In your own words, explain the characteristics of the term 'social media?

[Nawej]

In your own words, explain the characteristics of the term 'social media'.You can define terms such as 'user generated content', 'social networks' or 'friends' to help you. You may wish to discuss issues such as copyright, privacy, security or trust. How do online social networks vary from off-line social networks? What makes the 'media' social? It is important that you reference your sources. Use approximately 100 words.

[Indiana Frenchman]

admittedly not my words but the web page (below) presents a comprehensive answer: The Characteristics of Social Media

Social Networking can be defined as a phenomenon that has recently taken over the web, allowing more connectivity and interaction between web users. Several websites, such as Facebook and MySpace are labeled as "virtual communities."

Social media is best understood as a group of new kinds of online media, which share most or all of the following characteristics:

Participation.
Social media encourages contributions and feedback from everyone who is interested. It blurs the line between media and audience.

Openness
Most social media services are open to feedback and participation. They encourage voting, comments and the sharing of information. There are rarely any barriers to accessing and making use of content – password-protected content is frowned on.

Conversation
Whereas traditional media is about“broadcast”(content transmitted or distributed to an audience) social media is better seen as a two-way conversation.

Community
Social media allows communities to form quickly and communicate effectively. Communities share common interests, such as a love of photography, a political issue or a favourite TV show.

Connectedness
Most kinds of social media thrive on their connectedness, making use of links to other sites, resources and people.

1.Forms of social media.
We will talk about the most common forms of social media.
2.1. Social networks.
These sites allow people to build personal web pages and then connect with friends to share content and communication. The biggest social networks are MySpace, Facebook and Bebo.
2.2. Blogs.
Perhaps the best known form of social media, blogs are online journals, with entries appearing with the most recent first.
2.3. Wikis.
These websites allow people to add content to or edit the information on them, acting as a communal document or database. The best-known wiki is Wikipedia4, the online encyclopaedia which has over 2 million English language articles.
2.4. Podcasts.
Audio and video files that are available by subscription, through services like Apple iTunes.
2.5. Forums.
Areas for online discussion, often around specific topics and interests. Forums came about before the term “social media” and are a powerful and popular element of online communities.
2.6. Content communities.
Communities which organise and share particular kinds of content. The most popular content communities tend to form around photos (Flickr), bookmarked links (del.icio.us) and videos (YouTube).
2.7. Microblogging.
Social networking combined with bite-sized blogging, where small amounts of content “updates” are distributed online and through the mobile phone network. Twitter is the clear leader in this field.

1.Advantages of using social media.
• A good tool to use to publicize your work.
• Costs very little money to set up online.
• Easy to create groups and forming communities of interest.
• Online participation can be easier than face to face.
• Cross border collaboration can be facilitated.
• Connections mean power and money for many companies .
• Constant flows of information from updates and real time communication Ex. Twitter.
• Breaks down barriers for people who want to stay in touch with other people.
• Companies can obtain information from their demographics.
• May be used for educational reasons such as:
- publishing and sharing content.
- collaborating with others.
• Provide added context and value to knowledge.
• With social networking sites, you are not bound by any geographical and cultural differences. You get to meet and know a variety of people whose interests are similar to your own. These sites are a window to different cultures and places.
• The social networking sites also facilitate you to procure information on any subjects from anywhere.

1.Disadvantages of using social media.
• The most glaring disadvantage of social networking sites is the risk of identity theft and fraud.
• Your message can be caught up in ‘commercial noise’.
• Harder to gauge participation and commitment.
• Not as effective as a face-to-face conversation.
• User drop-out.
• Hits do not necessarily indicate attitude change.