Five years seem too short to say that something about our lives had changed or evolved. Then again, because of social media, the changes cannot be denied. Our daily lives have suddenly evolved, from the way we get our news to the way we meet people at a specific venue. Today, it is very easy to talk to people around the globe.
With just a click of a button, we receive their response. A decade ago, no one thought of the possibility of a social networking site such as Facebook or Twitter. Global conversation has been doable to the point that some of us cannot imagine living another life without social media. Social media has impacted our lives in the following ways
First, the way we get updated is different from the way we got news stories back then. Ten years ago, we had to buy news from the newsstands and bookstores. We had to shell some cash to purchase magazines. Today, just by going to Yahoo, we are bombarded with different types of news from the local or international scene. We get showbiz gossip, health features and lifestyle articles on the websites of CNN or The New York Times. It is even easier than that. Today, we do not even need to visit the links of CNN or Yahoo News to get updated. We just need to create an account on Twitter to follow people and organizations who continuously post links to news stories. Even Facebook users post links through their status messages to disseminate information (Gordhammer 2). Social media like Twitter and Facebook are our outlets, and at the same time our library of news. These social networking sites offer a package that makes us capable of getting everything we want while staying in just one website. It is true, too, that some of the members of Twitter or Facebook that we follow give reliable information to all of us. Even blogs help us get updated from the happenings around the globe. Celebrities with Twitter accounts also use their tweets to update everyone else about socially relevant events like where to donate for the typhoon victims that devastated Southeast Asian countries.
In short, even regular citizens can update everyone about what is happening in a certain area. Citizen journalism has blossomed in the age of Twitter and Facebook. Everyone is allowed to practice watching the society, and update the society about the goings-on of the moment. It is through these social networking sites how we encounter people who give us first hand information about events.
The way we transact with other people and promote our businesses was also changed by social media. Ten years ago, businessmen had to create witty television commercials to convince people to avail their products. They had to spend hundreds of dollars to advertise on a newspaper, and hundreds more for billboards (Safko and Brake 331).
Today, businessmen can simple create an account on Twitter or Facebook to promote a product. It is also easier for them to locate their target market, as there are several Facebook groups who give clues on their lifestyle and the services they need. Businessmen can also search through Google, Twitter or Myspace for niche networks. This way, they do not need to spend too much money on television commercials, newspaper advertisements, radio promotions and billboards to advertise a service or a product (Safko and Brake 331).
Another way social media has changed our lives is how we interact with people. Ten years ago, if we wanted to meet new people, we had to go to coffee shops, bars and parties. We had to open a conversation and try our best to keep them entertained until a friendship is formed. Today, the way we meet people has definitely changed compared before (Lifehack 2007).
Today, we can simply follow someone on Twitter to subscribe to his tweets. This way, we do not even need to talk to him. We just read his updated about himself to know where he is, what he is doing, what websites he visits and how he is feeling as of the moment. To make a friend, we can now just press the Add button on Facebook and wait for the other partys confirmation. If he approves our friend request, then he automatically becomes our friend (Lifehack 2007). Also, it is easier to find people who we have a common interest with, because on Facebook, different groups can be found. People who are fans of travel, who adore Michael Jackson or who read 15th century poems can be found on Facebook and even forum sites.
While it is true that people create friends with just a click of a button, we also find it easier to set a meeting. For example, through a thread we can create online, we can talk to our friends who are in different parts of the city to set up a date with them. Social media has made it possible for us to initially introduce ourselves to each other, too, before we meet in person. If we want to maintain an old friendship, then we can find old friends on these social networking sites. If we find to create new ones, then websites like Facebook and Twitter will never fail us (Solis and Breakenridge 1).
Social media have also changed the way we represent ourselves to others. In other words, we are now revealing more of ourselves through these social networking sites. Ten years ago, we had to be close enough to someone before we know where they are in the morning, in the afternoon and at night. We had to establish deep friendship before we learn what annoys them or what makes them happy.
Today, with a just tweet, we get to know other people more. More and more people appear to be more transparent as they reveal almost everything on Twitter or Facebook. We learn other peoples moods and feelings toward something. It follows, then, that while other peoples thoughts and opinions influence us, we also become more powerful in influencing others because of social media.
