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. Social media sites are unique in that they are typically based on user-produced content. There are many types of social media sites that 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. Thus, outside of publishing in newspapers or writing books, the venue to share one’s ideas with others did not exist. Blogging, by comparison, allows a person to “write” on the internet - one’s voice can be shared with billions.

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 are focused less on romance and random relationships and more on creating a basis for professional contacts. Professional contacts are needed in a world in which entrepreneurship is becoming ever more frequent, which means that small businesses are constantly on the hunt for qualified people. Websites like LinkedIn help to facilitate the creation of that type of professional network.

5) Web “forums” are another form of social media (albeit basic) that allow users from different areas to connect with one another and discuss a topic of mutual interest. Forums can be about any subjects and they are frequently administered by a particular site, and a topic for discussion is provided ahead of time. However, other than a small degree of oversight made present by a forum administrator, people can usually say whatever they want.

6) Some sites combine interests in developing networks with that of providing a public forum for self-expression. Perhaps more importantly though, Myspace opens a user up to their own self-expression and the elaborate self-expressions of tens of millions of other people.

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