In the twenty-first century, there is no doubt that social media plays a huge part in our everyday lives. It is a common belief that the rise of public networks have only led to negative impacts, but we fail to remember all of the benefits as well.
There are multiple social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and even LinkedIn that bring a unique and positive contribution to society as a whole. Facebook serves as a multipurpose platform, most commonly connecting people of older generations to their friends from college or old neighbors. It can also connect the generation disparity that exists between millennials and boomers in a range of ways. No longer are younger generations sending their grandparents, aunts, or uncles individualized letters or photos. Rather, they are posting their latest collection of photos to Facebook, allowing all extended relatives to feel updated and connected to their family no matter how near or far they might be.
Instagram and Twitter are great platforms to express yourself. As an individual, you choose to post the content that will ultimately result in these pages displaying how you want to be thought of by others. It is almost like creating and publishing a personal brand image. On top of this, companies are able to use this to their advantage as they almost always research the applicant prior to an interview. Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter have also become ways for a more transparent and reliable relationship between the general public and celebrities. The ability to ‘follow’ your favorite celebrities makes people feel much closer and relatable to the stars who used to only appear in magazines.
There is no doubt that social media will always be an integral part of our lives whether we chose to participate or not, so it is important to use these platforms to our advantage!