How do you use social media?
The evolution of communication has progressed from basic animal signals to advanced human techniques. Initially reliant on physical messengers, written communication developed into newspapers and eventually the digital realm. The rise of computer technology transformed media landscapes, leading to the emergence of social media as a dynamic platform for sharing content. Today, popular platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow easy dissemination of information, fostering connection. Yet, users must navigate the potential for misuse and stay vigilant against scams, ensuring responsible utilization of social media’s considerable power.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- Communication has evolved from animal signals to advanced human methods, including digital platforms.
- Social media has transformed information sharing, allowing for quick dissemination but also raising concerns about misuse.
- The postal system and printing of newspapers played crucial roles in the development of communication over centuries.
- Modern technology, especially computers and smartphones, has drastically changed communication methods, enhancing accessibility and speed.
- Judicious use of social media is essential to prevent misuse and promote responsible sharing of information.
Communication
It is a two-way process, and as an integral part of the organic world, it is crucial and essential to the living world. The animal world, particularly humans, relies on it to stay connected.
Communication in animals
Lower animals like honeybees and ants often communicate with each other in several ways, but the conspicuous cause is pheromones. The chemical with specific scents and effects helps them communicate and carry out a collective task. Birds use different call signs or singing to communicate with each other and convey their wish or intentions. Similarly, higher groups of animals, especially mammals, use more structured ways of communicating with each other. While aquatic animals use echolocation, terrestrial animals use different sounds and gestures to express their feelings and intent.
Human beings
The exchange of messages has played a significant role in human lives. At the apex of the developed animal world, humans have very specific and appropriate means of communication. With the evolution of coordinated speech, languages evolved. It culminated in a more advanced stage of writing after scripts evolved. Writing gave humans new wings and helped them communicate subtly by writing a few symbols on parchment, paper, or anything of value. This gave them the advantage of communicating with others, far away from them. A runner or courier would take the message and securely deliver it to the recipient. Later, birds like pigeons started doing it. An organised and developed system to send messages through birds like hawks or pigeons was safe, secure and less expensive.
Postal system
Later, especially at the end of the medieval period, a more effective and safe method evolved, which ran successfully for centuries till the advent of the current twenty-first century. The postal system was a widely accepted system. It was like social media, albeit in a different form. People used to write letters, post them and wait for reply. Letter and postmen were the link who were treated with affection and love. With the advent of Morse code and telegram, messaging inched further and became a fast but expensive means used to convey messages of an emergent nature. Together, they worked well and catered to the masses until recently.
Postal system in colonial period
Lord Clive introduced a formal means of postal communication (Company Mail) in 1766. The system later strengthened by Warren Hastings in 1774. Hastings established GPO in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and appointed a Post Master General.
Lord Dalhousie strengthened it further, promulgating the Post Office Act of 1854 and issuing the first postal stamp, “Lion and the Palm tree”. (Wikipedia)
Sources of information
The social media of yesteryears was entirely different from today’s. The sources of information happened to be books and bills. The bills could conveniently convey important messages as they were short, precise and prepared attractively to attract public attention. They replaced the cumbersome procedure of the public announcement system. In the medieval period, royal employees would roam in the habitation with huge cattle drums (Nagārā) loaded on the back of a camel, elephant or horse. They would beat the drum and shout out loudly about the royal decree (Farmān).
Printing of bills and newspapers
With the currency of printing, bills became frequent. Later, followed by the evolution of the newspaper, which was (and still is) an effective means of keeping one updated. It is/was a potential tool to keep the public abreast of the latest trends, government decisions and other vital information, all in one.
Information is power
The present is the Information Era. It is the time when people have easy access to information. With the progressive development of computer technology, data structure and techniques for handling huge amounts of data, communication has become fast, secure and hassle-free, with minimal or no human interference. It is the Era of information technology where information is power.
Electronic media
Televisions revolutionised the way of living. It quickly changed from big, cumbersome CRT TV sets to wide and large digital screens, which occupy less space with top-notch output. The increased resolution of the TV screen allowed an enhanced and entertaining comfortable viewing. The print media quickly lost its sheen, and a new “Electronic Media” became the catchword.
Computer technology
As computer technology gained prominence and new powerful gadgets started flooding the market, the fast-expanding technology made not only inroads but also occupied an inevitable and important role in human lives. The scope of media, which was once limited to print media, started expanding its wings.
