Defining Social Media

I consider social media to be any digital application or service that provides a means for users to network with each other and share some kind of content, whether it be text, images, video or anything else. By that definition, many platforms might fall under this category that you may not think of. Group messaging applications such as Telegram, Kik, or Whatsapp allow for the distribution of media to large groups of people. Message boards such as reddit encourage users to actively participate in ongoing discussions and create a democracy of information by allowing users to influence what is popular. Blogging or video sharing sites such as Blogger and Youtube allow for users to engage with content posted by other users and so, they too could be given this designation. Houseparty allows for groups of users to video chat with each other and play games and Twitch encourages audience participation in live streams. The common thread between all of these services is the basic concept of interaction. The media being shared is not being consumed in a passive way, but is actively being influenced by the consumers. Generally speaking, I don't know that any platform is necessarily being purposefully excluded from being considered social media but perhaps there are services that blur the lines. For example, industry specific news sites such as Engadget have a primary focus on journalism but include aspects commonly found in social media to encourage interaction with their content.