When I think about social media, from where it started to where it is now, it amazes me. I remember my first introduction to social media. My older sister was always on the family computer using something called MySpace. When I asked what it was, she responded that it was how she talked to her friends outside of school. As the years went on, MySpace became Facebook. Eventually, when I was in eighth grade and could start using these networks for myself, Instagram and Snapchat were all the rage. Just like my older sister said, it became what I used to interact with friends outside of school. Now, if I’m using a social media app around my 14-year-old nephew, he doesn’t ask me what it is. This is because he doesn’t need to. Social media has become something nearly everyone knows about no matter what age you are or how much you use or don’t use it. I would argue that social media is now a major component of our society.

Social Media Changed How We Advertise

When social media first became a thing, it was exactly what the name says. It was media meant to be shared for social reasons with your peers. I don’t think anyone using MySpace in 2006 knew that one day social media would be one of if not the most useful tools for marketing. Advertisers went from relying on magazines, billboards, and TV commercials to now looking for TikTok trends that can be used to show their products. TikTok didn’t even exist before 2018, and before 2020 when we were all home due to the pandemic, I didn’t know a single person who used it. Now, if you said your business wasn’t on TikTok, I would say you’re seriously missing out on great marketing opportunities. The rapid rise of TikTok is a great example that shows how much social media itself can change, as well as how it changes the world, specifically when it comes to marketing.

What’s Next?

I see social media continuing to evolve as the years go on. Right now, I’m noticing a huge shift with AI. When I first heard talk of AI, it sounded like something from a science fiction movie that wouldn’t actually become so heavily integrated into our society. In the past year alone, I’ve seen just how untrue that is. AI is showing up everywhere on various platforms. If I look up a question on Google now, an AI-generated response shows first on top. Instagram’s search bar has an “ask Meta AI anything” feature now. Just like how we didn’t know what social media would become, we have no idea what the use of AI will bring as the years go on. I’m intrigued to follow along and see what other changes come.