IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA: 8 PROMINENT REASONS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The importance of social media has grown from the early 2000s to the present day, and continues to do so as technology advances. Social media is one of the most effective communication tools created in the digital age, consisting of a group (large or small) of people interacting with each other.

Unlike a regular communication medium, social networks allow an exchange of information in real time between both parties. A traditional means of communication, such as television, only allows to receive information that is transmitted from any other part of the world.

Social networks represent the natural evolutionary process of man, who from the beginning has sought to communicate and inform himself easily and quickly. They are a technological answer to the dilemma of how to obtain and exchange information in real time.

Why are social networks important in society?

Real-time information

Social networks give their users the ability to obtain information in real time. This makes them the fastest informative method that has been created in the history of mankind.

However, given the large number of users and their easy access, it is difficult to determine the veracity of the information that circulates in them.

Systems have been created to avoid this problem, such as the verification of Twitter accounts. This allows users to access relatively reliable news media to obtain the information they provide whenever the user so wishes.

Digital links

It is possible to create digital links through social networks between people who do not have the ability to see each other face to face.

For example, if a person is going to live in another country, they can keep abreast of the things that a relative is doing at home if this relative is active by posting on social networks.

In addition, this allows you to obtain information from people without having to communicate directly with them. Just by accessing a person's profile it is possible to find out about certain activities that they carry out.

Professional links

These digital tools allow professionals to create connections with people who share the same interests and enrich themselves in the world of work.

Some social networks serve this purpose specifically, such as LinkedIn, but any social network can be used to function in the professional world.

This is clearly demonstrated on Facebook, where people create groups and offer services through the platforms that the page provides.

Twitter has also become an important tool for professionals, especially for those who work in the communication field.

Digital stores

The growth of social media has allowed people to set up digital stores for free. One of the most revolutionary changes in the field of digital sales was the creation of the social network Instagram.

At first, this network was originally created for the purpose of sharing photos between friends and acquaintances; However, many entrepreneurs have started using this platform to sell their products by showing them through photos.

The ease of doing this has caused social networks to take other specialized portals such as Ebay or Mercado Libre to the background.

Creation of communities

Social networks allow groups and communities of people with mutual interests to be created. In turn, this allows for a casual exchange of information between people who may not necessarily meet in real life, but whose knowledge they find interesting.

The creation of these groups has become popular as social networks have evolved. Facebook implemented this ability several years ago, while some social networks such as Reddit revolve entirely around this principle.

Likewise, people from different communities have the ability to discuss and share information like never before in history. This allows for an unprecedented exchange of ideas.

This deliberate and constant exchange of opinions is one of the most important contributions that social networks make towards human culture.

Political activity

In most modern societies social networks are constantly used as an instrument of political activity.

Many people use these means to communicate their dissatisfaction with certain government authorities or simply with the general state of the country.

However, that is not the limit of political activity on social media. In many societies whose political stability is fragile, social networks are used as tools to instigate protests and make calls to the general population to generate civic change.

These types of activities have led to a large number of civil uprisings worldwide. Many governments have even denied their citizens access to these networks to prevent them from organizing.

Political activity in social networks has had a great boom in the last decade, which can be reflected in the social uprisings that occurred in Egypt, Venezuela and Syria.

Business

Social networks have become fundamental tools for the development of any modern company, regardless of whether it is digital or whether it was established before the existence of social networks. Today almost all companies have profiles on the most important social networks.

Through comments to these profiles and other types of ratings, users can praise or criticize a company. This causes your reputation to rise or fall, depending on the type of comment your users leave.

Global exposure capacity

By creating and promoting profiles on social networks, it is possible to make a person or company known worldwide.

In fact, it is one of the most effective ways to obtain recognition, and without a doubt it is the cheapest today, as long as you know how to use each social media tool efficiently.

Such an effective and inexpensive global advocacy capability had never been possible at any time in human history, not even with the creation of television and radio.

References

1. Social Media And Its Uses, P. Fernando, 2012. Taken from liquidlight.co.uk
2. What Are Social Networks Used For ?, S. Baker, (nd). Taken from socialnetworking.lovetoknow.com
3. The Role of Social Media in the Society, Pinoy Link Exchange, (nd). Taken from pinoylinkexchange.net
4. Reasons Why We Use Social Networks, G. Desreumax, 2015. Taken from wersm.com
5. Social Media Use in 2018, A. Smith & M. Anderson, 2018. Taken from pewinternet.org
6. Social Media, Investopedia, (nd). Taken from investopedia.com