Diffusion of Innovations

    

    Have you ever wondered how social media spread so fast or why people became so obsessed with it? Maybe why others don't have any interest in social media? The Diffusion of Innovations Theory explains it all. This theory looks at how new ideas and technologies catch on and spread through our society back then and today. 

    In the beginning, social media was tested out by only a few people. College kids were the main target audience for social media. They were sharing their lives on Instagram, tweeting news on Twitter, etc. College kids are always the first to try innovative technology, so are you surprised? They were the innovators and early adopters of social media. 

    Then came the early majority and late majority. Older generations hopped onto social media as it began to blow up in our society. They used it to keep up with their family members, follow news reports, and used it because everyone else was. This is where the diffusion theory came into play. The more people that joined social media, the more pressure others felt to join it as well. It eventually became a part of everyone's daily life. 

    However, not everyone jumped onto social media. Some people aren't totally off the grid, but they don't use it everyday. Not everyone wants their lives to be displayed for the world to see. They enjoy their privacy and want to stay private. Others may use social media, but not post any part of themselves in order to stay private, but still keep up with others. 

    Personally, I use social media everyday. It is how I keep up with peers, stay up to date on trends, and so much more. I post on Instagram about once a month and scroll on TikTok on a daily basis. As I have grown up using social media, I have noticed some positives and negatives of being on social media. You can stay in touch with people who live far away, discover trends, build a brand, share work, seek new opportunities, and much more. On the other hand, social media can worsen mental health, cause stress, lead to misinformation, and give you the fear of missing out.