Believe it or not social media has been around for a long time. Ancient tribes inscribed symbols on the walls of caves... So it continues in today's digital caverns. Read on...
Facebook has over 1 billion active, registered users. You heard that correctly. That means that approximately 1/7th of the World's population is on Facebook in some way. A far cry from the Harvard dorm room that it was invented in...
So, what’s the big use for services like this? Well, the answer is pretty simple; it's the new way to communicate. You see, like many of you, I have family in distant parts of the Country, and it would be great to see them much more often, but that's not realistic. Now, instead of precious time slipping through the cracks, I get to experience daily life with them. I get to be a close part of their ups, downs, and in-betweens, which I would miss if it weren't for social media. What about our even closest friends? Well, we share the day with them as well. Social media has really opened up personal communication, where we can actually feel what the people are posting, and to some extent, experience it with them. My family just recently sent a HUGE teddy bear to my Goddaughter. Seconds after opening, a picture of her with the larger than life bear was posted on Facebook for all of us to enjoy. Sure, there's always the phone, but we can't always be on it, and honestly, with video chat, hasn't that become the more impersonal device of the last few years? Let's do a quick breakdown of the most popular social media services, maybe you'll find a reason to become more virtually connected.
Facebook – Facebook is the world's most popular social networking website. It makes it easy for you to connect and share with your family and friends online. Users are able to search for friends and acquaintances by e-mail address, school, university, or just by typing in a name or location for search. You can share video, photos, or just a quick note.
http://facebook.com
Twitter - Twitter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news about what you find interesting. Simply find the accounts you find most compelling and follow the conversations. Posts are called “Tweets” and are limited to 140 characters. So, say what you mean and mean what you say!
http://twitter.com
Instagram - Instagram is an online photo-sharing and social networking service that allows users to take pictures, apply digital filters, and share them on social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter. Instagram confines photos to a square shape, similar to Kodak Instamatic and Polaroid images.
http://instagram.com
Pinterest - Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.
http://pinterest.com
Want to see what the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library has to offer? Call us at: 631-941-4080, email us at: reference@emmaclark.org or stop in at: 120 Main Street, Setauket, NY 11733. Have a smart device? Download our mobile app at:http://emmamobile.emmaclark.org or look for it in your app store or marketplace.
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Bob Johnson is the Manager of Information and Technology Services at the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library.
