The Evolutions of Social Media and Its Importance in Public Relations

Social media became a popular way to share photos and stay connected when I was just entering high school back in 2007. Facebook was the new trend to jump onto, but it was thought of as just another teen craze where kids could share funny comments and photos. Over the past six years I have seen firsthand both Facebook and Twitter evolve into tools that every smart public relations and marketing professional needs to use in order to stay connected and up to date.

Over the past three years that I have been in college, almost all of my professors have put their Twitter handle on the syllabus and have encouraged students to follow them for information and class updates. In most of the classes for my major, strategic communications, I am encouraged to not only follow my professors on Twitter but my assignments include tweeting relevant facts about class. It’s amazing to see how in just a few short years Twitter has become a major source of news and information sharing.

There is more to the growth of Twitter and Facebook than just my personal usage and views on the sites. The social media sites, especially Twitter, have become a must have for any public relations professional. Not only do professionals stay connected via Twitter, but also Twitter has become one of the fastest ways to hear about breaking news stories. Professionals don’t just use Twitter to tweet funny pictures and celebrate their favorite team’s win, they use Twitter unlike most. For a professional, Twitter is an amazing tool that allows for quick and mass sharing of news and links.

Twitter’s take over of the social media world can also be credited to the spread of smart phone technology and the added ease of access. Now days it takes only a few seconds to update a Twitter feed and anyone can click on a link and open it in seconds. Twitter allows for connectivity and information at our fingertips. Because Twitter is set up so that users can be followed, retweeted and favorited, this news and important links can be spread across the Internet in seconds.

For more information on social media statistics and how people are using Twitter and Facebook, visit http://www.arikhanson.com/2011/01/31/16-social-media-statistics-that-might-surprise-you/ and to see what public relations professionals in the Twin Cities are worth following on Twitter click on the graphic above. 

Erin Felton

University of Minnesota
Jour 3279
Blog Assignment