Category: Blog Organizations: Linking Through Lenses , New Social Initiative Tags: #MEDIA #YOUTH
Forty-two percent of the world's population, or 3.2 billion people, use social networks, according to the latest data for 2021, available on the Internet. At the top of the list of the most popular are Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. In recent years, TikTok has joined the „sovereign trio“. Pinterest, Snapchat, Youtube, as well as correspondence applications such as WhatsApp and Viber are not lagging behind. Can we, today, imagine life without social networks and the Internet? Are we overdoing it? What do experts say? How do social networks affect our personality? What do influencers say?
The role of social networks
We talked about these several topics with influencers - Marija Orović, Granit Temaj, Erna Salihu, and Ivana Pavlović.
Social networks are an important part of our lives and should not be underestimated, Marija Orović believes:
"They have greatly facilitated communication, but also set new rules in marketing and business”.
"Access to social networks that are unlimited and comprehensive provides opportunities for people who have common interests to find each other, whether in business or social relations. Therefore, social networks have deeply rooted the human need to belong," Erna Salihu believes.
"If you're not on social media, you don't exist," Granit Temaj said.
"Effective tool of nowadays", that’s how Ivana Pavlović sees social networks:
"Just as it used to be print or digital media such as radio and television. Everyone greeted them with fear, every of them brought some change and everyone finally understood them as an inevitability in the overall development of society. "
Our interlocutors use social networks for identical purposes. Promotion of what they do, their hobbies,interests..
Travel
Ivana Pavlović (@ratomirovna) is most active on Instagram.
"I created a profile because I wanted to share the photos I took traveling. I imagined it as a little travel diary. As all the networks developed, I began to realize that the point was no longer just in sharing, but in some kind of sales - talent, products, stories, and even ‘fog’. At the moment, I use my social profiles as a kind of blog about traveling or living in different places,” she explains.
Dance
"I try to use social media to promote what I can help with, keep up to date with current business developments and stay in touch with my friends and relevant individuals who provide personal and professional development," adds Erna Salihu - founder, and CEO of JOY Dance and Sports Association.
Mountains
"The main purpose why I use social networks is to share my life story, what I do and how I spent weekends in the mountains. My goal is to share the beautiful places of Kosovo, hiking trails, and local companies that are in the mountains," says Granit Temaj (@granit.temaj on Instagram).
Marija Orović runs a travel and lifestyle blog as well as an Instagram blog under the name @maxytravelette.
"I use social networks to promote the brand that I developed. I am also very active in creating video content on the Youtube platform. I make travel videos and share my impressions of a place, prices, and similar things. Then there is the lifestyle aspect - everything from advising on beauty and cosmetics to decorating the home and everyday life. Although I still consider it all a hobby, it is indisputable that I am slowly but surely developing my brand on the Internet," explains Orović.
Advantages from the angle of the influencer
One of the main topics in discussion about social networks is certainly their influence. There are many benefits.
With the help of social media, marketing companies can pinpoint target groups, small businesses that have social networks and know how to use them to gain customers have the same direction - they can develop their brand, reach more people, expand their influence.
Social networks "connect" people, allow us to share our stories, expertise, talk about what we know and what we want to be known for while attracting potential professional and personal connections - our interlocutors agree.
"It has never been so easy to create an active and functional project from a simple idea. Start your own business, brand, share your idea, inform people about the most ordinary or unusual things and gather a group around your story. At the same time, as more and more people join social networks, selling or presenting something of their own, the competition is greater, so that availability is already narrowing. But it still exists. Social media have enabled the survival and development of even the smallest and most distant man on the planet, and I consider that to be their great advantage," adds Ivana Pavlović.
The role of social networks in creating positive changes in society
What is certain is that the influence of social networks is strong and can be the key driver for social change. We are witnesses that we came across a lot of information, especially during the pandemic - when we moved to virtual reality. Virtual exhibitions, events, meetings - suddenly what we needed for several hours of travel, money was available in one place – online.
Social networks and their potential impact on positive changes in society were also the topics of the “My turn to influence” panel recently organized by the New Social Initiative (NSI) as part of the Linking Through Lenses project.
Television presenter Ana Rustemi, social media expert Mateja Simić, and Halakatte.com founder Valon Canhasi took part.
Ana Rustemi is followed on Instagram by more than 40,000 followers. She believes that her influence is caused by people who follow her.
You have to be active, do different things, share experiences. You have to be you – she pointed out to young people who would like to follow in her footsteps, referring to the fact that she started her career as a blogger.
Social networks have contributed to the democratization of society, said Canhasi:
"Everyone can say what they think about a certain topic."
What has an impact is the evidence of examples of coexistence and cooperation on social networks - he believes, citing as an example the training he held in North Mitrovica in Serbian and posted pictures of it on social networks.
We need to find a common ground and common interests - advises Valon, adding:
"The Internet has allowed us to see the world and understand that the added value is to work with each other, sell a product and start a business or activity."
Matija Simić believes that as a society we are moving in the right direction when it comes to cooperation.
Naturally, there is an interaction between the Serbian and Albanian communities. When you remove national barriers when it is not taboo to sit with someone from another ethnic community, it is a natural process to create common, not only interests but friendships, he concludes.
You can see the whole panel