“It’s a dialogue, not a monologue, and some people don’t understand that. Social media is more like a telephone than a television.”
(Laird, 2011)
What is Social Media?
Social media is digital technology that enables people to share ideas and information in written and visual forms through virtual communities (Dollarhide, 2023).
For years, people have been sharing information using physical technologies like paper and pen, but the advancement of social media in the last decade means that more people are using online platforms to communicate and write down their thoughts. As a student and avid social media user, I have personally experienced the transformative power of these platforms on my writing practices.
The widespread use of digital communication has evolved writing styles and trends, towards conciseness, immediacy, and visual elements like emoticons.
The History and Development of Social Media
Social media platforms have emerged as powerful tools, and have transformed the communication, and self-expression of individuals worldwide. It isn’t easy to pinpoint the start of social media to a specific date because it is not a new concept and it has been evolving for a very long time.
In many ways, the beginning of social media is connected to the rise of computer use. As more people started buying computers, and computers became much more than a rare commodity, people started searching for ways to use computers to connect and interact.
In 1997, the first social networking sites, Bolt and Six Degrees launched (Hines, 2022).
The First Social Networks
Bolt
Bolt was designed for youngsters to use for email, voice chats, and instant messaging, and shut down 11 years after its initiation.
Six Degrees
Six Degrees was created to help individuals connect with people they didn’t know and build relationships between people and it is still available for use.
According to an article, by Maya Dollarhide (2023), “social media started as a way for people to interact with friends and family, but soon expanded to serve many different purposes.”
from Vecteezy (Maulidiah, n.d.)
Social media platforms, like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram rose to the top with increasingly higher users and thus revolutionized how individuals interact and share information.
These platforms have evolved from simple text-based interfaces to multimedia-rich environments, which allow users to express themselves through a variety of media types, including text, images, video, and GIFs. Today, everyone I know has a phone with social media platforms downloaded on it.
According to Annabelle Nyst (2023), “ there are 4.8 billion social media users worldwide, representing 59.9% of the global population.”
Functions and Uses of Social Media
Social media is a multifaceted tool for personal and professional communication. They can be used in different ways, the interactions people have with them are very different, and each has their specific writing conventions.
Utilization Table
| Social Media | Utilization |
| X (Twitter) | Concise updates and thoughts. |
| Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok | Visual storytelling through images and videos. |
| Professional networking and showcasing professional achievements. |
A closer look into X (Twitter)
Looking closely at X (Twitter), we see that it serves as a space for academic discourse and personal expression. The platform provides access to a wide range of perspectives and facilitates discussions on current events.
The widespread use of X means that one can find users with mutual interests and discuss niche topics of interest.
I have been using X for years, and although it can be hectic at times, I find that I rely on it more for news and academic discourse. The widespread use of X means that one can find users with mutual interests and discuss niche topics of interest.
Influence on Writing Practices
Social media has had an undeniable impact on writing practices. From using complex words on paper, people have now started using simple words and even replacing some with emoticons.
The use of visual elements like emoticons and GIFs has become a norm nowadays, which adds a new layer of expression to written content.
Furthermore, The character limits imposed by platforms like X encourage conciseness and simplicity in expressing thoughts and opinions. Users are challenged to convey their thoughts effectively in a limited space. This fosters a culture of brief, but impactful writing.
An Educational Tool
Studies also suggest that writing platforms like X allow international students to acquire writing skills, as they will be using English words to interact with individuals.
According to a case study by Espinoza and Pintado (2020), Twitter can be considered a useful tool for learning English for academic purposes since it motivates students to write in English due to its easy interface. Moreover, X exposes students to a variety of vocabulary that students can learn.
Such findings suggest that social media does not only impact the way people interact through written text, but it also enhances and helps people learn new languages through written format.
Personal Commentary
As an avid social media user, I have witnessed firsthand the evolution of online communication. Navigating various social media platforms has broadened my understanding of effective communication, and different writing styles. It has also encouraged me to adapt to changing writing conventions, ensuring that the things I write on the internet are relevant.
References
Alamy. (n.d.). Bolt social networking and video website. https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-bolt-social-networking-and-video-website-35001656.html
Digitechjay. (2020, July). [GIF of Hands Holding Mobile Phones]. Tenor. https://tenor.com/view/online-marketing-marketing-social-media-twitter-instagram-gif-17833731
Dollarhide, M. (2023, August 31). Social Media: Definition, Importance, Top Websites & Apps. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-media.asp
Espinoza-Celi, V., & Morocho Pintado, C. (2020). Using Twitter to enhance writing skill with senior high school students: a case study. Teaching English with Technology, 20(5), 108–124. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1281308.pdf
Hines, K. (2022, November 8). The History Of Social Media. Search Engine Journal. https://www.searchenginejournal.com/social-media-history/462643/
Laird, S. (2022, March 11). Shaq’s social media guru shares her secrets. Mashable. https://mashable.com/archive/amy-jo-martin-interview-shaq
MacArthur, A. (2023, July 28). Twitter. Lifewire. https://www.lifewire.com/history-of-twitter-3288854
Maulidiah, N. (n.d.). Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter icon. Vecteezy. https://www.vecteezy.com/vector-art/15025322-facebook-instagram-and-twitter-icon
Nyst, A. (2023, July 17). 134 Social Media Statistics You Need To Know For 2023. Search Engine Journal. https://www.searchenginejournal.com/social-media-statistics/480507/#:~:text=1.,increase%20year%2Dover%2Dyear
OpenSea. (n.d.). SixDegrees.com. https://opensea.io/assets/ethereum/0x495f947276749ce646f68ac8c248420045cb7b5e/3648406621774026632083792427192411838915873136426811213349687977136296558593
Professor Wolters. (2020, April 27). What is Social Media? – Social media explained [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObKbG85162E
Twitter Post Character Limit. (n.d.). Google Images. https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://tier4advisors.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/twitter-over.jpg&tbnid=ue5sT6m1DZpwjM&vet=1&imgrefurl=https://blackshirts.info/collection/twitter-post-character-limit&docid=SbmIgS4ZS_ql2M&w=599&h=161&itg=1&hl=en&source=sh/x/im/m1/1&shem=uvafe2