Last Updated on March 24, 2025 by pm_author_91ksj
The one thing we know for sure about social media is that people are using it every day. There are so many platforms to choose from and most of us use at least one or two of them multiple times per day. The variable in this equation is what people are doing on social media. How exactly are they using it and what are they getting out of it? Of course, there isn’t just one answer to this question because people have found a variety of uses for social media. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at some of the most common uses of social media in today’s world.
Connect with Friends and Family
Perhaps the most obvious reason to be on social media is to stay connected with friends and family. Even when loved ones live far away and talking directly is difficult, following each other on social media platforms is a good way to stay up to date on what’s happening in their lives. This is truly one of the top benefits of the Internet and a big reason why most people are active on social media in the first place.
Share Opinions
Social media has become a platform for opinions and debates. Anyone with an account is free to post their thoughts and feelings about any topic. That post goes out to their followers and other users, which then leads to comments, discussions, and debates. Of course, there are examples of these types of debates becoming less than civil. But they can also be helpful for people from different backgrounds and viewpoints to understand each other. More importantly, social media gives everyone a platform to share their opinions and experiences.
News Source
More people are starting to use social media as a news source. They can simply look at what’s trending or see posts from those they follow and immediately know what stories are making headlines.
Instead of waiting for the evening news, social media allows users to track the news in real-time, keeping them up to date with the important things happening in the world.
Entertainment
Some people may think of social media as a place just to fill time, but it’s actually become a source of genuine entertainment. There is a virtually endless variety of user-generated content on social media, including clever memes, pictures, and videos. There are also live streams of fellow users engaging in a variety of activities. Most of this entertainment is in short form as opposed to watching movies or TV shows on streaming platforms. But there is no denying the entertainment value that comes from simply scrolling on social media.
Product and Promotion Discovery
It’s not just everyday people who are using social media. Businesses across all industries are using it as a marketing platform. As a result, people are discovering new products and promotions that they otherwise might not know about. Both established brands and companies and emerging markets are learning how to use social media effectively. For instance, users might learn about a sale at their favorite store or they might learn how they can play games at an online casino for real money just from scrolling on social media.
Civic Engagement
The most important – but sometimes overlooked – use of social media platforms is the civic engagement that takes place on them. It’s not always about having fun or keeping tabs on people. Social media posts can also be a great way to raise awareness for important social and political issues.
Users can even take one step further by connecting with others with the same concerns who live in different parts of the world or even organizing real-life protests and demonstrations. When it’s used for a good cause, it’s truly incredible what social media can help people accomplish.
