Here’s a fun fact: I didn’t download use any social media outside of YouTube until late 2019/early 2020.

For many people my age, this may seem like a crazy statement, but its true. I didn’t use any social media platforms outside of YouTube until I got TikTok in high school. I didn’t mind not having social media. But now looking back, I’m glad I got into social media platforms. I would be missing some of the most beautiful acts across the world.

Social Media Offers Experiences Like No Other

When you go from having just the people in your life to being around 4.8 billion people across social media platforms, you see a lot. But overall, I view social media as a good thing. While social media may have its flaws, the good that comes social media and its abilities is unlike anything we see.

And I think all the good social media does can be summed up in 3 categories:

1. Content creation across multiple platforms.
2. Bringing up awareness.
3. Influencing others on good content.

Creative Content

Whether creating content is a side passion, revenue or a genuine interest for your future, social media lets people create to their heart’s content. Users will see content that can be informative, fun, silly, entertaining all while being completely free. And as social media expands, you’ll see more and more content you’ve never seen before. Like say an UNO card game edit, for example.

Awareness

Social media doesn’t just create, but also communicates. Doesn’t matter what platform, you have the ability to learn/communicate about people and news that you may not see otherwise. And this communication can be instant.

One of my favorite examples of this comes from a TED talk with Clay Shirky. In his talk, he discusses the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. While the earthquake was happening, users on X, formerly Twitter, shared it’s existence through photos, videos and text messages. To the point where:

They even announced before the US Geological Survey had any information online for anyone to read about.

With this content, people were able to bring awareness and set up donation sites as the earthquake was happening. Even if you were across the world, you were able to help.

Good Influence

Social media can influence too! We tend to forget that social media acts as a way for people to make a living. So what we are interacting with has a genuine influence on people. For example, look at local businesses. 44% of local businesses can get brand awareness and generate revenue from social media.

Social media also influence our lives as well! Like many brands/people, we trust as we learn more about them and might be interested when they recommend something. This is the same case with social media, as 69% of consumers trust influencer recommendations. No matter who you are, social media can influence certain outcomes.

Change for the Better

I do have a lot of hope for social media as a whole. I see communities remind people they aren’t online in the world like BlackLivesMatter, MeToo and Health movements. I watch businesses thrive from content creation starting from the ground up. I see people show their creativity to the world. And I learn news that I may not see otherwise have seen.

This is not saying social media is perfect. It’s not, social media does have many flaws. But I don’t think that should make people ignore the good that exists. Social media changed lives and still continues to do so. I truly am happy to see what people will do next.