#SocialMediaDay: An Ode to Social Media

Since its launch in 2010 by Mashable, Social Media Day has been celebrated in hundreds of cities and by billions of people around the world. And while cynics may assume it involves spending the day posting #selfies, sharing cat vids, or whatever else tickles your fancy – it’s actually more than that. It’s a day to recognize and celebrate social media’s impact on global communication. From happy hours to week-long conferences, people are using this observance to switch the conversation from online to IRL. (Though, seriously, if you’re sharing cat vids – tweet them my way @cassiecutess.)

Like it or not, social media is part of our lives. Four years ago, Facebook didn’t even rank top 10 of most visited websites, and now – look at the social giant. What once started as a site to keep college kids connected is now the most used and visited website for any number of reasons – just look at its role in connecting brands with consumers alone. Did you know that 74 percent of customers have said that social media influenced their purchasing decisions? We’re not surprised, though, since the average consumer mentions brands 90 times/week with family, friends, and co-workers.

So while, yes, of course social media has influence over a company’s bottom line – it goes far beyond advertising. Throughout the years, social media has changed the world – something often forgotten when viral videos like Damn Daniel and the Running Man Challenge consume the media.

Take for instance the role that social media played during the Arab Spring uprisings [2010-2012] – notably one of the first examples of how powerful social media can be. In the words of one protester, Fawaz Rashed:

‎”We use Facebook to schedule the protests, Twitter to coordinate, and YouTube to tell the world.” #egypt #jan25

— Fawaz Rashed (@FawazRashed) March 18, 2011

Let’s also not forget how trending hashtags #Kony2012 and #BringBackOurGirls [2014] sought to raise awareness on a global scale. Or how the Red Cross and other non profits used social media to mobilize rescue efforts in the wake of natural disasters (i.e., Haiti earthquake, Japan tsunami, Hurricane Sandy], setting up text-to-donate campaigns and organizing volunteers.

These examples alone (along with the many others we’re sure you can think of) just go to show that social media is the bridge that connects users across the globe, and when important news needs attention or causes need supporters, social media networks help to distribute that information to a mass amount of readers — at an unprecedented scale.

All that said, whether you’re the New York Times, a giddy mom in a Chewbacca mask, or a startup promoting your brand’s product and services – social media is your outlet.

Today, the Ferocious Media team pays tribute to social media, and we hope you’ll join us! From its humble beginnings with SixDegrees.com and classmates.com to the awkward adolescent days of Friendster and Myspace, social networking has evolved into a way for people across the globe to connect and share stories – not to mention, it has opened up the doors for new businesses to grow and for new careers to take off (including that of yours truly).