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In today's social media boom, one is perplexed by the overwhelming options of social media networks available. It's often difficult to choose what social media to brand oneself with, but like millions of others I have jumped into the bandwagon and use the two most trendy and popular social media websites - Facebook and Twitter.

While staying up to date with friends, colleagues, news and viral videos on these social media networks is time consuming I still find it worth the while to browse these networks and join the millions of others in sharing, liking, friending and befriending friends and acquaintances as well as twitting about things I find fascinating or interesting. This is has become a routine for millions of people across the globe with a diverse range of backgrounds, race, religion, taste and interests. Governments, businesses, media and philanthropy pundits are increasingly following this impressive worldwide congregation in social media networks. This has revolutionized advertising, Public Relations, marketing, networking and news reporting in ways we couldn't have imagined a decade ago. 

Looking at this phenomenal revolution, I can't help it but to keep up with what's happening in the social media world. It has helped me widen the scale of my understanding of the world around me. It has helped others voice their concerns and topple dictator governments, and others to raise awareness and give birth to social activism.

The Populous Virtual World

Sunday September 2, 2012 - Twitter announced on Friday that it has enhanced its add-targeting capabilities and can now target users based on their interests - something that will allow advertisers and companies to specifically target users and customers based on their interests.

This niche penetration into users is done through allowing advertisers locate user tweets and interests as well as products, music or any other interests they follow. This way companies can select these options and knock on people's virtual doorsteps with what they have to offer.

With social media advertising on the rise, social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook are increasingly enhancing their capabilities for such specific set skills that meet the ever growing demand of advertisers in this ever growing social media savvy world. This is because more and more people across the globe are embracing social media either as a matter of the practicality of the sites or as a social trend specially in developing world. According to Twitter’s website, it’s monthly active user list has grown to 140 million – a 40% increase compared to September last year (mashable.com/2012/03/21/twitter-has-140-million-users/) . Facebook still remains way further in the social media user share battle and dominates the market with 800 million users (http://newsroom.fb.com/) 

While both these social media giants are boasting their massive and speedy growth, questions remain about the gullible users of these websites. While users enjoy sharing photos and status updates as well as finding out the likes of their nears and dears, they are not fully aware of how and for what their “privacies” are used. One obvious use is for giant consumer or other companies that are seeking to find customer interests. Other uses are apparently for finding location and other uses that remain undisclosed as of yet. Users should have the right and authority to control their private information and should know for what and how their information is used. One wouldn’t want these giants to prey on people and use their private information without their knowledge for private pocket sustainability.