social media

Social media are computer-mediated online tools that allow people, companies, and other organizations, including non-profit organizations and governments, to create, share, or exchange information, career interests,^[1] ideas, and pictures/videos in virtual communities and networks. The variety of stand-alone and built-in social media services available in the 2010s introduces challenges of definition; however, there are some common features:^[2] (1) social media are interactive Web 2.0 Internet-based applications,^[2][3] (2) user-generated content (UGC) such as text posts or comments, digital photos or digital video posts are the lifeblood of the social media organism,^[2][3] (3) users create their own profiles for the website or app, including their real name (or a pseudonymous username), demographic information, and information about their interests; this profile is inputted by the user onto a standardized template that is designed and maintained by the social media organization,^[2][4] and (4) social media facilitate the development of online social networks and relationships by connecting a user's profile with those of other individuals and/or groups, or offering tools that enable the user to seek out other users with compatible interests.^[2][4]