As opposed to the traditional website, social media sites are comparable to a dynamic conversation, constantly changing and evolving with the input of its users. Traditional websites are static and unchanging, being comparable to a book; formally written and rarely revised for its viewers. Thus, we can see here that social media sites rely on the active process of contributions from users who utilize these sites as social media tools. Alternatively, the traditional site relies on the passive digestion of information from its viewers to convey an exposition on a given topic, idea, or creative work. After unpacking these critical distinctions, social media can then be understood as a concept referring to the intangible tools used to construct and maintain an ongoing dialogue between users.
What is it?
There are numerous forms of social media with their respective functions to the user. For example, Social Networking sites like Facebook and Myspace are essentially online communities that allow users to connect, interact, and exchange information or share interests in commonly held activities. Myspace for instance has chosen to focus on music media sharing and have dedicated components of their site for the search and distribution of musically inclined media. Facebook pertains more to the user's community of friends and family who share similar interests and activities. Another popular form of social media is the Microblog which allows users to write brief text updates as to be viewed by those who follow them and comment on their activities within the shared network. Wikis are collaborative social media sites-a collection of webpages that allow users to modify the content on their pages. Wikipedia is a prime example of collaborative efforts towards the common goal of distributing information. A more specific form of social media is the internet forum where users with a common interest on a given topic, activity, or interest come together to discuss those ideas in detail. These sites are commonly referred to as message boards or online discussion sites where they can discuss issues, exchange information and share views. The popularity of a forum is dictated by the subject of interest the users share. For example, forums dedicated to students of specific programs like law or medicine are quite popular alongside sports forums where fans can go to share and discuss their favorite teams.
What's the difference?
Unlike traditional sites, social media sites tend to keep their content arranged according to simplicity and are brief and to the point. For example on microblogging sites like Twitter there are often word limits per entry or blog post. In these cases users must strive to keep their views and opinions concise and abstain from stating everything at once. Here the conversations tend to unfold naturally with additional contributions from other users shaping the direction of the discussion. Social media sites are also up-to-date and the content is typically fresh and about current events or issues occurring within the community at large. Old news is typically regarded as irrelevant to the direction of the discussions. Here old views rapidly recede from a continuing stream of new content with the contributions of other users. A downside to this feature of social media is that users can often be overwhelmed by the mass information input onto the site, often containing hundreds of updates and posts from friends, family, and other persons within their social media network. Social media sites are also highly interactive meaning that users typically refrain from discussing themselves as the key subject in the dialogue. Here, two-way communication is essential for maintaining the interest of followers and members who are also wishing to communicate and post their own content in an effort to maintain a stable and lively dialogue; dialogue is key. In this sense, users must be good listeners and pay attention to what people are saying and be genuinely receptive of others' contributions. Finally, social media sites are for an intended purpose, so all actions and contributions on the site must be intended to elicit a desired result. Like a tool, one would not use it for a job it is not intended for, for one would risk damaging the tool and hindering its intended purpose for other applications. Social media is no different, thus maintaining a healthy dialogue and following the rules of each individual site will enable users to truly benefit from this exciting new form of information distribution from the rise of online communication.
