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to promote and discuss ideas among others while leaving a personal imprint on history.

"Now we want to share who we are," he said. "Part of it is a desire to have immortality through leaving our stuff around. I think there is something human about wanting to leave evidence of our existence."

The strength of social media has followed along with new Internet software. As more people join the social media community, a growing community is hungry for new ideas and conversations, Heuer said.

"It allows for that diversity of perspective to be materialized so it's not all about this echo chamber," he said. "The more accurate an organization or an individual becomes with their reporting ... it (becomes) a matter of trust, and it's a matter of something that happens over time."

WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA?

Social media: Internet-based forum where ideas and opinions are shared rather than just presented. Social media levels the playing field for users, allowing individuals to disseminate information and respond accordingly.
Popular examples

Wikipedia: A free, Web-based encyclopedia written and edited by online users. The collaborative content site was introduced online in 2001, and has more than 6 million articles/entries translated in 250 languages.

MySpace: A Web site where individuals can upload profiles, images, audio, video and other submissions. Users can define their Web pages to fit their personality and network among themselves through e-mail, instant messaging and other online social networking technologies. Since the site launched in 2003, more than 150 million MySpace pages have been created.

YouTube: Launched in 2005, this Web site gives users a portal to upload, view and share video clips. Although criticized and threatened with copyright violation lawsuits, mainstream media outlets realized the site's popularity could give a new outlet for exposure.

Second Life: A virtual world where users create personalities, meet others, join groups and buy virtual property. As a social networking tool, users can act through their personalities to exchange real-life ideas.
Common social media tools

Blogs: First known as a Web log, these are online sites where users post and respond to opinions and information. The author, or blogger, decides the topic and others respond.

Videoblogs: A blog that includes video, text and images.

Podcast: Automatic streaming or downloaded video that can be sent by a podcaster to other Web sites.

Internet forum: A moderated site where users post content, responses and opinions. Users also can start new discussions within the forum, known as threads, but cannot edit content once posted.

Wiki: Collaborative software that allows users to edit a Web site's online material.

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