Now that I have said that one of the key areas that I want to learn about and understand is Social Media, let me put somethings on paper.

Before anything else, what exactly is Social Media? Pundits and experts have few brilliant and well-crafted definitions but for me social media is

… content (photographs, blogs, videos etc.) created by the people and for consumption by their contacts (friends, families, acquaintances etc.).

What makes all this content social is the ability to co-create and co-enjoy (if I can take the liberties of creating this word) this content. That too, on a real time basis.

Why do people indulge in social media?

There are three things that are fundamental to us human and we chase them with all the gusto we have - Entertainment, Communication and Relationships.

People create and consume social media because it gives them a medium to entertain themselves and others, communicate with their contacts and obviously in the process enhance their relationships.

Does Social Media exist on only on the Internet?

Since my definition of Social Media is about content being created for contacts, it has always been there. From cave paintings in the paleolithic era to fables (passed on across generations) to folk songs to even Shahjahan’s Taj Mahal (for Mumtaz Mahal) to the modern day blogs and videos, everything is an example of social media. Everything was being done to appeal to others and at the same appease the ego.

Internet has only enabled communication and connection in real time. That too with contacts that are separated by time and geography.

Internet has also made all the conversations permanent.

To get more opinions on this, I shall use Social Media itself to get answers. If you are reading this, please help me with your feedback. I am sure I have lots of blunders and your opinion would help me finetune my understanding.

Also if you could recommend three people who I may ask to comment on this post, who would those three people be?

Please note that these are very crude thoughts on Social Media. This is one of the outcomes of my new found focus and enthusiasm. Please bear with blunders and assumptions till I hit full steam.