Change is inevitable, so they say, but it was only through the advent of social media how change has impacted our lives this fast. We have found new ways of interacting with other people or being one with the world. Information is now more accessible. As long as we use the impact of social media positively, then social media can improve the way we live.
With just a click of a button, we receive their response. A decade ago, no one thought of the possibility of a social networking site such as Facebook or Twitter. Global conversation has been doable to the point that some of us cannot imagine living another life without social media. Social media has impacted our lives in the following ways
First, the way we get updated is different from the way we got news stories back then. Ten years ago, we had to buy news from the newsstands and bookstores. We had to shell some cash to purchase magazines. Today, just by going to Yahoo, we are bombarded with different types of news from the local or international scene. We get showbiz gossip, health features and lifestyle articles on the websites of CNN or The New York Times. It is even easier than that. Today, we do not even need to visit the links of CNN or Yahoo News to get updated. We just need to create an account on Twitter to follow people and organizations who continuously post links to news stories. Even Facebook users post links through their status messages to disseminate information (Gordhammer 2). Social media like Twitter and Facebook are our outlets, and at the same time our library of news. These social networking sites offer a package that makes us capable of getting everything we want while staying in just one website. It is true, too, that some of the members of Twitter or Facebook that we follow give reliable information to all of us. Even blogs help us get updated from the happenings around the globe. Celebrities with Twitter accounts also use their tweets to update everyone else about socially relevant events like where to donate for the typhoon victims that devastated Southeast Asian countries.
In short, even regular citizens can update everyone about what is happening in a certain area. Citizen journalism has blossomed in the age of Twitter and Facebook. Everyone is allowed to practice watching the society, and update the society about the goings-on of the moment. It is through these social networking sites how we encounter people who give us first hand information about events.
The way we transact with other people and promote our businesses was also changed by social media. Ten years ago, businessmen had to create witty television commercials to convince people to avail their products. They had to spend hundreds of dollars to advertise on a newspaper, and hundreds more for billboards (Safko and Brake 331).
Today, businessmen can simple create an account on Twitter or Facebook to promote a product. It is also easier for them to locate their target market, as there are several Facebook groups who give clues on their lifestyle and the services they need. Businessmen can also search through Google, Twitter or Myspace for niche networks. This way, they do not need to spend too much money on television commercials, newspaper advertisements, radio promotions and billboards to advertise a service or a product (Safko and Brake 331).
Another way social media has changed our lives is how we interact with people. Ten years ago, if we wanted to meet new people, we had to go to coffee shops, bars and parties. We had to open a conversation and try our best to keep them entertained until a friendship is formed. Today, the way we meet people has definitely changed compared before (Lifehack 2007).
Today, we can simply follow someone on Twitter to subscribe to his tweets. This way, we do not even need to talk to him. We just read his updated about himself to know where he is, what he is doing, what websites he visits and how he is feeling as of the moment. To make a friend, we can now just press the Add button on Facebook and wait for the other partys confirmation. If he approves our friend request, then he automatically becomes our friend (Lifehack 2007). Also, it is easier to find people who we have a common interest with, because on Facebook, different groups can be found. People who are fans of travel, who adore Michael Jackson or who read 15th century poems can be found on Facebook and even forum sites.
While it is true that people create friends with just a click of a button, we also find it easier to set a meeting. For example, through a thread we can create online, we can talk to our friends who are in different parts of the city to set up a date with them. Social media has made it possible for us to initially introduce ourselves to each other, too, before we meet in person. If we want to maintain an old friendship, then we can find old friends on these social networking sites. If we find to create new ones, then websites like Facebook and Twitter will never fail us (Solis and Breakenridge 1).
Social media have also changed the way we represent ourselves to others. In other words, we are now revealing more of ourselves through these social networking sites. Ten years ago, we had to be close enough to someone before we know where they are in the morning, in the afternoon and at night. We had to establish deep friendship before we learn what annoys them or what makes them happy.
Today, with a just tweet, we get to know other people more. More and more people appear to be more transparent as they reveal almost everything on Twitter or Facebook. We learn other peoples moods and feelings toward something. It follows, then, that while other peoples thoughts and opinions influence us, we also become more powerful in influencing others because of social media.
Change is inevitable, so they say, but it was only through the advent of social media how change has impacted our lives this fast. We have found new ways of interacting with other people or being one with the world. Information is now more accessible. As long as we use the impact of social media positively, then social media can improve the way we live.
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