Dr. Stuart Brown suggests that the act of play can benefit various aspects of human development, including cognitive, social, and emotional skills (Brown, 2009). With information being vital for human function, it is crucial to consider how technology has contributed to the evolution of knowledge dissemination. Social media has been introduced as a dynamic platform that blends playfulness with information access (Grover, 2018). It is a valuable means of communicating public awareness on various topics including news, lifestyle, health, advocacy, creativity, and personal and professional development. It serves as an instrumental medium for conveying important information to individuals in a playful manner who may not have direct access to such content elsewhere. Social media, with its ability to evoke various physiological responses, particularly increased dopamine production linked to pleasure and reward, as well as the stress-related cortisol release during social comparison scenarios, mirrors the multifaceted impact of play on individuals (Wang et al., 2023). This aligns with the physical and emotional strength, cognitive development, social skills enhancement, therapeutic value, adaptability, creativity, and neurological benefits attributed to play.

Play has no boundaries; it is ageless, timeless, and borderless. It can go from a well-defined game such as basketball, where players must abide by the rules of the game, penalties are given for breaking the rules, and judges must be assigned to overwatch the players. Play can also be like ultimate frisbee, where there are rules to the game, but it is up to the players to determine who is right and who is wrong. Play can also be some school friends kicking a ball in their yard, not counting scores or following any rules – just spending their afternoon focusing on having fun. Play does not have to be restricted to physical activities – it can range from playing chess to lying on the couch and staring at social media videos. A toddler moving cubes, a kid brushing her dolls, a teen playing class, an adult completing a crossword, or an elder swinging on a chair – all of these activities can be considered acts of play.

Although the vast possibilities of Play make it hard for philosophers to define play, Scott G. Eberle, the vice president of Play Studies, proposes five basic qualities to defining play: “Play is apparently purposeless, voluntary, outside the ordinary, fun, and focused by rules.” (Eberle, 215). While Eberle argues that once an activity fails to meet one or more of the above qualities it is no longer considered as play – one might argue that play can be different for every human being or animal. Has a monkey in a zoo chosen to be locked up in a small area, leaving him almost nothing to do but to play with his fellow mates? Should the gathering of some friends at a yard throwing ball must follow some rules? What about the horrendous algorithm of social media applications like TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram that targets our minds into staying at the apps more than we have planned to?

Thinkers and philosophers have had trouble defining Play for a good reason; every quality one might try to define play with – an example of a play activity could overrule it. Thus, Play does not have to be defined. We do not need definitions or guidebooks in order to engage in play – we can simply do what we like and enjoy the time while doing so.

The interactive nature of our daily activities is often underestimated, serving as a significant channel for sharing knowledge. Through interaction, we regularly connect with our environment and others, continuously dispersing and trading essential information. The interaction goes beyond in-person conversations. In today’s society, the internet has become a crucial instrument for sharing information. Online channels offer ample opportunities for both receiving and engaging with content. For example, digital communities and virtual games serve as enjoyable spaces where individuals can acquire and exchange knowledge at the same time (Harwood et al., 2019). Through this confluence of play and digital space, we can foster a more informed and connected society.

Social media has emerged as a powerful mechanism for knowledge dissemination in today’s digital era. Whereas traditional modes of disseminating information, like newspapers or books, often face challenges reaching wide audiences quickly, social media platforms offer a unique solution. For instance, a study examining the use of social media for disseminating knowledge about pain in dementia found social media platforms, such as YouTube, to be significantly effective (Castillo et al., 2021). With most participants expressing a strong inclination towards the use of these platforms, the study underscored the opportunities that social media provides to disseminate relevant information rapidly to key stakeholders like caregivers and patients. The latter, in particular, are progressively resorting to social media to access and share health-related information. This demonstrates the growing role of social media as a medium for data and knowledge sharing in an accessible, effective, and timely manner.

The internet serves as a dynamic and interactive realm distinguished by a plethora of playful elements that collectively contribute to the intricate tapestry of digital culture. At the forefront of this expansive digital playground are social media platforms, instrumental in fostering the expression of playfulness through a myriad of creative channels. Notably, memes emerge as a formidable and culturally resonant form of online play, seamlessly amalgamating humor and visual ingenuity to encapsulate intricate concepts concisely and engagingly. The conceptualization of “gamefulness” stands out as a pivotal framework for orchestrating interactive leisure experiences within the digital landscape. According to Deterding, gameful design can imbue online spaces with interactive elements, thereby enriching the imaginative ways users present information (Deterding, 2011). This infusion of gameful design echoes the essence of memes, which deftly navigate the interplay between humor and visual wit to convey complex ideas.