Technology changed fast
Computer technology was swiftly impregnating and replacing analogue technology. The revolutionised telephone replaced the old, slow and cumbersome telephone instruments with fast and efficient wireless ones.
Smart phones
Cumbersome, fixed landline phones soon replaced by small, pocket-sized gadgets, popularly known as a cell phone, mobile phone or simply mobile. Powered by efficient computer technology mobiles revolutionised telephony. With ease of data transfer and multimedia support, a paradigm shift in communication became the order. It transformed the whole communication ecosystem. Cell phone born in an entirely new and efficient avatar. It is now a time of “Smart Phones”, which are like a pocket computer; small and thin enough to easily fit in a pocket or a purse. Smartphones are essential devices capable of various tasks like managing bank accounts, making payments, purchasing groceries or large items, booking tickets, and planning travel. It helped the fast expansion of multimedia platforms. It, later named social media.
Smart TV
On the same token. TV also radically changed to smart TVs capable of performing computer operations. Amalgamated with space technology and the power of communication satellites, the quality of TV signals improved significantly, ensuring efficient production processes for clear, crisp and vivid videos and pictures.
Mass media
Mass communication is a system of communication that has a mass effect and reach. It encompasses all types of media including print and electronic media. It augments the dissemination of information among a large number of people simultaneously. The media became a powerfull tool to express views, share pictures, videos and news items. Besides government controlled media, private players and media houses also play their roles. They collectively form a large group called “Mainstream Media”.
Social media
Contrary to mainstream media, social media is a platform for public use and consumption. Text, photographs and videos could easily be shared and viewed with ease. Though a part of a large “Mass Media” family, social media has attained the status of the most favourable and interactive media platform. Millions of photos, videos, text and audio files are being shared every moment. It has become a powerful medium of connecting and sharing moments. People feel connected and informed. It has significantly replaced the old way of letter writing. Emails, Social media posts and podcasts have become a catchword of time. Things have radically changed, and a perceptible change is seen in people’s attitudes.
Social media platforms
There are several social media platforms, but the most commonly used ones are Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Threads and Tumblr. They are for general use where the user can post and share pictures, text, audio or small videos. With time, some platforms achieved a specific badge like X, which is now considered a powerful platform to publicly share one’s views or incidents. LinkedIn is for the professional fraternity, while other platforms/websites cater to specific fields. YouTube is the exclusive platform for video sharing.
Potential of social media
Social media platforms allow a lot of creative activities and also monetise the activities through careful planning and persistent hard work. A writer who had to wade through many difficulties and rejections to publish his/her work is now not indigent. Their work can be accessed by social media users. Though it has become easy, the quality of the content and its accuracy are vital. It must be maintained. It shows the seriousness of the content and its creator. This helps build a firm base and earn recognition.
Judicious use
Social media has attained a powerful position due to its wide reach. A wide spectrum of people and target groups have access to it and can disseminate information in no time. Judicious use of social media is highly desirable. Its use for any unlawful activities is unethical and derogatory to society. People must be cautious of fraudulent posts or unlawful activities. The hackers and scammers are on a spree. The social media platforms must be used cautiously.
A quinquennium before, I wrote a blog on this topic titled “Social Media: Boon or Bane”. The blog can be accessed by clicking HERE.
Prudent use of the tool
Technology, techniques and gadgets are for the ease of life. They are like Genie, always at our service. They have no discretion but to obey the user. A knife that is used to chop vegetables and fruits in the kitchen can physically harm anyone, and it can be a potentially fatal weapon for anyone. It is the user who is responsible for the acts performed. It is, thus, strongly advised not to use social media platforms irresponsibly. Its power must be used for constructive and positive purposes.
Judicious use of a powerful tool can do wonders. A sensible and sensitive person can bring positive change by prudent use of social media.
Some more interesting reads:
-END-
Kamal Kishore Srivastava
A retired government officer turned writer and photographer, Kamal Kishore Srivastava is a regular blogger and essayist who explores life’s deeper meanings through immersive reflections on nature, impermanence, and happiness. On his blog Nature’s Narrative, he blends philosophical storytelling with practical insights. Writing 1200–1500 or more words regularly, Kamal is committed to refining his craft, expanding his audience, and building a sustainable space where thought and feeling meet.
Leave a Reply