What really matters

Many times I am asked, what is social media?

It’s funny how just 3 years ago my tech friends would literally shudder when they heard the term; as too often marketing terms get spinned around and completely lose their real meaning.  Think of terms like ‘Web 2.0‘, ‘taxonomy‘, ‘the cloud‘.

But there’s something more about it.  This time.  This term.  Social Media.  It’s been staying and sticking around for the past 3 years.  As of recent, some of us would just dropped the word ‘media’ and focus on ‘social’ instead.  What is it?

The truth is, business and marketing aside, if we look at the intrinic needs of most of us, it’s about to attach and connect, to be soothed and feel belonged.

This is why when you broadcast about your product on Facebook people would block you; talking about yourself all the time you get unfollowed.  But if you provide meaning, value, purposes to others, or even just being plain fun, cool, or randomly interesting, you get more traction and respect.  The internet (and it’s more user-friendly layer popularised by platforms like Facebook and Twitter – which is how I define ‘social media’) is technically new, but not sociologically.  Satisfy someone’s wants and needs, and they would like to keep connected to you albeit the medium.  Be there for others, and they will follow.  It’s too much of a cliche, but really, give to take.

Image on yogicquote