So, what is social media and how is it different from social networks?

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What is social media? And what about social networks? They may seem like the same thing, but if we look closely we will see that they are two different concepts.

Come on, in this content we lend you our magnifying glass so you can check with certainty what their differences are; you cannot miss this if you are looking to improve your Marketing strategy .

Keep reading!

What is social media?
Social media is the practice of using a dedicated online platform to gcash database maintain contact, interact and collaborate with like-minded individuals, peers, friends and family.

The sites where this is done are known as "social networks" or RRSS and, among the most popular we find Facebook, LinkedIn , Twitter , Instagram and Tik Tok ; these allow people to maintain social connections, stay informed and access, as well as share, a large amount of information. They also allow Digital Marketing specialists on social networks to reach their target audience.

Social media sites have come a long way since the first one, SixDegrees.com, was launched in 1997. Today, the world is rapidly adopting new social media sites. According to DataReportal, a Kepios analysis from January 2022 indicated that there are over 4.62 billion social media users worldwide.

Now, how does social media work?
The answer to what social media is also implies having connections in both the real world and the digital world. Currently, this term is mainly used to refer to online social communications.

The Internet has made it possible for people to meet and connect with others they would never have otherwise met; platforms like Twitch even allow users to interact with their favorite gamers while watching them play - isn't that amazing?

All of this functionality depends on technology and internet connectivity; people can access it using their computers, tablets or smartphones . Most of these sites run on a searchable database backend that uses advanced programming languages, such as Python, to organize, store and retrieve data in an easy-to-understand format.

For example, Tumblr uses products and services in its daily operations such as Google Analytics, Google Workspace, and WordPress.

These are the 4 main objectives of social media
Social media has 4 key points to achieve, including:

1. Cultural and technological exchange
Friends or family members who are geographically dispersed can connect remotely and share information, updates, photos and videos.

Social media, which is communication within social networks, also allows people to meet others with similar interests or expand their current social networks.

2. Online learning
Social media serves as great learning platforms .

Consumers can receive breaking news instantly, get updates on friends and family, or learn what's happening in their community.

3. Interact between one or more people
This concept improves user interactions by breaking the barriers of time and distance.

With cloud-based video communication technologies like WhatsApp or Instagram Live, people can talk face-to-face with anyone in the world.

4. Social media marketing
Businesses can leverage the services of this technology to do Social Media Marketing and thus improve brand awareness among platform users, improve customer retention and conversion rates, and promote brand identity and voice.

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What is social media and how are they different from social networks?
To begin to differentiate, we must first conceptualize what social networks are, only then will we find more exact dissimilarities. So, what is a social network ? Now I will explain it to you:

When we think of the term media, we usually think of traditional venues like newspapers, magazines and television. However, when we find the word "social" in front of it, it takes on a completely different definition and vibe—because we've left out physical contact.

Social media adds a technological component, as well as flexibility, when it comes to how a person consumes, shares, and collaborates with what is presented. Therefore, it can best be described as an internet-based way of publishing or transmitting digital content that readers can fully interact with.

Anyone can post on social media, in fact, traditional media outlets like CNN and Fox News publish their own content for digital consumption. Businesses and organizations do so as well to connect with their buyer personas or potential customers.

Difference between social media and social networks
Let's start by making it very simple:

Social media: These are social media, which include social networks, blogs , forums, among others.
Social networks: This is an adjunct within social media that we can see as platforms for communication and information exchange.
Simply put, all social networks are "social media," but what is social media does not necessarily have to be a social network. And, on the other hand, social media provides the content that social networks distribute.

Even with the description I just gave, there are nuances to consider.

Facebook as a social media site is an example of how the terms can differ and yet overlap a bit. You sign up and post your profile, connect with friends, and comment on topics in a generally interactive way. On that same social media site, businesses establish a presence and use Facebook as a way to communicate their brand and gain followers; this is clearly a use case for both social media and social networks.

That said, there is a clear difference between the two. Social media requires a social network to distribute content to those who wish to consume and interact with it.