INTRODUCTION
Social media platforms are digital technology, website, or applications that enables users to interact and share content, ideas, and information either text or visuals through a Virtual network.
Examples of Social Media platforms include:
- Facebook.
- Twitter.
- Instagram.
- YouTube.
- Tiktok.
- Linkedin.
- WhatsApp.
- Pinterest.
- Reddit.
- Quora.
- Vimeo.
- Facebook messenger
HOW DOES SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IMPACT THE WORLD?
Social Media platforms has made profound impact on society and the world at large. Both positive and negative impacts.
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Increased connectivity and communication: In times past, communication has been mostly by word-of-mouth, action, one-to-one, or letters. Information was passed through traditional methods which include radio, letters, and newspapers. However, the reign of social media has brought about a more interactive and immediate way of communicating and passing out information. People can now share their thoughts with a global audience in real-time. Information circulates faster than the speed of light. Social Platforms and channels also connect a lot of strangers globally. Social media is being used for more than just brand-customer relationships. Connections are being established between co-workers, mentors, and role models. These kinds of relationships build and expand your connections.
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Marketing and advertising: Social platforms has become a tool for business owners to reach their target audience. This has led to a major shift in the approach of businesses to marketing. Social media platforms are the real markets now and people have been reaching out to their specific audience. Advertising has been made easier with the use of your social platforms or channels, businesses make use of personalized marketing campaigns which prove to be more effective than traditional advertising. You have the power to talk about what you do or what you want to be recognized for on social media. In the same manner, customers now stay at home to make purchases to their heart’s desire.
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Visibility: You can establish yourself as a leader and authority in your field. Taking time to constantly develop yourself and manage your social channels by putting out quality content, and being consistent about what you offer makes you substantially visible. Additionally, you must interact with people, engage in their pages, and follow them to develop relationships and connections.
LEVERAGING THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
Social media platforms are powerful tools. They are tool that brings a lot of amazing features to your business or brand. We would look at few ways to utilize or leverage your social media.
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Choose relevant social media platforms: Your brand doesn’t need all social media platforms, Choose a platform that best suits your audience. Each platform has its unique tools and features but not all would necessarily suit your needs. You cannot make sales on the Quora platform as they are a discussion social network. First, figure out which platform aligns best with your business and its audience. Then focus on using it in your favour.
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Optimize content on your social media platforms: After you have selected your Platform, then, you need to select content best suited for them. This decision is best made with your audience in mind. Photos and video content are the most valuable and One should strategize where, when, and how to post it.
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Consistency: Consistency is a critical tool in leveraging your social media. Show up always, and create schedules that outline when to post. Consider the type of content and frequency that audiences most likely engage with. Don’t go a day without posting your content, this helps your audience subconsciously expect you and also engage on your post regularly.
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Engage your followers: the best way to grow your platforms is by interacting with your followers. It could be by simply liking their posts and pages or thanking them in your comment section when they share your content. Interacting with them brings them back to your space.
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Learn about your audience: Use social media to learn everything you can about your audience. You can discover which platforms give you the most engagements, you can discover your audience’s genders, ages, locations, interests, etc. Social listening tools are a great way to listen in on your customer’s online conversation about your brand even if you are not tagged.
NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
Social media is one of the beautiful things technology has brought to the world. It has solved a lot of problems and aided a lot of businesses and brands. It has offered us greater convenience and aided a lot of multitasking.
However, Social media platforms, though good, also have their cons. It surprisingly has quite some negativity. Below we will outline a few of its positive and negative impacts;
Positive;
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Staying connected: Social platforms has brought about family and friends staying connected via email, chats, or Facetime. Also, It has kept us connected with things happening around the world at any place or time.
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Easy access to information and research: Social media platforms have made it easy for everyone to have quick and easy access to any information, whether academically related, geographically related, or otherwise.
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Easy access to banking and payment of bills: Social platforms have brought the bank to our doorstep. With the use of your smartphone, a lot of bills are being paid, bills that originally cost us standing in line in front of the bank for hours. There is easy access to these banks on our phones now.
Negative;
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Social media is not necessarily a problem but the way people use it is. Some people who scroll through their social platforms regularly could subconsciously link their worth to their appearance, this set of people have spent time looking through the appearance of others and therefore likens their worth to these appearances.
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Cyberbullying: People on the screen tend to disregard the feelings of the influences or creators they follow. Constructive criticism has become one of the tools to ignorantly bully these people. One offense committed or one thing done that doesn’t align with society’s standards people begin to criticize, some genuinely give constructive criticism others use it as a medium for bullying. This leads a lot to suicide and depression.
Conclusion
Social platforms help people to interact, communicate, and connect with others. They can share photos, videos, texts, and audio.
The true strength of social media is its influence.
Every business needs an online presence.
Sadly, Social media has its cons and Its demerits are profound but good things do not outweigh the benefits. However, one must be careful not to experience its ugliness as its impact is significant and not healthy.
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