivery personal of hand written letters. However, with technological innovations changing the way individuals communicate, a new form of media arose, allowing individuals access to communicate with anyone anywhere in the world. Mandiberg declares, “Access to tools and the invention of new media forms allow formerly passive media consumers to make and disseminate their own media. New technological frameworks have arisen that centre on enabling this media creation: message boards audience-driven review sites, blogs and comment systems, photo and video sharing websites, social networks and social news sites”. These new technological advances all form part of what is known as social media.

Explaining the term ‘Social Media’ – A dictionary approach

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines social media as forms of electronic communication from which individuals use to create online communities, interact with friends and family and share information, content, photos, videos and ideas. Social media has given individuals the power and ability to express their emotions and ideas in such a way that their voices can be heard despite barriers such as time and space.

Examples of social media

Examples of social media include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. It is a term that is used to describe most activities on the internet that individuals engage in. Social media also involves blogging as well as any additional interactive activities online that bring about the ability to engage in conversations.

Explaining the social trend

Daniel Nations, author of the article What Is Social Media? Explaining the Big Trend describes each word in detail in order to give a broad overview of the term ‘Social Media’

Nations states that “the “social” part: refers to interacting with other people by sharing information with them and receiving information from them. The “media” part: refers to an instrument of communication, like the internet (while TV, radio, and newspapers are examples of more traditional forms of media)”.