“The media is the most powerful entity in the world. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and the guilty innocent, and that is power. Because they control the minds of the masses” - Malcolm X. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayMedia has become an integral part of the lives 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 sources were the only source of information 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. Thanks to the existence of different radio stations, the information has become less biased since previously there was only one newspaper in a community. The world of media changed again when television was invented in 1927 and sold to the public in 1934. In 1988, the first form of social media was used in the form of relay chat on the Internet. However, first-brand social media was not introduced until 1997, when Six Degrees allowed users to create a profile and become friends with other users. In 2003, Myspace was created and developed on this idea. Video social media was introduced when YouTube was founded in 2005. In 2004, Facebook took social media and revamped it, making it the Internet juggernaut today. Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat quickly followed suit. These social media sites have changed the way our world works as a whole. They influence politics, entertainment, current events and the way people communicate with each other. Although social media certainly has its drawbacks and problems, it has greatly benefited our society today. Although social media can cause self-obsession or depression, sites like Facebook and Instagram are useful because they help keep friends and family connected. Rendler-Kaplan states that “social media began as a way to connect with friends” (Rendler-Kaplan, 12). Social media sites connect us with our friends, family and loved ones. Without social media, we would never be able to stay in touch with our loved ones. Today, people no longer call each other. The whole world revolves around social media and the world couldn't function without it. According to one article: “About two-thirds (67%) of social media users say that staying in touch with current friends and family members is one of the main reasons 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 would not live away from their families. Job opportunities out of state, or even overseas, would be denied, regardless of the amount of money offered. If someone left their family's home state, it's almost certain they wouldn't hear from them again until after the holidays. But with social media, you can chat with a family member thousands of miles away. Once again, a world without social networks would be a world without loved ones. People didn't see their friends and family for long periods of time. However, thanks to social networks,Families are easily connected to each other. These studies are also much higher than similar figures for users aged 50 and over, although a relatively large number of older people indicate that staying in touch with loved ones is one of the main reasons for their use of social media websites. However, some people will argue that social media can lead to self-obsession and depression. One study states: “But such 'social comparisons' may be linked to a higher likelihood of suffering from depression. That's one of the findings of a new study that identified a total of five social media behaviors linked to mental health issues. "Perfect" models and other celebrities can be very damaging. People who compare themselves to others they considered “better off than me.” These people topped a social media addiction survey that included options such as "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 their self-esteem took a hit when they were tagged in an unflattering photo on social media. While this is a very good point, it doesn't mean that social media as a whole is a terrible place. Although the sites can have self-deprecating viewpoints, if used correctly, social media is a relatively positive place. When you follow your friends and family, most of the time it's a result of positivity. In my personal experience, when I see posts from my family on Instagram, they're usually about cute babies or dogs, smiling faces, or awesome vacation spots. Although one may feel hatred or jealousy towards these kinds of things, most people feel some positivity from staying in touch with friends and family. Although they can be used for criminal purposes, social media sites are positive because they help small businesses start and grow. In my experience with the business side of Instagram, it has helped my friends' businesses and mine thrive. Our company, 4-Low Offroad, has over five hundred followers on Instagram and has sold well over $500 worth of merchandise. As a Forbes article says: “With such penetration, its importance to society cannot be ignored, especially in the world of marketing. The reach and influence of social media is a treasure trove in the business and commerce sectors, where the need to engage and convince the market is a top priority. With the slow death of print and radio, social media has become one of the primary marketing and advertising channels” (Shaw). Billions of people use social media every day. There is a market for almost every niche, hobby, and brand that can possibly be created. Income is also increased 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 on the social media platform. If you choose to advertise on social media, the ads can either link to your business's social media page or sometimes to your website. This can mean you can benefit from social media without needing a channel” (Williams). Social media makes businesses thrive.