By Marlo Heresco
Unless you live under a really, really big rock, this will not be the first time you’ve heard these terms, but if you’re making time in your day to read blogs, then I’m guessing your rock isn’t that big. For those of you who read my Lindsay Lohan rant, you’ll understand what rock it is I’m referring to.
Social media, social networking, social this and social that…what does it all mean?? What is the difference? Do I have to have both or can I have just one? Can I get away without having any?
Well, the answers go something like this: There is a big difference. You can have just one (not successfully) and yes, you can get away without having any. Unless you’ve logged off because I’ve already answered your questions, I will explain further.
Social Media, the ‘media’ part being the storage and transmission of collected data, is the act of transmitting or broadcasting and sharing content between social networks using IT tools – web based technologies – to produce user-generated content. This involves the collaboration of networks of people (user participation). It includes transparency of both corporations and participants, allowing others to see, critique and collect posted information. It also allows people to interact with the content. It’s influential; it’s measurable and it’s done in real-time.
Granted, the world is inundated with social media sites – with more constantly being generated – but these are a handful of the current top social media sites by popularity: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Digg, Photobucket, Ning, YouTube, LinkedIn, Yelp and MySpace. These sites have a vast and diverse audience that allow users to created a personal profile and post comments on the original content as well comment on other users.
Social Networking is a web-based social structure of services that are linked by specific types of commonalities and consists of visible personal profiles that encourage users to connect with people (strangers) with whom they share these interests who are already a part of their extended social network.
There are thousands of social networking sites. Everything from interactive websites about fishing, to auto club forums, to online dating constitutes as a web-based social network. Some of the more popular social networking sites include: Facebook, MySpace, Yahoo! 360, Bebo, Hi5, Zorpia, Friendster, Netlog, Orkut and PerfSpot.
A big difference between social media and social networking lies in the way communication is had. With social media, communication is broadcast. With social networking, communication is two-way as conversations are the core of its success.
Socializi
ng is described with words such as companionship and mingling. The true definition does not technically have any place in the web- based world, however, technology has remade that definition whether Webster’s likes it or not. The way people communicate and interact has changed dramatically and, in my opinion, it has become quite impersonal . To know someone or term them as your ‘friend’ is lingo that generally refers to a social networking site. These ‘friends’ are often people that have never met; quite contrary to the definition I use when I refer to someone as a friend.
There are still many great places that socializing can be had. A few of my personal favorites are: book sharing at a friends house, coffee shops, a walk in the park, the telephone, shopping with your BFF or a BBQ with neighbors. This personal, one-on-one method is still a preference of mine even though I belong to several social networking websites, do occasional IM’ing and have a Skype account. I can appreciate the conveniences that social websites have provided us. Being able to keep in touch with friends, share photos in a heartbeat with family, and speak to anyone in another country for free is amazing. I’ll be home tonight if anyone wants to meet for a walk…or IM.
