Written By Muhammad Danial Irfan and Vishalini D/O Subramaniam
Did you know that the average time spent on social media is 2.17 hours in Singapore? Many of us depend on social media to talk to others, stay updated on the news, or just kill time. Especially during these times, it is hard to stay away from our phone when all we know is the internet.The social media scene is one of the most vibrant yet complex media developments in the world today. Broadcasting – sharing news and entertainment with audiences – is a prime example of a service that can help you get your message out to the public efficiently and effectively using various features and forms on different social media platforms.
The social media scene is one of the most vibrant yet complex media developments in the world today. Broadcasting – sharing news and entertainment with audiences – is a prime example of a service that can help you get your message out to the public efficiently and effectively using various features and forms on different social media platforms.
These platforms are utilised as entities to deliver and provide a variety of communication and marketing efforts, such as advertising, commercials, and branding. One can clearly see the evolution of digital media through the use of different social media platforms throughout the years. The human desire to communicate, as well as developments in digital technology, have spurred the evolution of social media.
Different types of social media applications
Initially, these networking sites or better known as social media were designed with the direct aim to assist people in connecting with friends and family, as well as those who shared a similar passion. Platforms such as Facebook were one of the first few that allowed people to share their thoughts, post videos and photos of events they wish to keep as memories. Today, it has progressed positively well beyond the concept of just binding people together.
Social media opens up a new form of marketing that is huge for anyone and everyone to use, for a good reason. By and large, social media provides opportunities for many individuals with businesses and companies to come together and connect with one another by directly posting their products and services they offer. Businesses use these online platforms to push their brand and create awareness to promote their brand.
Companies can also engage their clients online and rapidly respond to customer issues and feedback, a win-win situation for both parties! With 4.48 billion social media users around the world, businesses would definitely find it easier to reach out to the right and suitable target audience for their business. (Source: https://backlinko.com/social-media-users). This gives you an advantage and not only helps promote your business to others but also keeps people on social media to stay updated on your brands.
One such brand that has been able to use social media successfully is GoPro. They have different content for each social media such as reaching their customers on Facebook, promoting user generated posts on Instagram, posting product announcements on Twitter and tips and tricks on GoPro on YouTube. This gives their clients and customers a variety of options to choose and communicate with GoPro effectively.
Social media usage statistics
Another plus point came about as a result of the internet’s captivating power. With social media, one can keep in touch with anyone around the world, meet new people, and do all of it from the comfort of your own home, with just the movement of your fingers. Apart from using social media as a business site, social media makes it possible to discuss topics of mutual interest with people across every region without knowing them personally! Having mutual interest groups on platforms such as facebook and telegram. A clear example, Cat question and Suggestions’ group on Facebook allows cat lovers to bring up doubts and questions about cats in a private group which allows you to join upon request, making it available for anyone and everyone! You can check them out here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/catquestionsandsuggestions
Tian Flynn Sundermann, a student in Temasek Polytechnic studying Digital Film and Television, said that the evolution and expansion of social media had increased quite a bit over the years.
“Us as users should be more willing to discover media that is beyond their every day as the popularity of social media ultimately depends on the demand for it. If more people are willing to expand the range of media they consume, the diversity and depth of the scene will improve,” he said.
Besides using social media for personal use, you get to stay updated on the latest news happening around the world. Social media allows you to get access to every type of news in a snap of your fingers. Not only do you read about news, you can also share your story with ease to everyone simply by posting a small write up. Staying informed is of utmost importance to many people and by using social media, it helps one to get fast updates from anywhere.
A very clear example, in the event of the chaotic COVID-19 pandemic, people are using social media more than usual because they rely on news sources from online sources to seek health information for themselves and their loved ones.
With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, social media has quickly evolved into a bigger and wider lane for generating and disseminating information, be it news or entertainment. Driving and providing updates/ information to users in seconds.
In every other circumstance, the pandemic has resulted in an exponential increase in screen time for everyone. With the restrictions in place, people are turning to other sources of entertainment available for them, for which the next better option is social media.
Personal and professional life have blended in isolation through platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Telegram, and Instagram. In a world where in-person working situations have essentially come to a standstill, we saw how social media platforms are increasing in usage and becoming the dominating mode of communication and entertainment for all walks of life.
On the plus side, many say that access to social media and being able to interact with friends and family has been helpful, especially during the circuit breaker.
Muhammad Ishardy, a student in Institution of Technical Education (ITE) College East, shared that the different social media platforms such as Whatsapp and Instagram has been very beneficial, allowing him to connect with his family and friends during the circuit breaker.
He said: “It indirectly plays a part to boost my mood and well being during the circuit breaker, through hosting virtual meetups to check in with our loved ones, via the respective platforms. Without me realising, even as a coping mechanism to tackle boredom at home.”
