Social media vs social network

There is social media and there is social network. We have to differentiate them to understand them

Both are technology used to bring people and information closer. The difference between them is the way they are put to use — social networks are limited to connecting people together while social media is not just about the people. It is more than that, it is more wide and ambitious and all encompassing: the brands, the sports, the music, your interests, your friends’ interests, and advertisements for a thousand products vying for your attention and wallet.

Social media is not as personal as social networks. When social networks became too big they morphed to social media. Social networking just become part of it, and also ran. This idea occurred to me while reading this comment on why Facebook ceased to be interesting place once they started to bombard users with advertisements and hijacked the newsfeed:

I haven’t felt “positive reinforcement” or “dopamine hits” for quite some time on Facebook. Since it shifted from social network to social media, it doesn’t “give” me anything anymore. It is tedious, and I don’t check it because I feel compelled, or even enjoy it, but I have to make a concious effort to login and check every now and then, like you check mail or your bank website.
Back when it was more about the profile, about “stalking” friends and connecting with real-life acquaintances, it was much more addictive. Features like “you know this person via these two steps”, poking, but also subtle clues like the timing of when somebody visited your page, or that they commented on an old photo (meaning they browsed your gallery)… that is all missing now. Facebook was so addictive because it enabled you to obsess about social connections. Friends, crushes, people with common hobbies, and so on. – HN