The various types of social media sites are a result of people all around the world taking an interest in reaching each other via the internet. What makes social media sites special is that they are premised on subscribers or “users” producing content for the sites. Thus, social media sites all have particular limitations on what users can do and place certain types of content restrictions, but the sites themselves would be nothing without user interactivity. This is distinct from a more standard type of website, which can serve it’s purpose merely be existing and providing a type of content without a degree of interactivity. There are various types of social media sites that have developed over time.

1) Blogs are one way in which people interact with each other. In the past, individuals may have kept diaries, but hoped they could share their thoughts with others and receive feedback, but that was largely imposed since the network did not exist to share ideas. This allows a lot of factually incorrect content to make it onto the internet, but it has also heralded a major revolution in the media by increasing the scope of information type in global news. For example, during the U. S. War in Iraq, Iraqi bloggers were posting their experiences with the U. S. Military on the internet. Some blogs have even been used in court cases as evidence.

2) Video multimedia sites are another example. Websites like Youtube allow anyone to produce content that people see from around the world. Some users submit comedy sketches and skits, some report on the news, some just simply want to see their face on the screen in front of them. Regardless, the “Comment” feature on these sites allows users to know how users feel about the produced content, which facilitates a degree of customizable user-friendly and user-based consumer choice that is necessary on this type of site.

3) Some sites help facilitate romance. Users develop profiles that describe themselves and their interests, and this data is then used by a program to help bring people together.

4) Some sites link professionals up with each other, allowing them to show their resumes and create contacts needed for career advancement.

5) “Forums” are also useful in social media. Because all of the content is saved over time, new users are able to join the conversation within a forum at any point. Before web “forums, ” there really was no similar venue for this type of discussion, the closest perhaps being the “letters to the editor” section of newspapers.

6) Some websites capture the essence of individual personalities and focus on showcasing these personalities by allowing significant amounts of user customization in their profiles (e.g., Myspace or Facebook).