In this interactive realm, users actively engage in the co-creation and consumption of content, manifesting information in a kaleidoscope of imaginative forms. Mechanisms such as hashtags, trending topics, and viral challenges exemplify the playful tools that facilitate the swift dissemination of ideas, concurrently fostering a sense of community among users. This participatory culture metamorphoses the internet into an interactive playground, transcending the traditional paradigms of information exchange. Here, information is not merely conveyed but rather playfully sculpted and interwoven into the ever-evolving fabric of digital expression. The playful elements ingrained in the internet transcend conventional modes of communication, affording a space for collective creativity, social commentary, and cultural expression. 

Before the internet revolutionized communication, humans engaged in socialization through various means, including communal gatherings, marketplaces, and specialized events. An intriguing historical precursor to social interaction akin to modern networks existed in the Mayan civilization. The Mayan Ball Game, played by ancient Mesoamericans, served as both a sporting event and a social platform, fostering connections among individuals from different regions (Cohodas, 1975, p. 3). This ritualistic game, blending sport and ceremony, provided an avenue for people to come together, exchange ideas, and build relationships, reflecting the human inclination toward communal engagement well before the digital age.

The emergence of the internet birthed the earliest social networking platforms, fundamentally altering the landscape of human interaction Platforms like MySpace and Tumblr played pivotal roles in the evolution of online socialization. MySpace, launched in 2003, introduced features allowing users to personalize their profiles, connect with friends, and share media content, marking a shift toward personalized online spaces(Abbott, 2012, p. 1). Tumblr, with its microblogging format, facilitated the creation and sharing of multimedia content, emphasizing user-generated content and the formation of niche communities. These platforms laid the groundwork for modern social media by emphasizing user engagement and content sharing, setting the stage for the proliferation of subsequent platforms.

In the modern era, social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter (today known as X) have become integral parts of everyday life. Instagram revolutionized visual storytelling by focusing on photo and video sharing, fostering a culture of influencers and visual content creators. YouTube, a powerhouse for video content, democratized media production, allowing anyone to create and share videos, resulting in the rise of vlogging and diverse content genres. Twitter, with its concise format of short messages or “tweets,” reshaped real-time communication and news dissemination, enabling global conversations and the amplification of voices. These platforms have redefined how individuals connect, consume information, and express themselves in an interconnected digital world.

Social media transcends its role as a mere virtual battleground or stage for mimicry; it serves as a profoundly playful means of information sharing. Much like the ancient Greeks utilized storytelling, rituals, and dramatic depictions to communicate essential aspects of their culture, contemporary individuals employ social media as a dynamic platform for sharing narratives, experiences, and perspectives. Social media goes beyond being a virtual battleground or stage for mimicry, transforming into a profoundly playful means of information sharing with it being an evolving landscape of media consumption and production that the shift towards participatory media (Jenkins et al., 2006).

The playfulness inherent in this digital realm lies in the diverse and creative ways users present and consume information. Memes, a quintessential form of online play, encapsulate complex ideas in humor and visual wit, offering a lighthearted avenue for conveying social commentary and cultural nuances. Hashtags, trending topics, and viral challenges become playful mechanisms that facilitate the swift circulation of ideas, fostering a sense of community among users who engage in these shared experiences. In this context, social media emerges not only as a reflection of historical modes of expression but as a contemporary, interactive playground where information is not just exchanged but playfully woven into the fabric of digital culture.

Over the past decade, social media has seamlessly integrated into the daily lives of Generation Z. The advent of the COVID-19 quarantine, coupled with the explosive popularity of TikTok’s short video format, catalyzed other platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube to introduce similar features such as Instagram’s Reels and quick videos on YouTube and Facebook. This shift emerged in response to the recognition that the information overload experienced by Generation Z had led to a broad but shallow understanding of various subjects. The allure of quick videos lies in their ability to provide bite-sized content, offering a diverse range of information in just 15 seconds. The experience is not only enjoyable but also cultivates a sense of being constantly nourished by information.

In the realm of TikTok, the academic discourse takes a backseat. Opinions are disseminated daily, often devoid of expertise or trustworthy sources. This unrestricted sharing of perspectives poses a challenge, as individuals are inclined to believe information without a foundation in credible knowledge. Politically, TikTok has evolved into a potential minefield, as the platform becomes a breeding ground for the proliferation of fake news. The ease with which content can be manipulated and quick videos stripped of their contextual nuances makes it fertile ground for the construction of narratives that serve specific interests.

