Welcome back. If you’re new to this blog, this series covers the growth of social media. Let’s dive in.
Beyond entertainment, social media had become a powerful economic engine. The rise of the “creator economy” turned ordinary users into influencers, with platforms like YouTube and Instagram allowing people to earn full-time incomes from their content. Careers that didn’t exist twenty years ago—social media managers, digital marketers, content strategists—are now common.
Businesses quickly recognized the potential of these platforms. Advertising shifted from television and print to highly targeted social campaigns. A small business could now reach thousands of potential customers at a fraction of the cost of traditional advertising. Instagram shops, Facebook Marketplace, and TikTok shopping blurred the line between social networking and e-commerce.
Influencer marketing, once seen as experimental, grew into a multi-billion-dollar industry. Brands leverage the trust influencers build with their audiences to sell products, creating a modern form of word-of-mouth advertising. This shift also democratized opportunity—anyone with creativity and consistency could gain a following and monetize it.
Today, social media isn’t just a place to share selfies; it’s a marketplace, a business hub, and an economic driver. The boom transformed it from a communication tool into an essential pillar of the global economy.
The effects were yet to be realized. How had it transformed mankind? Stay tuned.
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