The evolution of the Internet into a more cooperative format, often
referred to as Web 2.0, is due in large part to the development of
something known as "social media." Social media, by definition, is
media content that facilitates conversation and participation, rather
than traditional media content which only delivers material to the
end-user. In simple terms, any website that allows the user to
interact with the site and other users can be defined as social media.
The scope of social media sounds broad, but can be broken down into
several main categories including social networking, blogging, social
bookmarking, media sharing, and user-generated content. Social
networking sites are online communities of people who share common
interests or connections offline. Facebook, LinkedIn, and MySpace
are examples of social networks that allow the user to share photos,
video, and other information among a network of friends or
colleagues. Blogging sites like Blogger and WordPress allow users
to upload content in a journal-style format, as well as connect with, and
follow, related users. The microblogging site Twitter works
similarly, but users publish brief text messages rather than longer
posts. Social bookmarking sites such as Delicious, Digg, and Diigo
allow users to share favorite sites or interesting news stories, as well
as vote and comment on worthwhile content. Media sharing sites such
as Flickr, Vimeo, and YouTube provide a place for users to upload photos or
video. User-generated content sites like HubPages and Quora enable
users to create pages about particular topics and to participate in larger,
content-driven communities.
Social media, by its very nature, is collaborative and makes it easy for users to share photos, videos, and opinions at a rapid pace.
However, before sharing content on social media websites, be sure to check terms of use issues that relate to relevant intellectual property rights!
Online social media has become so pervasive that even major news sites now allow readers to rate and share content, and in some cases, upload their own
video to the sites. Social media is wide-ranging and has forever changed many aspects of the online experience, including the way we connect
with others, shop for products and services, and discover and share new information.