“The difference between PR and social media is that PR is about positioning, and social media is about becoming, being and improving.” – Chris Brogan

What is the true power behind social media and can it really make a difference in the world today? Recent protests in Egypt show one side of the true power behind social networking.  How a voice of one may overnight, or in a very short time, become amplified to reflect the voice of many. Having myself watched the speed and rise of the most popular social networking sites in the past decade, one has to wonder just what is the driving force behind social networking and how will it play into the next generation.

It really is quite fascinating at which the speed of social networking has grown.  From blogs to real time messages to Facebook, what is for sure to become the ultimate in social networking sites.  While the true potential behind Facebook is still to be discovered,  we can already see the ways in which it has influenced and changed the shape of the internet, and how it affects the lives of people from all around the world. 

In the internet world we see more and more sites becoming connected or associated with Facebook by the various means available.  We have like buttons, and share buttons, link buttons, and the list seems endless. Everyone want’s to be able to share their story with the world or through Facebook. Yet depending what side you represent, the way we share this information, may also be deceiving as is often the case with the Facebook (Like button). Those of us unfortunate enough to experience the sometimes unpleasantness of liking something on Facebook know all to well. Clicking on a button is not always what it may seem to be. Most times,  the real motive is not immediately known nor felt by the unsuspecting user. It only comes to light when perhaps the user’s friends demand that the unsuspecting user stop spamming their email account, or perhaps you find that something is suddenly not right with your computer. A word of advice… Stay away from the like button unless you know what it is you actually like.  Use the share button as it offers you more control over what it is you are sharing and others are less likely to be deceived.

Perhaps something greater than the deceptions though, is the power to bring people together where ever they may be and have their voice be heard throughout the world. From the current uprising in Egypt, to the cries for missing children around the world, social media has seems to have taken centre stage.  Unfortunately at this point, we’ll have to monitor closely how this will all play out in the long run.  In Egypt where censorship has once again taken control to try and shut off the voice of the people, social networking will prevail and the story will be told. With the introduction of social media, no one can stop the masses once the story is out there.  Let us remember, there is a great power behind the freedom of free speech and we must never let  the story be censored. That is the true power of social media and how it will change the world as we see it!