Being a 21-year-old female, social media is something that I’ve grown up with all around me. I use social media to connect with my friends, to make plans with classmates, to avoid homework, to find out where my favorite celebrity grocery shops, to discover new music, etc, etc, etc.
Some types of social media market towards my interests more than others. Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest are all facets of social media that I’ve dabbled in. Others, such as HootSuite, LinkedIn, and Google+ are created more for the working professional (in my opinion).
Ultimately, however, social media is made for people to interact with one another. Certain websites are more suitable for people looking to communicate in a relaxed atmosphere (such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or Pinterest), while others are used for professional development (i.e. LinkedIn). Those who grew up with social media around them may have first entered the non-professional realm of social media, but eventually all types of social media will market to us in the different stages of life we go through.