How Do You Define: Social Media?

With today's social media-driven society, we find ourselves increasing our multi-tasking skills as we complete the work of the day while in-tune to any and all social media account updates that create a nice "ding" on our cell phones screens. With exception to the older generations, it's complicated to find anyone not engulfed on the cell phone/iPad/computer at all breaks of the day updating social media. It's a world of connections we've created outside of our office cubicle. But when it comes to defining just what exactly social media is- we find ourselves with looking like this.

Let's begin with the most ancient sources of artifacts. According to Wikipedia- social media is the social interaction among people in which they create, share, or exchange information, ideas, and pictures/videos in virtual communities and networks.  But with social media and it's uses continuously growing in our personal lives and in the business world, this definition is the tip of the iceberg. After researching multiple websites and taking perspectives and other's personal definitions into account................................

Social media is web-based, user-driven channels that can be accessed on mobile technologies. Social media is an engaging and interactive form of communication that utilizes a web 2.0 platform that allows for two-way communication between business and its targeted publics. Social media makes the entire world a conversation platform because we, as individuals, are connected globally and defined by our participation on social media channels. Social media cannot be purchased as previous traditional marketing strategies, but instead allow participants to drive the conversation and give their input into a business's product/services. Social media is changing the way we communicate, compete, participate, market and live in our technology-driven society that revolves around the use of social media.

Definitions of social media come in all shapes, sizes,  and perspectives based on one's personal uses or position in business. Do you have a different idea/definition of social media? Please comment below and give your personal definition of social media.