The Difference Between Social Media and Network Society?
Social media and social network seem to be interchangeable. Both social media and network society are instrumental in various events around the world. It is safe to say that network society is a subgroup of social media. It is suited to look at the differences between the two here and walk away with a clear understanding of the differences.
Social media most usage is the web and mobile technologies in order to turn communication into interactive dialogue and also this platform also broadcasting information. On the other hand, the network society is a platform for communicating gather information with one another. This platform is a social structure where people join each other by having a common interest.
This article will dive deeper into the differences between social media and network society.
Social Media
The term media usually that word remind us of traditional news outlets before the internet existed. It was all about television such as CNN or Fox News, newspapers example in malta there’s the Times of Malta and Malta Independent that have been there for a long time and there were also magazines, etc. When the media was introduced online, it was no longer static. When we add the term social in front, the word gives a different meaning. Interactivity is now introduced, and everything is becoming easily viewed by everyone. This platform also adds a flexible technological component where a person consumes, shares, and collaborates with the presented things. It is one of the best internet-based to publish and upload content for other users to watch and read.
There are several types of social media, it is not always taking a photo, and one can share it. Social media also involves developing videos such as using TikTok or Instagram, blogs- this one that we are using right now (medium) and many more things. Social media is one of the best ways to communicate and transmit information to other people. They may be friends and even people who you might not know but start making a connection through social media.
This platform has taken the world by storm, having more them 3 billion people using social media worldwide. From this platform, a lot of content can be created so their business can enlarge their users and also one will get to know better their brand. Social media is a great source to connect with consumers and compete with other brands in terms of marketing. Social media is there twenty-four seven allowing us to stay connected with friends and can easily find what you want in terms of information and sources. One also can create their own content using their creativity and showing their personalities worldwide.
Network Society
The network society is a phenomenon that relates to social, political, economical and also cultural changes. This is because new networks have emerged throughout the years, and digital information and new technologies have developed more. In fact, there was an increase in network society that new businesses and organisations have taken place and brought new challenges caused by the nature of the global economy. The network society is connected with capitalism, media and lastly, with political discourse. This being said, it is about entering the new world with new things showing all the power that one can have through all these newly developed things. Network society tries to have equality and connect with the nature of the world, which is considered a risk to people.
The meaning of network society is defined by the theorist Manuel Castells. He states that it is a society where social structure is developed with different networks and are powered by micro-electronics (Ashby. J, 2021). The network society is a mean of the future ecosystem, which is, in fact, envisioned by new information communication and technology, in other words, ICT. The ICTs allows to development and sustain of new networks in which new social relationships can be created. It is expected that people living in the network society will be able to use connectivity to improve their lives and also their businesses. Castells had stated that there are three processes that can lead to new social structures. There is the restructuring of industrial economies to accommodate an open market approach, the freedom-oriented cultural movements of the late 1960s and early 1970s, including the civil rights movement, the feminist movement and the environmental movement, and the revolution in information and communication technologies.
In this global network society that we live in today, knowledge and communication are critical factors in developing new networks and new technologies.
References
Ashby, J. (n.d.). 1.4 The network society. Unit 1 Introduction to Knowledge, Communication & Development. https://www.soas.ac.uk/cedep-demos/000_P523_MKD_K3637-Demo/unit1/page_10.htm.
Cohn, M. (2016, March 24). Social Media vs Social Networking. CompuKol Communications. https://www.compukol.com/social-media-vs-social-networking/.
Dollarhide, M. (2021, May 19). Social Media Definition. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-media.asp.
Froehlich, A. (2020, September 24). What’s the difference between social media and social networking? SearchUnifiedCommunications. https://searchunifiedcommunications.techtarget.com/answer/Whats-the-difference-between-social-media-and-social-networking.
Juneja, P. (n.d.). MSG Management Study Guide. Network Society — Rise of Digital Networks. https://www.managementstudyguide.com/network-society.htm.
