Social Media Handbook

 The benefits and uses of 
social media in the modern world

Benefits for individuals 

There's no denying that social media has changed the way we live life. For individuals there's a variety of aspects that can benefit your everyday life. Posting, liking, commenting, making use of chat features and tagging all contribute to the power of communication. Anywhere to anyone at anytime. This is invaluable at keeping people connected that otherwise would lose touch due to distance or time or forming new connections. This is especially useful when it comes down to networking or finding employment as there are platforms specifically designed with this goal in mind such as LinkedIn.  

The rise of social media has skyrocketed the amount of news and information that is available. With the touch of a button you can access news from anywhere on earth so you can stay up to date and informed at all times. It allows for the instant spread of news that may otherwise not reach a large audience. This can be beneficial as lesser known issues can gain traction. 

Along with all the practical benifits social media is also a place where you can experience entertainment. 

From short videos to blogs there's an array of entertaining content which can provide audiences with an escape from reality or just a break. It also allows for creators to share their passions and talents with the potential to earn money. 

Discovering content that resonates with you can leave feelings of being seen and heard and it can be reassuring to know you're not alone. 

Following on from that social media can also be a valuable source of education. It can bring forward topics that you otherwise wouldn't engage with in an interesting and captivating manner. 

Benefits for businesses

Social media allows businesses to reach a larger, wider audience from anywhere in the world. Basic level marketing is free and it comes down to how relatable or interesting the content is. Features such as liking, commenting, tagging and sharing will boost audience reach and simultaneously allow a business  to interact with their target audience. It grants business with the ability to grow their brand whilst monitoring their growth and getting real time feedback from their audience. By participating in trends brands can capture a younger demographic and stay relevant. Social media opens up the option of collaborating with influencers or other brands and also paid advertising all of which will help get a brand known and lead to sales. Most platforms offer engagement analytics, a useful tool which dissects a brands audience into key demographics and lets them see in detail how specific posts are interacted with. This makes figuring out a target audience more simple and provides imperative information as a brand develops. Chat features allows customers to enquire about a brands products or services in a rapid and hassle free way. This can build connections between a brand and consumer and shows a level of customer appreciation. Brands can keep an eye on other businesses that may offer similar products and can tailor their content to fill any gaps in the market.  

Benefits in communities and society                   

Social media has a huge effect on society. Important information can circulate much easier by utilising features such as hashtags and tagging which will allow the content to get on algorithms and reach a larger audience.  Sharing stories and promoting good causes can bring people together and facilitate deep discussions and begin trends. This can lead to society joining forces and pitching in to raise money or even just awareness for topics that need attention. This can make positive changes in smaller and larger groups in society. 

Knowing that there's people out there that have been through similar experiences can build a community. For example the #MeToo movement which saw women from all parts of the world speaking up against sexual violence. It highlighted a very serious issue and aimed to spark change but also gave women a feeling of solidarity. 

Features such as subscribing or following allows a creator to build a community which benefits both parties. The audience gets to stay up to date with any uploads or activity whilst the creator can monitor engagement and content reach. 

Platforms such as wikis and forums can provide information and a place to discover groups of people with shared interests.  This opens up the ability to create connections and gain support.