Social media is different from social networks.
Let’s analyze this assumption.
Social media: content production and sharing tool.
From the Latin medium which means “tool”; in fact, the media (TV, newspapers, radio) are a means by which content can be transmitted to an audience that receives it unidirectionally, without interaction and sharing.
Social media adds a social component and allows an exchange between the content producer and the user, in a communication that is no longer one-way but two-way, thanks to the internet, of course.
Another definition could be this: social media are a group of applications based on the internet and built on the ideological and technological principles of Web 2.0 that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content.
In this sense, social media are software or applications that allow anyone at low cost to share texts, images, videos or audio files and immediately reach a global audience.
Some examples of Social Media:
Blogs and microblogs (e.g. Twitter)
Social networking sites (e.g. Facebook)
Virtual game worlds (e.g. Age of Empire)
Social virtual worlds (e.g. SecondLife)
Collaborative projects (Wikipedia)
Content communities that share multimedia material (for example Youtube)
Social network:
groups of people with common interests.
A social network is therefore a social network of people who share the same interest and the same cause while, perhaps, not knowing each other.
They are therefore social networks intended as networks of people for example: a union, a cultural or sports association, but also the bowls club, the book club and so on.
What matters are the people and interests of various kinds that unite them and in this sense social networks have always existed.
It is therefore a social structure, a network that arises from the relationship between people who share an interest or value; not of tools or applications that characterize social media instead.
Online social networks were born more recently and are nothing more than the virtual transposition of these social communities.
They are allowed by social media that make space for the online community possible.
Social networks are therefore not used by people (as is often improperly said) but lived, to share objectives and interests.
So: social network = people, while social media = tools.
To be super precise, the ones we commonly use would be to call:
Social Media Network!
Social networks are also to be seen as one of the latest evolutions of the internet, together with the Internet of Things (IoT).
Consider that there are more than 250!
Other than just FB, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram !!! (because the best known and most used).
What need is there to use social media ?
In this modern society, full of targets, many people of all age groups seek “comfort” simply by using social media. It often happens that we do not feel appreciated by the people around us in reality or for ideological reasons or for lack of self-esteem.
Using a social means not being in direct contact with people, it means sharing your ideas with the virtual “friends” that we choose and who may perhaps have our own ideas or an event of their life in common with ours. We can make ourselves known by sharing ideas, photos, thoughts, moods or any event of our life.
Although there are people looking for comfort, the majority of the population uses social media in different ways like looking for people who have drifted away over time for any reason, to “gossip” about other people’s lives, to create study groups, to comment on any open discussion, to buy, sell and even work.
Social media to work?
Yes, yes ! Indeed, it has been shown that more “social” companies have had greater growth in terms of turnover than companies that do not even want to hear about social media. In order for this type of work plan to work, you need to understand the age group with which you communicate and with whom you want to interact.
That’s why there are continuous studies that indicate the percentage of people who use a particular social network.
What are the most used social networks?
Certainly in the first place we find the social par excellence: Facebook which has 1.2 billion users and which includes an age group that goes up to 35 years. Below we find Linkedin used from 35 to 45 years old, Twitter.
These statistics are used and carefully studied for the various social marketing plans.
Why use social media to work?
All large and medium-sized businesses nowadays have a website that can also be navigated from a mobile phone, but being present on a social network is another matter entirely.
Why? Because having a social profile does not imply the use of formal language but you can talk to any customers in a more engaging and direct way. You can talk in real time and you can also involve the customer by organizing initiatives dedicated to them and therefore make the brand appreciated.
In other words, companies see it as a huge market where they can even get to know “who is on the other side” better than themselves!
Social networks: pros
When it comes to social networks, it is impossible not to think of a type of
global communication and information flows that move in real time. The
distances have shortened and it takes very little to get in touch with people
who may also be on the other side of the world.
Social media are “comfortable” means, accessible by anyone and in a few clicks. Just an email address and a password and you are immediately connected with virtual reality. Whether you are in the office, at home or on the street, it doesn’t matter, you can use them from there too. (if there is internet signal … 😁)
Thanks to social networks you can take care of your interpersonal relationships, not only by keeping in touch with those you already know but also by making new friends and acquaintances. This may also be true in the workplace. Many are nowadays finding a new profession through LinkedIn or Facebook.
You can publicly share everything related to your passions and your thoughts in order to seek a comparison with your contacts. We all have the desire to be listened to and actively relate to those who have something in common with us.
We can use social media to freely express our moods with the hope of being understood or as a simple relief valve. But be careful not to overdo it if you are jealous of your privacy.
Social media marketing is an incredibly effective communication practice for the online promotion of a large number of products, activities and services. In fact, by optimizing paid campaigns, there are respectable return on investment (ROI).
Social networks: cons
If used recklessly, social networks can become alienating and almost all contact with reality can be lost. Having many friends and social contacts is not the same as having them in real life.
You can become addicted to social networks to the point of compromising your working productivity. Be careful to use them as a pastime only when you have nothing more important to do.
It may happen that our personal data is used by others. Identity theft is one of the most frequent risks faced by those who use social media. Particular attention must be paid if these services are also used for work.
Fake News and more! Artfully counterfeit information that
finds fertile ground to “orient” the masses: see
Cambridge Analytica scandal with electoral ends.
There are often complaints about privacy, however the most important social networks provide the possibility to set up our profiles in order to choose what to make public or keep private. However, you need to be careful and remember that sharing content on the main social networks is public by default. It is therefore necessary to change the settings of each social network to protect your privacy.
On social networks, some people have a habit of hiding behind a mask. (fake profiles)
There are those who pretend to be an intellectual when he is not at all, those who hope to look beautiful by retouching their photos, those who write that they have a fulfilling job when this is absolutely not true.
And steps until they only embellish the profile … but when these fake profiles are instead used for real property and sentimental scams or to entice minors, there are devastating consequences!
Consideration:
many say they have a website and give the address (url) of their Social page.
In addition to being wrong in technical terms, it is wrong for the legal purposes of the PROPERTY.
On Social platforms, you are a GUEST, you don’t own anything!
EVEN OF THE MATERIAL WE PUBLISH (most of the time !!!).
The site is owned, however, it is no coincidence that Domain and Hosting Space are purchased !
Whant to go deeper?
Click here to read about our easy-tips-and-tricks-to-safely-stay-on-socials in a profitable way too!