Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the foundation Web 2.0 ideology and technology, and which enables the creation and exchange of user-generated content".
While social networking is a site where everyone can create a personal web page, and then connect with friends to share information and communicate. The biggest social networkings, among others are Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter. If traditional media use print and broadcast media, then social media use the internet. Social Media invites anyone interested to participate by making contributions and feedback in an open, make comments, and share information in a fast and unlimited.
When the Internet and mobile phone technology more advanced then social media is growing rapidly, too. Now for example, to access facebook or twitter can be done anywhere and anytime just by using a mobile phone. People can access the social media phenomenon resulted greatly to the flow of information so quickly, not only in developed countries, but also in developing countries. Because the speed of social media is also starting replace the conventional mass media role in spreading the news.
The rapid development of social media now because of all the people like to have their own media. Having the traditional media like television, radio, or newspapers requires a large capital and labor, but it is a different case with the social media. A user can access social media using social media to the Internet network to which access is slow even though, without great expense, without expensive equipment and do their own with no employees. We as social media users can freely edit, add, and modify the text, images, video, graphics, and various other content models.
According to Antony Mayfield of iCrossing, social media is about being human. Ordinary people who share ideas, cooperate, and collaborate to create the creation, thinking, arguing, find someone who could become good friends, find a partner, and build a community. In essence, using social media makes us ourselves. In addition to the speed of information that can be accessed in seconds, be yourself in social media is the reason why social media is growing rapidly.
If in everyday life we can not openly expressing an opinion for one reason or another, it is not if we use social media. We can write whatever we want or we are free to comment on anything that is written or presented to others. This means two-way communication is established. Communication is then quickly created a community of interest the same as there will be a thing.
