Characteristics of Social Media

For a website to be categorized as a social media web site it should contain some of these characteristics.

Web Space

The web site should provide users with free web space to upload content such as their photos, videos, blogs, groups and hobbies/info.

Web Address

Giving the users a unique web address allows their page to become their web identity so they can share this web address with others and promote themselves if they are using it as a business page, are in a band, are an independent artists or are using it as a portfolio.

Building Profiles

The ability to create your own profile and being able to customize your profile in some way I a popular choice for social media as it allows the user to customize their profile to suit whatever purpose the page was create for like being able to add your business logo or add your own art to your webpage.

Connecting with friends

The ability to connect with friends through social media is a must otherwise it won’t be very social. Being able to connect with your friends through social media will allow you to plan events, play games and share photos/videos.

Uploading Content in Real Time

Being able to upload in real time allows the user to keep their profile up to date and anyone who follows that person up to date as well.

Enable Conversations

Being able to have conversations with friends, groups and strangers (if they would like that option) is also a must have characteristic of social media and keeps people coming back to check on their group conversations and also allows the users to be able to plan events easier.

Time Stamps

Having time stamps on posts is more important than most people might think because it allows users to be able to follow posts a lot easier and see when a certain update was posted.

Kevin Crawford