“Social media are primarily Internet-based tools for sharing and discussing information among human beings. The term most often refers to activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos and audio. This interaction, and the manner in which information is presented, depends on the varied perspectives and "building" of shared meaning among communities, as people share their stories and experiences.”

Social media is derived from traditional mediums of media such as newspapers, television and radio.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media

There are many different forms of social media, some of which are listed below:

Podcasts: digital audio and video which is available on demand through programmes such as iTunes.

Blogs: Sharing information online, through online journals. Most recent addition appears first.

Wikis: Online database which allows people to access and edit information.

Social networks: sites which allow people to effortlessly design and create a webpage through which they can communicate with other users. The most popular are Facebook, Myspace and Bebo.

Forums: Online discussion boards, where users can communicate and share their views with other users.

Social media is best understood as a group of new kinds of online media, which share most or all of the following characteristics:

Participation Social media encourages contributions and feedback from everyone who is

interested. It blurs the line between media and audience. Openness Most social media services are open to feedback and participation. They encourage

voting, comments and the sharing of information. There are rarely any barriers to accessing and making use of content – password-protected content is frowned on.

Conversation Whereas traditional media is about “broadcast” (content transmitted or distributed

to an audience) social media is better seen as a two-way conversation. Community Social media allows communities to form quickly and communicate effectively.

Communities share common interests, such as a love of photography, a political issue or a favourite TV show.

Connectedness Most kinds of social media thrive on their connectedness, making use of links to

other sites, resources and people.

Social networking is mainly a group of networking websites in which people can create a profile based around their character.

By doing so they can add other users and indulge themselves in the applications given to them like status updates and photo tagging.

Facebook is a social networking site. It is one of the most popular sites in the world along with Myspace.

It is quickly becoming one of the most competitive sites on the market with constant updates to the applications and layouts in order to try and attract the niche audience.

Podcasting was originally coined by Apple in an attempt to draw the audience to the newly introduced iPod a few years back. However, even though iTunes still largely remains the main medium which people use to download podcasts, people now use any variant of MP3 or MP4 player to listen or watch them on.

Podcasting has completely changed the way in which people view and think about radio broadcasts. Before podcasts become such a big medium, people would have to sit down at a certain time on a certain day. However, now that podcasts on freely attainable on iTunes and websites such as www.bbc.co.uk, people can download them and actively choose where and when they want to view them.

Social media is a conversation powered by social networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace, Bebo, Digg and podcasting.

It is a conversation between people. It is not organised or controlled.

This conversation is vibrant, compelling and most of all fun!