I always thought forums were social media, assumed really, but never actually looked at the definition until two seconds ago:
"websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking."
Pretty sure that's what's happening here.
The other forums I've been on in my life have primarily been bbq related, besides all the off topic shit there was certainly creation of content in the form of recipes/methods/pit builds and so forth, and the social networking was even bigger, I've been to countless bbq festivals & made some life long friends all stemming from those forums.
The TJ forum essentially serves the same purposes. Every build thread is 'content' & how many friendships have developed here over the years where we've gotten together wheeling & whatnot...
I think social media, the term itself, has become a 4 letter word to many because of how the big players in the business have stunk up the joint so much, but I think a lot of good has come of it as well, this particular site for example.
as for Whats Ap, unless I'm unaware of a whole bunch of its functions it looks like nothing more than a method of texting. Years ago my buddy in Jamaica (driver turned buddy) suggested I get it to communicate with him as his email is less reliable and has access issues from time to time. I installed it & for years have had one contact in it, him, until a few weeks ago when another buddy announced he quit his job, sold his house & all his shit, bought a penthouse in Medellin Columbia & he is outa here, so now I have 2 contacts
So for that reason I don't see how that Ap is 'social media', more or less it's a free international phone type device
Yeah that’s only reason. Super common communication in most countries I’ve been to, other than US. You can call text voice memo biggest feature is it gets around international fees.