The Variety Of Social Media Sites
Written on May 22, 2010 – 8:51 am | by Guru
The many types of social media network sites are byproducts of people all around the world developing an interest in the internet as a means to express themselves or connect with other people. Social media sites are unique in that they are typically based on user-produced content. There are many types of social media sites that developed over time.
1) 1) Blogs are one tool used by people to get their ideas to reach the rest of the world. Blogs are offered by virtually all of the major media outlets and are typically free, requiring payment only for those that request a high-degree of customization. In the past, individuals may have kept diaries, but hoped they could share their thoughts with others and receive feedback, but that was largely imposed since the network did not exist to share ideas. Thus, outside of publishing in newspapers or writing books, the venue to share one’s ideas with others did not exist. Blogging, by comparison, allows a person to “write” on the internet - one’s voice can be shared with billions.
2) Some websites allow users to submit digital content, such as videos or music. This content can reach users all around the world and is fascinating because of the impact that some of this content has had on the world. For example, during the recent presidential election in Iran, there were massive protests (in the hundreds of thousands) that took place afterward, and no one would have seen them had these types of social media websites not existed. These protests were then supported by various people in countries all around the world. The site Youtube is an example of this type.
3) Some sites provide assistance in finding romance. These websites are unique in that they facilitate a conversation and connection between one user and another based on preferences. It is akin to being in a singles bar and having one of the people highlighted for a user that would be the likeliest person to have an easy connection with.
4) Some sites are focused less on romance and random relationships and more on creating a basis for professional contacts. For example, websites like LinkedIn allow professionals to connect with each other, which is important when establishing the contacts that are needed in a job market to advance one’s career. These sites often allow people to post resumes.
5)”Forums” on the internet allow users to maintain a constant stream of thoughts that this both, essentially, remembered and held constant over time. Thus, new users can have access to the old content and continue the stream of thought. Before web “forums, ” there really was no similar venue for this type of discussion, the closest perhaps being the “letters to the editor” section of newspapers.
6) Some sites combine interests in developing networks with that of providing a public forum for self-expression. Perhaps more importantly though, Myspace opens a user up to their own self-expression and the elaborate self-expressions of tens of millions of other people.
Tags: blog, blogs, forum, forums, linkedin, media, Myspace, network, networking, online dating, sites, social, types, YouTube
