I began using Twitter, an online
news and social networking service in 2009.
I have been a user for roughly 9 years and can easily say that Twitter
is my favorite social networking service. I enjoy that users are restricted to
posing 140 characters, keeping it short and to the point. Twitter is a great
way for keeping up to date with the news, I find out the majority of my
information on what is occurring worldwide on Twitter. I initially used Twitter just to follow the trend;
I would occasionally tweet and strictly followed my favorite bands. Whereas now
I tweet daily and follow all sorts of people, a large amount that I do not
know. I am constantly refreshing my Twitter feed in hopes to see a humorous
meme, a meme being an image, video, piece of text, etc., that is copied and
spread rapidly by internet users, often with slight variations that provide
silly humor.
The way social media is marketed is
definitely intrusive. When browsing through my various social media accounts I
often come across a sponsored post about a brand that I have never used nor
have any interest in using. Sponsored ads and promoted tweets are as unwanted
as can be.
Social media networks should be
used responsibly; it’s rather easy to make a permanent mistake within seconds
nowadays. With the touch of a fingertip or the click of a mouse we can post a
status or a picture and interact with people worldwide. Teenagers especially
should be using social media responsibly. Social media platforms were created
as useful sources of information and fun pastimes, not for cyber bullying.
Bullying is one of the most serious problems in schools today and cyber
bullying is the leading cause of violence, suicide, depression, and
discrimination. We live in a technological advanced society and should use it
to our advantage. Confidential
information, specific location check-ins, unprofessional profiles, and
emotional posts should be kept of social media networks.
Recently, social media network;
Twitter was used in a very positive fashion. Twitter recently encouraged their
users to tweet the hashtag #BellLetsTalk, each tweet donating 5¢ to mental health
initiatives in Canada. 131,705,010 interactions were made with #BellLetsTalk
and $6,585,250 was raised. The Twitter community worked together to help
increase awareness, reduce the stigma, and change behaviors and attitudes about
mental health issues.
In recent years social media has been a
powerful source that has largely impacted society and the way our world
operates. Social media has such a high ranking of active users that its hard
not to ponder the future it has. I think social media has a bright future.
Social media quickly became a significant part of our lives, regardless of
whether we wanted it to or not. Social media networks are expanding daily and
new networks are frequently being made. Its crazy to think that in a year or so
there will be another social media network that is as popular as Twitter, Instagram, or Snapchat.
