Whether you’re for or against it, there’s no denying that social media has impacted our lives over the last decade. It’s managed to have an effect on the way we think and feel, and it’s brought us together as one.

We have discussed just some of the ways it has changed the world.

Awareness and fundraising

Social media has made it faster and easier to access information and news around the world. Whether it’s through a Facebook status update, a tweet, or post on Instagram, we can instantly be made aware of different issues around the world than we ever could have been before.

Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge, where we were summoned to throw a bucket of ice over our heads in aid of charity? There were in excess of 2.4 million ice bucket-related videos on Facebook, even with Donald Trump, Justin Bieber and more world-famous celebs taking part.

The point of the challenge was to raise money for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It raised a whopping £90 million for the ALS Association. Wow.

That’s not the only money-raising scheme that social media has played a vital part in. We’ve also had the No Make-up Selfie Campaign, where celebrities and thousands of the public uploaded bare-faced selfies. This scheme raised £8m for Cancer Research UK in just six days, and much more after.

Social media has become one of the most crucial and visible channels for charities, for both raising awareness and money.

Crisis response

Twitter may be the most immediate news outlet online, being closely followed by Facebook. There’s a good chance a hurricane, flood or earthquake has been live-tweeted or put on Facebook before making its way into the mainstream media. So it helps that a lot of these platforms have created and built safety features. Facebook allows people to broadcast their whereabouts during an emergency (marking themselves “as safe”).

Telling your story

Social media gives everybody the opportunity to “tell their story” online. Whether it’s through YouTube videos, Instagram posts or more, normal people have the chance to make their opinion known on a greater scale.

A whole new category of ‘fame’ and ‘celebrity’ has been created – social media famous. Take Kiki (The Blonde Abroad) for example. Kiki is a travel blogger, who has turned her passion for globetrotting into a booming money-making business. With over half a million followers on Instagram, Kiki uses her platforms and website to take part in influencing and affiliate marketing, bringing in the cash for advertising other people’s travel-related products and services. With a big thanks to social media, Kiki is living her best dream and being paid (a lot!) for it.

This is just one example of how social media has had an impact on thousands of everyday people.

Transformation in business

Social media has given businesses an opportunity to have a voice when it comes to their brand. It provides a different way of connecting and engaging with their customers. It’s rewarding for both sides.

Businesses can now respond to customer queries, with the ability to converse and engage with their customers on a different level. This is creating a better sense of customer service and brand loyalty. It’s something that we never thought possible only a decade or two ago. Social media has completely changed the way most businesses create strategies to market and advertise.

From the things listed in this article, you can see some of the big ways that social media has changed the world for the better. Can you give any more examples? Or has there been a time that it has affected you in a big way?