Is Social Media the Future?

We've been discussing throughout the whole semester the power of social media and as the semester comes to an end I've been reflecting on this topic. I've been asking myself the question: Is social media the future. Now, this is a very open question but it is a question that needs to be asked. The future of what? Well, pretty much everything. Marketing, communication, news, etc.

There is no doubt that social media has caught on throughout the world and is producing a snowball effect as it seems like it is only getting more popular with time. Companies are using social media to extend their marketing to potential customers. News is traveling faster than it did before due to social media. People are connecting with other individuals over social media and the list goes on.

The question that needs to be addressed is if we have reached the climax of social media or is it just the beginning. It does seem logical that social media would follow a traditional business cycle and eventually decline in popularity, but social media is something that the world has never seen before. Suddenly, with the help of Facebook and Twitter to name a couple, the playing field has been leveled. Now actors, athletes, and musicians have a way to communicate with their fans individually. Now businesses can get direct feedback from customers. These things have never been done before.

So, is social media the future? I think it is too early to tell if social media is the future of how the world opperates. But one thing is certain, it has had a profound impact on shaping it over the past several years.