Many of us use social networks (66 percent of adults as of
March, according to the Social Skinny) to stay in touch with old
friends, rant about the state of politics or update our status
to let the world know we just ate a Peanut Butter M&M. But the
impact of social media on our daily lives may be greater than
you think. It's been credited, in the case of Facebook, with
being the catalyst for the Arab Spring. Twitter's traffic grew
exponentially when a massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami struck
Japan near its Oshika Peninsula, damaging the Fukashima Daiichi
Nuclear Power Plant and causing radiation fears to sweep the
region and country. And even First Lady Michelle Obama is an
active user on Pinterest. Of the people who use social networks,
half log on first thing in the morning to their preferred site,
whether it be Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, Instagram,
LinkedIn or another social media website, according to The
Social Skinny. Can the impact of social media be measured? Now,
it can, quantitatively,