In 2020, over 3.6 billion people were using social media. According to Statista, that number is projected to increase to over 4.4 billion by 2025. You can find social media users on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, and TikTok. People use social media to connect with friends, build communities, and find jobs.
Brands are also huge social media users, having learned the power of social media marketing. Despite social media’s prominence in the world, many are still uncertain about this technology’s role in society. To get a clearer picture of its impact, here are five reasons outlining why social media matters, and you can browse some games at online gambling nz while you scroll through.
Social media increases brand awareness
It’s challenging to get potential consumers to notice your business when there are seemingly countless options. For businesses wanting to increase their brand awareness, social media is an important strategy. According to a Facebook-commissioned report that surveyed 21,000 people aged 13-64, 83% of people found new products and services using Instagram. TikTok is another platform with opportunities for businesses. According to digital marketing company Amsive Digital, TikTok has the highest engagement among social media apps with an average of 15-18%. By building a strong social media presence, businesses can get eyes on their products and services, or you can play some games at online pokies games to increase your income.
Brands use social media to appear human
The official Wendy’s Twitter account is one of the best examples of a brand using social media to connect with consumers by humanizing itself. In many viral tweets – which also spread via screenshots to other social media sites – Wendy’s account interacts with other Twitter users, posts memes, and “talks” to other corporations like Burger King. The account also posts tweets as if it were a customer. An example from mid-April 2022 reads: “Dropped a Spicy Nugget under the front seat one time, but it’s gone now. Not because someone (not me) got out of the car and got down there and found it and ate it…because that definitely didn’t totally happen.” As of April 2022, the account has 3.8 million followers. Not everyone enjoys it when a major fast-food brand masquerades as a person, but even negative engagement counts as engagement.
Social media drives traffic to other websites
Many corporations, bloggers, artists, musicians, and others use social media to attract people to their main websites. While some certainly use their social media account as their main hub, most want potential customers or readers to click a link. Social media is used to “tease” new content – like a paragraph from a new blog or a photo of a product – and hook an audience. Most social media sites make it easy to drop links in posts or a bio. Many brands also benefit from ads that target specific types of social media users. With good marketing strategies, you can drive a lot of traffic to your sites.
Social media affects friendships for teenagers
Many people use social media to find new friends, stay in touch with old ones, and build community. According to Pew Research from 2015, 64% of teenagers said they had made new friends on a social media platform. 94% said they spend time with their friends on social media. In that same research, 83% of teens said social media helped them stay connected to what was going on in their friends’ lives while 70% said social media helped them connect better to their friends’ feelings. Social media is an especially important tool for teenagers without many opportunities for socialization and friendships in their “real” lives.
Social media facilitates romantic relationships
Dating apps are a form of social media. Globally, around 323 million people use these platforms. According to Pew Research – which surveyed around 4,800 people in 2019, 48% of 18-29-year-old Americans have dated through social media. 38% of adults aged 30-49 have used a dating app. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults use dating apps around twice as much as straight adults (55% compared to 28%). Do people like dating apps? About 57% of people say they’ve had an overall positive experience. There are still safety considerations, but dating on social media can help people assess compatibility before meeting in person.
