What Are The Benefits To Social Media?

[KissingSunlight]

I have been waiting the past 5 - 10 years for the social media trend to die out or to fade away. It looks like it is too entrenched in everyday life for that to happen. So, I guess I am going to have to break down and get a Facebook account and maybe Twitter. Before I do, I got to know what are the benefits of social media. I know what these companies are getting from us when we upload our personal data to their websites. I don't know what the people who are using social media are getting from it. So, help me out. How do I stop worrying, and love Facebook?

 

[Sleepy Sol]

The biggest benefit for me in relation to social media is how simple it is to keep communication active with friends and family members.

Outside of that, however, not really sure. For myself, at least.

 

[sageoftruth]

I have a few ideas. It it a much easier way to network. Linkedin seems to be the ultimate way to do that nowadays.

Also, it is the enemy of suppression. Thanks to social networking some time ago, China was not able to keep people out of the loop about corrupt things certain Chinese officals were doing, since those who were in the know were able to share their information with everyone they knew and then it went viral.

It is a much more effective way to set up events than calling everyone by phone would be. All you have to do is send out a message to everyone and then wait for them to reply online.

I've learned firsthand that it would make a great substitute for company meetings. When my company has meetings, everyone is in a hurry to get back to work, so no one gets to finish their sentences, everyone is interrupting each other, and no one understand what anyone else is saying. As a social network, or at least an online forum, it would be much more orderly and would not force us to stop what we're busy doing. People would have time to think about what they wanted to say, and post it without being rushed and everyone who had a response would have time to respond.

That's all I have for now.

 

[Tiger King]

As someone that has not been on facebook for many years until recently, you are not missing out.

its like being back at school, you have the attention seekers and the cool kids and then everyone else.
ultimately all anyone seems to do is click 'like' on a post witch is the most neutral feedback you can give.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

They're good for promoting your work. I link all my reviews through FB. Get a lot more hits that way.

 

[Dark Knifer]

The ability to send people messages on Facebook and knowing when they have seen them I find quite useful. It makes sure your info was sent correctly and the responsibility is on them to act on it.

 

[DementedSheep]

Well for me it's basically like texting someone without costing money and I can use it organise events with groups easily (I don't see most of my friends face to face very often). Occasionally I'll share something interesting or funny. I also have a study group on it so everyone can see and contribute to questions asked which is useful. I imagine that could also be useful for people who work in teams. I usually only post once or twice a week. Stuff like FB are just communication tools. It's not like you have to flood it with personal data or post every time you do something.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Facebook is about as useful as you make it. Personally, I have every band I'm interested in on it, so I'm kept up to date on anything they release or whenever they tour. Having a group page for my friends makes it really easy to organise things (well, about as easy as it will ever be to get us to decide on things), especially considering we live apart.

 

[lechat]

facebook is only good for keeping in contact with distant relatives and old school friends but even then most interaction is limited to clicking "like" on their cat videos and adding "lol" in the comments.

if you want to get the most out of facebook only "like" the stuff which you absolutely love and can't get enough of that way your facebook feed can function as a sort of news feed that keeps you informed of your favorite products and events, If you go around "likeing" your grandma's cat videos your feed will end up showing mostly lotto results and her high scores in whatever fucktarded facebook game she is playing.

 

[deleted+75193]

DELETED

 

[HardkorSB]

- Connecting with people
- Spreading awareness of various things (e.g. SOPA would have gone virtually unnoticed and get passed if it wasn't for the massive social media campaign against it)
- Charity (I've seen various people and organizations get donations for children's homes, expensive medical treatments etc. thanks to advertising their cause on social media)
- News (people post news about anything and everything on social media)
- Getting others to see your art
- Seeing other people's art

Those are just a few from the top of my head.

 

[KissingSunlight]

Exposing criminal behaviour is a definite upside.

Could you elaborate on that? Not that I want to become a vigilante. I have not heard anyone describe using social media that way.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Exposing criminal behaviour is a definite upside.

Could you elaborate on that? Not that I want to become a vigilante. I have not heard anyone describe using social media that way.

During the London Riots, there were a number of people either trying to organise a riot on FB, or posting pictures of themselves and everything they'd stolen to brag about it.

Somehow, these criminal masterminds got caught, though I believe the former couldn't get anyone else stupid enough to turn up for their riot, and tried using that as a defence.

 

[Scarim Coral]

To me it's pretty much keeping in touch with your friend and family since I am not the type who phones others weekly just to heard how they are doing.

 

[KissingSunlight]

Exposing criminal behaviour is a definite upside.

Could you elaborate on that? Not that I want to become a vigilante. I have not heard anyone describe using social media that way.

During the London Riots, there were a number of people either trying to organise a riot on FB, or posting pictures of themselves and everything they'd stolen to brag about it.

Somehow, these criminal masterminds got caught, though I believe the former couldn't get anyone else stupid enough to turn up for their riot, and tried using that as a defence.

Thank you. What you said is actually one of the reasons I have avoided social media and hoped for it's demise. Sure catching dumb criminals who brag about their crimes online is a benefit. It's having an opinion that your boss doesn't agree with you about and then fire you for it. That kind of BS I would want to avoid. Of course, that is one example how social media have been abused in recent years.

 

[kommando367]

It's easy to keep tabs on people and communicate when I don't know their contact info.

 

[Something Amyss]

Social media reminds me of my misanthropy without me having to deal with dozens of people on a daily basis.

But the best thing about social media?

You can turn it off. You know what they call turning off a person in real life? Murder, and it's frowned upon. But on Facebook?

During the London Riots, there were a number of people either trying to organise a riot on FB, or posting pictures of themselves and everything they'd stolen to brag about it.

Somehow, these criminal masterminds got caught, though I believe the former couldn't get anyone else stupid enough to turn up for their riot, and tried using that as a defence.

Actually this is another benefit. Most of the people who have been charged for the Keene riot at the end of October (Yes, John oliver, there was a riot at Pumpkin Fest, and the Bearcat was called out), were identified at least in part through social media. A good chunk of them posted the photos and bragged voluntarily.

There should seriously be a variant of the Darwin Awards for this sort of nonsense.

 

[MysticSlayer]

For the most part, I think Facebook is a decent way to keep in contact with friends and family and plan events. Basically, it is a way to continue social interaction even when you aren't with friends and family, and it is a great way to complement real-life interaction. Yeah, some people overuse it, but I think if it is viewed as a complement to an already existent social life (as opposed to a replacement for one), then it is actually very nice and useful to have.

 

[KissingSunlight]

I want to thank everyone who have replied to my question. So far, it is what I have feared. The benefits of social media is outweighed by negative. Mainly, privacy invasion. Couple of days ago, it was reported that Twitter is now going to spy on your phone and see what apps that you have. Not the contents in your apps, just what apps you have downloaded. I understand companies wanting to make money off of providing a free service. I believe they are crossing the line when they are profiting off of your personal information. It sucks! I want to find a new job. What I understand is that perspective employers are now looking online to see if you on social media. If you aren't, then they will assume that you are an anti-social, unemployable malcontent. Big Brother didn't turn out to be the government. It's corporations.