Changes

[[File:Godsbook.jpg|right|200px]]

[[File:Godsbook.jpg|right|200px]]

'''Social media''' -- a euphemism for [[gossip]] sites—is a term for websites and applications that allow users to share information and communicate with other users in a "social" setting. [[Liberal censorship]] became rampant on [[Facebook]], [[Twitter]], and [[YouTube]], causing many to look for alternatives.  Some school districts—most notably [[New York City]]'s -- have limited contact by [[public school]] teachers with students on [[Facebook]] and [[Twitter]], except on pages set up for classroom use.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/02/nyregion/social-media-rules-for-nyc-school-staff-limits-contact-with-students.html?_r=1&hp</ref>

'''Social media''' is a term for websites and applications that allow users to share information and communicate with other users in a "social" setting. They typically offer both a public forum for speech, where users can publish their thoughts, ideas, concerns, etc. as well as a private messaging mechanism enabling private conversations between two or more individuals. Most support media sharing as well, in the form of images and videos.

==Characteristics of Users==

==Characteristics of Users==

Social media experts and psychologists have noted that many users find the need to constantly update their status, check on the status of others or play games suffer from what is known as "Facebook Addiction Disorder."  The "disorder" was shown to be prevalent in young people, as a study showed that college students who were asked to abstain from using Facebook for 24 hours experienced helplessness, loneliness, and anxiety.<ref>[http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Lifestyle/2011/Jul-09/Spending-hours-updating-your-status-You-may-be-a-Facebook-addict.ashx#axzz1RvVMJJOr Spending hours updating your status? You may be a Facebook addict] The Daily Star, July 9, 2011</ref>

Social media experts and psychologists have noted that many users find the need to constantly update their status, check on the status of others or play games suffer from what is known as "Facebook Addiction Disorder."  The "disorder" was shown to be prevalent in young people, as a study showed that college students who were asked to abstain from using Facebook for 24 hours experienced helplessness, loneliness, and anxiety.<ref>[http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Lifestyle/2011/Jul-09/Spending-hours-updating-your-status-You-may-be-a-Facebook-addict.ashx#axzz1RvVMJJOr Spending hours updating your status? You may be a Facebook addict] The Daily Star, July 9, 2011</ref>

==Criticism of Social Media==

==Criticism of Social Media==

{{see also|Social media censorship}}

{{see also|Social media censorship}}

Despite several social media websites boasting large numbers of users, active user percentages have slowed or declined in recent times.  For example, Facebook reported only a 1.7% month to month increase in active users.<ref>[http://www.buzzom.com/2011/06/facebooks-growth-rate-is-dropping-says-report/ Facebook’s Growth Rate is Dropping, says Report] Buzzom.com, June 13, 2011</ref>  Social media critics have noted that these sites often promote "hive-mind" behavior, where many users band together behind one ideology, usually liberalism.  In June 2011, users of the website [[Reddit]] crashed White House phone lines during a campaign calling for the legalisation of drugs.<ref>[http://caivn.org/article/2011/06/18/internet-activists-crash-white-house-phone-lines-calling-end-war-drugs INTERNET ACTIVISTS CRASH WHITE HOUSE PHONE LINES CALLING FOR AN END TO THE WAR ON DRUGS] CA Independent Voter Network, June 18, 2011</ref>

Despite several social media websites boasting large numbers of users, active user percentages have slowed or declined in recent times.  For example, Facebook reported only a 1.7% month to month increase in active users.<ref>[http://www.buzzom.com/2011/06/facebooks-growth-rate-is-dropping-says-report/ Facebook’s Growth Rate is Dropping, says Report] Buzzom.com, June 13, 2011</ref>  Social media critics have noted that these sites often promote "hive-mind" behavior, where many users band together behind one ideology, usually liberalism.  In June 2011, users of the website [[Reddit]] crashed White House phone lines during a campaign calling for the legalisation of drugs.<ref>[http://caivn.org/article/2011/06/18/internet-activists-crash-white-house-phone-lines-calling-end-war-drugs INTERNET ACTIVISTS CRASH WHITE HOUSE PHONE LINES CALLING FOR AN END TO THE WAR ON DRUGS] CA Independent Voter Network, June 18, 2011</ref>