It’s hard to summarize what social media has done for me, in a sense. In one way, it’s impacted my life positively, bringing news, information, and gossip all to my fingertips in less time than it takes to blink. On another hand though, it’s also been the source of much stress, as the topics of conversation frequently tilt and heave between the positive and the creative to the dastardly and bigoted. Today, I’ll take the opportunity to examine its impact.

I’ve never been ‘great’ at Social Media.

While everyone else was buried in their phones, tapping away at one subject or another, I was elsewhere playing video games, reading books, or sketching out an idea. I never saw the appeal of things like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Yes, I kept up with my family on Facebook (using it more like an address book/quick access thing) but that was the extent up until my time in my advertising degree.

That doesn’t mean I wasn’t surrounded by Social Media every day of my life. More conversations than I can count ahve started with “Have you seen this thing on Twitter?” Or “Check this out. It started on Imgur but blew up everywhere.” Or similar beginnings. The spread of information (and misinformation) became faster and faster as time went on.

Then social media finally became more relevant in my life.

When I switched from community college to University, I found myself drowned in the new sensations, systems, and locations to which I had to get used to. I went from a tiny, down-home college campus to a massive, multi-acre complex that featured buildings for topics ranging from A to Z and everything in between. I got lonely. So I decided to start a blog and learn more about blogging.

Everything immediately turned towards social media, particularly in reference to advertising my blog and related materials. I wanted to be on Facebook and Twitter, the guides said. I wanted to post my pictures on Instagram, but not any pictures, they had to be polished!

All of a sudden I was dunked into a world of established and ever evolving practices, and for the past two years I’ve been muddling my way through them.

I don’t know where I’m headed.

But I do know, at least, that I’m on the right track. Social media is now everywhere. It’s a part of everyone’s life whether they’re active on it or not. Whether they know it or not. In fact, social media is so important it’s considered essential to business. Check out this article by the Marketing Insider Group for more.

As an advertising major, social media has also become a great focus for me, as my career field works very closely with the ever evolving category. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Mixer, so on so forth. All are valid and important to my future work, resume, and abilities to come.

I’m very interested to see how Social Media will continue to evolve and play its part in my life and that of others. If you want to read an interesting article on the evolution of social media, feel free to check out this interesting blog post on Noteworthy.

Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts on the subject. Be sure to examine how media affects your life, and how you can better adjust to it in the future.