Four in five Americans use social media – as do nine in ten American businesses. The marketing opportunities that free information sharing platforms offer are obvious. But this article is about more than just business – it’s about how social media changed the world as we know it. Let’s talk about the global impact of the social media revolution.
RAPID COMMUNICATION
The invention of the telephone. The rise of the printing press. The construction of the Silk Road. Certain moments have utterly transformed human communication – and the dawn of social media may very well top such a list.
If that sounds like an exaggeration, just consider the fact that Messenger and WhatsApp alone process more than 60 billion messages per day. (Don’t forget the billions of photos, videos, and microblogs shared daily, either.) From keeping families in touch, to spreading news stories, to facilitating online relationship building, and it’s safe to say that social media has brought us closer together than ever before.
PERSONAL IDENTITY
Not only has social media redefined the way we interact with others, it has also helped many people to better understand themselves. Joining online communities, writing personal descriptions, and sharing/revisiting life’s most important moments are just a few examples of this.
Of course, social media has also changed the way that companies, brands, and public figures establish and share their identities – but more about that in the upcoming section on marketing.
WORLD EVENTS
On December 17th, 2010 protesters stormed the streets of Tunisia’s major cities, intent on bringing down the violent and corrupt regime of then-president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Within a month, demonstrations broke out across North Africa and the Middle East. This event, known as the Arab Spring, saw millions of internet-savvy youth utilize social media to organize uprisings against oppressive governments.
For Tunisia, the resistance sparked a transition to democracy. In countries such as Syria, the Arab Spring catalyzed bloodshed and instability. For better or for worse, however, these events signify the ever-growing power of social media. From disaster victims providing input to rescuers, to political leaders tweeting their opinions, to the empowerment of citizen journalism – it’s hard to overstate social media’s influence.
ONLINE MARKETING
Social media has revolutionized the world of brand-building in many ways. For example, it allows marketers to take a more conversational tone, and it even enables direct engagement between brands and their audiences. (i.e. Retweets, Facebook comments, social shares, etc.) Social media also allows more indirect forms of marketing: businesses can strive to capture customers’ attention by being funny, educational, or inspiring, for instance.
Social media has also lowered the cost of marketing tremendously. Instead of relying on traditional mediums of advertising such as television and radio, marketers can share their message on social media organically. Even companies that opt to hire writers, designers, or video creators to output great content still have far fewer costs to contend with. And if their content does resonate and get shared, they can reach an enormous audience without paying a dime.
THE FUTURE
Social media will undoubtedly continue to change the world in virtually every way imaginable. And, with a little hard work and direction, it can revolutionize your marketing and growth strategy, too. Good content writing is a crucial part of that equation – so if you need help creating original content, be sure to get in touch with us here at Content Cucumber.
