With the rise in the popularity and accessibility of digital technologies, social media has become an integral part of most people’s lives. However, few people wonder how social media actually works, preferring to use and view it from a rather superficial perspective. The idea of delving deep into the history of social media and exploring how it came to be as people see it today is an interesting and exciting perspective. Specifically, the analysis of not only the discoveries and technological advances but also the sociocultural underpinnings of social media development could provide a plethora of insights. Marking the need for communication as an indispensable part of every individual’s life as the foundational factor in creating social media appears to be a rather sensible statement.
However, the idea that social media has emerged solely as the response to the natural need to communicate, which is inherent to every person, seems to represent only one facet of the complex force that led to the development of social networks. Apart from the desire to communicate, social media must have emerged owing to the need to be part of a community due to the internal sense of belonging that every individual needs to have. The importance of belonging as a crucial factor in seeking communication opportunities has been emphasized in multiple studies and theoretical frameworks. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is one of these frameworks, where the need for belonging is listed as the top-tier requirement for a fulfilling life (Ghatak & Singh, 2019). Therefore, attributing the origin of social media solely to the urge to communicate would create an incomplete perspective on its nature. Additionally, the significance of belonging and support should also be emphasized.
Reference
Ghatak, S., & Singh, S. (2019). Examining Maslow’s hierarchy needs theory in social media adoption. FIIB Business Review, 8(4), 292-302. Web.