“The media is the most powerful entity on Earth. They have the power to make the innocent innocent and the guilty innocent, and that is power. Because they control the minds of the masses” - Malcom X. Let's say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Media has become an integral part of the life of humanity. Newspapers were first written in English in 1666 when the London Gazette was written. Newspapers were then first introduced to America in 1690 when Benjamin Harris wrote Publick Occurrences. For most citizens of London and the new America, these were the only source of news available at the time. Then, in 1920, a new source of media was introduced to the world. Guglielmo Marconi and Reginald Fessenden invented the radio. Since there were several radio stations, the news became less distorted as previously there was only one newspaper in a community. The world of media changed even more when television was invented in 1927 and sold to the public in 1934. In 1988, the first form of social media was used as Internet Relay Chats. However, the first brand's social media wasn't introduced until 1997, when Six Degrees allowed users to create a profile and become friends with other users. In 2003, Myspace was created and expanded on this idea. Video social media was introduced when YouTube was created in 2005. In 2004, Facebook took social media and revamped it, turning it into the Internet behemoth it is today. Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat soon followed suit. These social media sites have changed the way our world works as a whole. They influence politics, entertainment, news and how people communicate with each other. While social media certainly has its drawbacks and problems, social media has brought great benefits to our society these days. Although social networks can cause self-obsession or depression, sites like Facebook and Instagram are useful because they help keep friends and families connected. Rendler-Kaplan states that “social networks began as a means to connect with friends” (Rendler-Kaplan, 12). Social media website connects us with our friends, family and loved ones. Without social media we would never be able to stay in touch with the people closest to us. People don't call each other anymore these days. The whole world revolves around social media and the world couldn't function without it. One article states: “About two-thirds (67%) of social media users say that staying in touch with current friends and family is a top reason why they use social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or LinkedIn ; about half say they use these sites to reconnect with old friends” (Heimlich). Without social media, most people wouldn't live away from their families. Job opportunities out of state or even out of the country would be rejected, regardless of the amount of money offered. If one were to leave the state their family is from, they would almost certainly not hear from them again until the holidays. But with social media you can chat with your family member thousands of miles away. Again, a world without social media would be a world without loved ones. People did not see their friends and families for long periods of time. However, with social media, families are easily connected to each other. These studies are also much higher than similar numbers for users aged 50 and over, although a relatively large number of older people indicate staying atI pass with loved ones as the main reason for using social media websites. However, some people might say that social media can lead to self-obsession and depression. One study states: “But such 'social comparisons' may be linked to a greater likelihood of suffering from depression. This is one of the findings of a new study that identified a total of five social media behaviors linked to the mental health condition. “Perfect” models and other celebrities can be very harmful. People comparing themselves to others they consider "better than me." These people topped a social media addiction survey that included options like “You have tried to reduce your social media use without success” and “You use social media so much that it has had a negative impact.” about your work/studies." These young adults also say that their self-esteem has taken a hit when they are tagged in an unflattering photo on social media. While this is a great point, however, this does not mean that social media in they together are a terrible place. While the sites can have self-deprecating views, if used correctly, social media is a relatively positive place. When following friends and family, most of the time it's about positivity Personally, when I see my family's posts on Instagram, they're usually about cute kids or dogs, smiling faces, or amazing vacation spots. While we may feel hate or jealousy towards these types of things, most people feel positivity staying in touch with your friends and family. Although it can be used for crimes, social media sites are good as they help small businesses start and grow. In my experience with the business side of Instagram, it has helped my friends and my business thrive. Our business, 4-Low Offroad, has over five hundred followers on Instagram and has sold over $500 worth of merchandise. As a Forbes article states: “With such penetration, its significance to society cannot be ignored , especially in the world of marketing. The reach and influence of social media is a treasure in the business and commerce sectors, where the need to engage and persuade the market is of the highest priority. With the slow death of print and radio, social media has taken over as a major marketing and advertising channel” (Shaw). Billions of people use social media every day. There is a market for almost every niche, hobby and brand you can create. Revenue also increases through the use of social media sites. One article states: “The most obvious opportunity is to generate revenue. This can be done by building a community or advertising your products or services within the social media platform. If you choose to advertise on social media, the ads may link to your business's social media page or sometimes to your website. This may mean that you can benefit from social media without needing to have a channel” (Williams). Social media has made businesses thrive in the modern age. Every business has Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat. The easiest way to start a small business now is through social media sites. Businesses now see revenue they would never have seen if it weren't for social media. Almost every new business you see today has become big thanks to their social media presence. The main aspect of the business is the amount of money that can be brought in. When you have the ability to reach hundreds of thousands of people every day, the amount of money you can bring in is enormous. However, some.