What is Social Media?

Social media refers to internet-based platforms and applications that allow users to create, share, and exchange content while participating in virtual communities.¹

While traditional media (like TV or newspapers) is a “one-to-many” broadcast, social media is a “many-to-many” dialogic system, meaning anyone can be both a consumer and a creator.²

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Core Elements of Social Media

For a platform to be considered social media in 2026, it typically features these four pillars:

1. User-Generated Content (UGC): The platform’s value comes from what users post (videos, text, photos, reviews), not from content created by the company itself.³
2. User Profiles: Digital identities that track a user’s history, interests, and connections.⁴
3. Algorithmic Feeds: Automated systems that decide what you see next based on your behavior, engagement, and preferences.⁵
4. Interactivity: Features like “likes,” comments, shares, and real-time messaging that facilitate two-way conversations.⁶

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Major Categories & Examples

Social media has evolved into specialized “neighborhoods” based on how people want to interact:

Category	Primary Function	Key Platforms (2026)
Social Networking	Personal & professional connections	Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads
Media Sharing	Visual storytelling and entertainment	Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat
Discussion Forums	Community-led Q&A and deep-dives	Reddit, Quora, Discord
Messaging	Private or group-based chat	WhatsApp, Signal, WeChat
Niche Networks	Shared hobbies or activities	Strava (fitness), Goodreads (books), Behance (design)

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Impact on Society and Business

Social media has fundamentally changed how the world operates:⁷

• Democratization of Information: Anyone with a smartphone can report news or start a global movement (e.g., viral activism).⁸
• Social Commerce: Platforms are now “end-to-end” shopping ecosystems.⁹ Features like TikTok Shop and Instagram Checkout allow users to buy products without ever leaving the app.¹⁰
• Customer Support: Public-facing platforms have replaced phone lines as the primary way for customers to voice complaints or get help in real-time.
• The “Attention Economy”: Platforms compete for user time using psychological triggers (notifications, infinite scrolls), leading to ongoing debates about mental health and the “right to disconnect.”