Social Media: Is it Important?

I believe that social media is important. Social media allows information to be spread quickly in a variety of digital applications.  In the early 20th century, the printing press was invented, allowing information to be shared in a printed format as opposed to word of mouth.  In the video, "How Social Media Can Make History," Clay Shirky states "The first one is the famous one, the printing press: movable type, oil based inks, that whole complex innovations that made printing possible and turned Europe upside-down, starting in the middle of the 1400s." Since that time, there have been many inventions to support mass communication, including the telephone, cellular phones, radio and television. These new technologies and ways to communicate created jobs and supported new types of entertainment and supported social networks. Prior to social media, it was difficult to stay in touch with a large group of contacts that share similar interests.  It is now the expectation that you will be connected to social media.  According to "We Are Social," Simon Kemp states that worldwide social media users exceed two billion users as of August 2015. Social media now supports friend networks, aligns people around a social cause or political candidate, and allows people to find others with similar view regardless of their physical location.  In the article "#AskHerMore is changing Red Carpet Interviews For The Better, But It's Still A Long Journey To Equality," Tobi Gbile states "The #AskHerMore trend was launched by The Representation Project in February 2014, and has since caught steam with both celebrities and fans alike who have gotten fed up with the large disparity between questions red carpet interviewers ask female celebrities versus the questions they ask male celebrities." Social media can also cause controversy.  I also believe Social media can support harassment, bullying and the spread of misinformation. But although it causes social controversy, social media has advanced how we communicate in the information age.  It's important to have controversy and platforms to share different views because it goes back to freedom of speech where everyone can say and feel what they want.

   Social media is important because within our generation, you can't get around it. However, it is important to know it's limitations and purpose.  Social media users may use it to catch up with their friends, favorite shows, favorite music, and maybe even favorite books or authors. Social Media comes with consequences, but I think that everything comes with a price - and sometimes its a price worth paying.