Literature Review of Social Media and Social Networking Trends

This assignment is a literature review focusing on the impact and applications of social media and social networking. The review explores various perspectives on the use of social media, including its role in spreading information, facilitating social connections, and influencing political campaigns. It discusses how social media serves as a knowledge-sharing platform, particularly for disabled citizens, and as a tool for professional development in education. The review also examines the use of social media in building brand loyalty, enhancing customer relationships, and improving corporate reputation, especially within the tourism industry. The assignment synthesizes research from multiple sources to highlight the crucial role of social media and social networking in modern communication and business practices, emphasizing its broad impact on information sharing and online interactions.

RUNNING HEAD: SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOCIAL NETWORKING 0
2020
Social Media and Social Networking
Student’s Details-

SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOCIAL NETWORKING 1
Literature Review of Social Media and Social Networking
Social media is the useful way of spreading the information and has changed the way
people interact and do business. This can be helpful in making the social networking in which
the people can spread awareness about something and often has a positive impact on the life of
the people (Boulianne, 2015). Here, the assignment is based on the literature review of social
media and social networking.
According to Boulianne, 2015, social media can be used for different purposes and the
main motive is to make the people aware of the specific event or situation which can later be
helpful in the building up of social connection (Boulianne, 2015). This can be used in the
election campaign positively which can increase the citizens participation in the civic and
political life. Besides, Altinay, Saner, Bahçelerli, & Altinay’s perspective regarding the social
media acts as a knowledge sharing platform for the disabled citizens. Moreover, social media has
become an important tool for sharing knowledge and digitalization (Altinay, Saner, Bahçelerli, &
Altinay, 2016). Social media tools can be helpful in the tourism services of the country and the
accessibility of services within the society. Also, it is being observed that the orthopedically
disabled people were using social media for the expansion of knowledge. Further, Donelan, 2016
has stated that social media can also be helpful in the work-related and professional purpose
(Donelan, 2016). Social media can facilitate in the higher education as it enhances networking
opportunities and making contribution to the career progression. The main motive of using social
media in education is to share practical knowledge and sharing of good practice.
As per Nisar & Whitehead, 2016, social networking sites are used for the building of the
brand loyalty which in turn help the business to grow. Also, the social media can facilitate in
maintaining the customers relationships as most of the loyal customers are targeted through the
social media (Nisar & Whitehead, 2016). This can later help the business to make customer
engagements through the online channels and making the determination of the customer’s
behavior. On the contrary, Dijkmans, Kerkhof, & Beukeboom, 2015 described that social media
has a positive connection with the company’s reputation which is the valuable asset for the
company. The online activities of the companies can lead to higher customer engagements.
Social media can attract the attention of large number of customers which can help the company

SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOCIAL NETWORKING 2
to build a corporate image and can be implied to travel and tourism industry (Dijkmans, Kerkhof,
& Beukeboom, 2015). Moreover, social media an effective tool for the promotion in which the
company can enhance the brand reputation online due to heavy reliance of customers on social
media.
In conclusion, social media and social networking is crucial in every aspect as it
facilitates the significant ways by which the information can be shared and spread broadly. Here
the assignment has discussed the literature review of positive use of social media and social
networking.

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References
Altinay, Z., Saner, T., Bahçelerli, N., & Altinay, F. (2016). The role of social media tools:
accessible tourism for disabled citizens. Journal of Educational Technology & Society,
19(1), 89-99.
Boulianne, S. (2015). Social media use and participation: A meta-analysis of current research.
Information, communication & society, 18(5), 524-538.
Dijkmans, C., Kerkhof, P., & Beukeboom, C. (2015). A stage to engage: Social media use and
corporate reputation. Tourism management, 47, 58-67.
Donelan, H. (2016). Social media for professional development and networking opportunities in
academia. Journal of further and higher education, 40(5), 706-729.
Nisar, T., & Whitehead, C. (2016). Brand interactions and social media: Enhancing user loyalty
through social networking sites. Computers in Human Behavior, 62, 743-753.