SocialMedia

Social media refers to online platforms and applications that enable users to create, share, and interact with content and to form networks of connections. Typical features include user profiles, feeds, posting, commenting, liking, and messaging. Social media relies on user participation and algorithmic ranking to connect people, ideas, and communities.

Historically, online communities began with forums and bulletin boards, but modern social media coalesced around early networks such as SixDegrees, then Friendster and MySpace. The launch of Facebook in 2004, followed by YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and later TikTok, expanded reach and mobile access, enabling rapid sharing, real-time updates, and algorithmic feeds that shape visibility.

Common uses include personal communication, information sharing, entertainment, professional networking, and marketing. Revenue models typically rely on advertising and data-driven targeting, with additional options for premium features, subscription services, or creator monetization. The platforms also host communities, influencers, and civic discourse, influencing public conversations and cultural trends.

Impacts include enhanced connectivity and information access, but they also raise concerns about privacy, data collection, algorithmic bias, and misinformation. Content moderation and platform governance vary by jurisdiction and policy, prompting regulatory responses such as privacy laws (for example, GDPR and CCPA), antitrust scrutiny, and debates over platform neutrality and safety standards.

Trends include short-form video, live streaming, AI-assisted content creation, and ecommerce integrations, with growing emphasis on creator economies and local, culturally relevant experiences.