Social Media Explained By A Very Smart 15 Year Old

This is a guest post by Tommy Collison a prominent 15 year old Blogger who writes a facinating blog about life in general hereWe simply asked him what he thought social media was and what role it plays in his life…

Social media means different things to different people. To some, it’s their job. To others; something they can use to further their business, connect with their customers. To more still, it’s a hobby, a distraction and something to do on a rainy afternoon.

The versatility of the internet and specifically social networking websites contribute in a big way to their success – there’s something there for everyone and users are no longer just the plaything of the 30something computer programmer who rarely leaves his mother’s basement. The term ‘computer geek’ has even evolved with the internet:

- In 1999, using a computer would’ve branded you with the title.

- In 2003, the ability to burn a music CD would make you a ‘geek’.

- In 2006, being a blogger would be about as common as a conjoined twin.

- In 2010? Too diverse to really tell. Maybe they don’t even exist any more. Computers and the Internet have reached mainstream status.

Social media itself is a very vague term – it’s one of these things you know what it is but find it very hard to find words to define it. To me, it’s the sharing of information online: Eddie Rockets sharing their new menu. It’s La Cucina (local Italian deli) twitpic-ing mouthwatering brownies, CompuB answering my question about laptop bags in stock. It’s Patrick (my brother) posting pictures of him flying around Vancouver to Facebook. It’s a band posting snippets of their newest album to Twitter to get feedback.

If the internet joins the ranks of ‘greatest inventions by men’ (which I believe it could), it’ll be mostly to do with social media.