Why People Participate in Social Media?

What drives people to participate in social activity online? THAT is the question...

The reasons are varied, as varied as the participants themselves. Here's my short list. Care to add yours?

1. Need to make business connections: enough said, this is basic networking, albeit online

2. Need to connect with old friends: keeping up friendships, connecting with people you know, to find out what's up with them

3. Need to make new friends: according to surveys, one in five online singles has viewed or participated in online dating in the past year; marriage statistics last year put newlyweds meeting online at a rate of 12-12.5% (that's 1 in 8!); that's a lot of new friends

4. Need to please others: yes, succumbing to pressure to participate in anything from your peers is still around, it's just found a new face (facebook, that is)

5. Need to help others: paying it forward, contributing in any way possible, it's an altruistic impulse; it's what made Wikipedia possible

6. Need for lust: some social networking is basically an endless parade of exhibitionism and hedonism

7. Need for a creative outlet: are you a photographer, writer, or videographer? the Web is the perfect place to show off your skills

8. Need for validation: people who post information like to be seen as knowledgeable experts

9. Need to connect within similar interests: whether it's a bowling league, a school, or your fellow baseball team fans, what better way than to share interests by connecting online


Not everyone wants the same things within social networking. What's your reason?