Social Television: How Social Media Changed the Way We Watch TV (Infographic)

Social media has revolutionized the way we watch television. In the past few years, social media and Internet usage around the world has skyrocketed.

Despite initial fears from some professionals in the TV industry who wondered if social media and the web would drastically reduce the amount of time people might spend in front of their television screens, the television industry has actually been able to effectively adapt to meet the needs of today’s social-savvy viewers. In fact, more Americans—and more of the world—are now turning to their TVs to watch shows and programs that offer unique, socially integrated viewing experiences. In the following infographic, we’re outlining a few recent examples that illustrate how social media has changed the way television is made and watched,  how social media is playing a role in televised political elections, how it is being used as a way to boost audience participation in popular voting shows like The Voice, and what’s in store for the future.