Social media is a fascinating thing to me. I’ve studied its trends and its patterns and I’ve even chosen a career path that social media is vital too. And yet, I would probably say that I don’t understand anything about social media. I see things everyday that make me pause and wonder if the world would be a better place without Snapchat or Twitter. The transfer of ideas and information is so important to the advancement of our society and these platforms only make it more simple and user-friendly.

The rise of social media went hand-in-hand with the development of the technological revolution. Computers and T.V.s are now the size of a wallet sitting in our pocket. Information was traveling at lightning speeds and people became acquainted with this type of fast-paced lifestyle. According to Fast Company, YouTube reaches more people aged 18-34 than any cable network. This statistic proves that we as a society are moving into a new age of content retention. I think this level of access to information and news is a great thing. I think it encourages people to stay more informed and involved. I also think it has generated more security and responsibility for action. It can be very hard to get away with not only crime, but false information in today’s society. The other side of this, of course, can be a certain lack of privacy in one’s life. Everything you publish makes a permanent mark on the internet and I think people need a better understanding of that. Nothing that is posted through these platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat) is actually owned by the original person who posted it, making it an intangible and yet permanent thing.

The way that businesses have utilized social media still continues to impress me everyday, and is probably why I’m submerged in my public relations career path. Companies are now guaranteed to reach consumers who are simply sitting in class or at home. Restaurants such as Whataburger or Jimmy John’s are constantly tweeting clever replies, jokes and contests for followers to participate in. They’re sculpting a positive public image for their business and subconsciously making people associate good and humorous things with their brand. This type of marketing is a no-brainer in our modern society, and I don’t think a company can be successful anymore without an online presence. Businesses also understand that this is a form of not only easy marketing, but effective marketing, and that’s simply a win-win.

Unfortunately, there are always going to be problems, but the issues that come along with social media are pretty serious. One of the biggest is bullying. These websites have made it so that hatred and cruelty can be inflicted easily and anonymously. I am not blaming these websites, however; I’m blaming the people who participate in these types of actions and parents’ lack of awareness when it comes to cases with younger children. I think that most of the issues that come along with our technological age are due to an unnecessarily early exposure to these sites. If children are desensitized early on, then there is no limit to the things one will be used to seeing on the internet by the time they’re a pre-teen. I think it is so important to learn and communicate in real life situations, but I am not against the direction that communication is moving.

I’m curious to see how these sites will develop in the future and how people will continue to utilize all the positive things that go along with the fast-paced, interactive movement of information. I also think that people will continue to abuse and exploit these platforms for reasons that are lost on me. I hope I can make at least a small difference in the future with my social media presence, and I’m excited to reach people. Social media is here to stay and there will only be more applications to come, so download Snapchat, put on a filter and get on board.