According to Wikipedia, “social media” refers to user-generated content disseminated through social interaction, using Internet- and Web-based technologies. Social media are first and foremost built on active user participation.

Social media are highly varied, but they do have one thing in common: they provide a meeting place for communities of people with shared interests to express their opinions on specific topics. They can be photo-centric (Flickr), video-centric (Youtube, Dailymotion), knowledge-centric (Wikipedia) or user-centric, focusing on the different aspects of an individual’s activities, be they personal (Facebook) or professional (LinkedIn).

Some social media incorporate many of these features, allowing Internet users to unleash all their writing and communications skills using blogs (like this one, built on  Wordpress architecture). Seasoned users can share all their findings and discoveries on the Web (using digg or del.icio.us) or, following the latest trend, share real-time updates and tidbits with others (Twitter).

The best part is, all these platforms can be linked to each other! A user could upload a gallery of vacation photos to Flickr, mention it on his blog, post links on his Facebook profile and tweet about it on Twitter—chances are pretty slim that anyone will miss it!

Social media: In style or a lifestyle?

Many consider social media to be useless chatter and a waste of time, which, as do most fashion trends, will slowly fall out of style in the months or years to come. But odds are, this loss of momentum won’t happen. Social media are the preferred communication tool of a whole generation of Internet users who expertly navigate the complexity and (often organized) chaos that can be terrifying to the uninitiated. We are in the midst of a generational clash that is completely remodelling our multimedia landscape. Not convinced? Just take a look at how quickly traditional media (particularly print media) are falling by the wayside, and at the power with which simple concepts like Facebook (really, what could be more mundane than creating a network of friends?) have entered our consciousness. To wrap up this first chapter on social media, here is a terrific animation (grabbed from Youtube and the subject of much talk since it was uploaded…) The author begins by pondering whether social media may not in fact be the greatest invention since the Industrial Revolution, and states that if Facebook were a country, it would have the 4th highest population worldwide.

Next up: Social media—Who’re they for?