Every day TikTok’s growth increases, and political influence is one more aspect being expressed, especially towards the end of 2023 with conflicts in the Middle East taking center stage in the media. According to The Washington Post, a video went viral on TikTok where a user reads Laden’s “Letter to America,” justifying the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. After the video went viral, many other American users created videos agreeing with it and suggesting that the USA government had been lying to them all this time. The letter became so famous that it was necessary to remove it from the public site to minimize its effects on social media. However, as The Washington Post notes, the letter’s spread reflects the bedeviling realities of modern social media, where young people—many born after 9/11—share and receive information on fast-paced smartphone apps designed to make videos go viral, regardless of their content.

The essence of  play can take multiple forms and adapt to its environment, a great example could be the various successful implementations of playful essences by mental health influencers as they share information on social media. Although there are lingering ethical concerns, as Dr. Susan Giurleo, a licensed therapist who uses social media platforms, said in an interview with Annals of Psychotherapy & Integrative Health, she believes there are ethical ways in which therapists can use social media to stand out from others who pretend to be professional life coaches. This idea is also backed up by Kalckreuth, Trefflich, Rummel-Kluge (2014), who mention that people find it difficult to deal with struggles using information found on the internet due to not being able to authenticate the objectivity and quality of the sources. Professionals on the platform expand resources to an array of people, from different ages and gender. Since children prefer visual media platforms including Instagram and YouTube, this opens the door for the dissemination of developmentally appropriate messages. Especially in an influential celebrity culture where there are opportunities to convey effective messaging. There has also been a noticeable reported increase of social media engagement in users 65 and older by over 10% (Triplett et al.,2022).

The playful elements that social media provides can make it easier for many people to digest and implement information on more serious issues, such as mental health. Just as social media has been thrown a lot of the blame for the recent rise of mental health struggles, many mental health professionals are now hopping on to it to share resources to help people out there. Many users of social media that seek out resources have reported that “the Internet has not helped them with coping due to lack of personality and its questionable quality (Kalckreuth,2014). Mental health professionals who are part-time influencers have been found to be a good start to this issue. We may mindlessly scroll through our social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube or blogs, with no rigid criteria of what we are looking for and come across a mental health influencer such as @Dr.Julie, @mallorygrimste, @TherapyJeff who use their platform to share their advice and knowledge as licensed therapists. Even the YouTube channel CinemaTherapy hosted by a movie director and a therapist, together uses a mix of therapy and movie-watching, to educate on mental health struggles while also keeping it fun with jokes and the movie-watching aspect. Many professionals majority of the time can be found not only on a single platform but an array of them. These are great examples of how social media platforms afford a potential flattening of formal hierarchies with a greater possibility for people to interact without professional or institutional boundaries. People accessing services can see the ‘real person’ behind the name badge and practitioners can see beyond the diagnosis, thus sharpening empathy”(Atraki, 2014).

Access to digital technology plays a crucial role in shaping our lives and opportunities. However, only some have equal access to it. This is the digital divide – a disparity that can deepen existing inequalities. The first level of the digital divide highlights structural barriers that prevent specific individuals and communities from accessing technology and its benefits. Acknowledging and addressing this divide is vital to ensure everyone has an equal chance to thrive in today’s digital world. Social media not only makes it easy to connect with individuals and access narratives from anyone, but it also puts users at the risk of being trapped in echo chambers, preventing them from experiencing diverse perspectives.

The gap between those willing and without requisite technology is greater among older, less health literate, African American veterans; those with worse physical health; and those living in more socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Unfortunately, rural youth face more significant challenges accessing these resources than their urban peers. This disparity can limit their ability to succeed academically and receive necessary medical care. Providing equal access to technology and connectivity for all youth, regardless of location, is crucial for ensuring their success and well-being. Given that inadequate broadband infrastructure is a critical barrier to the provision of telehealth services and remote learning in rural areas, efforts to improve policies and advance technology must consider geographical disparities to ensure health and education equity (Graves et al.,2021). Researchers have highlighted the benefits of using the Internet to increase access to health information, such as immediate educational opportunities regarding the causes, treatment, and prevention of specific diseases and illnesses (Van Heel et al.,2023). In order to address this issue dilemma, it is crucial to develop data-driven approaches that can improve access to care. Furthermore, we need to gain a deeper understanding of HNHR adults’ attitudes toward telemedicine and technology access to achieve that. By doing so, we can work towards creating a more equitable healthcare system for all.

With social media being crucial for sharing knowledge in online communities, it is important to promote critical thinking and information literacy. Enhancing cognitive skills is one of the various methods to achieve this. This involves understanding, evaluating, analyzing, integrating, and interpreting information making media literacy a necessity. Encouraging the use of fact-checking tools to verify information accuracy on social media and promoting critical evaluation of content from diverse sources is also vital. Training programs and workshops are essential for developing these skills, encouraging the use of fact-checking tools to verify information accuracy on social media, and promoting critical evaluation of content from diverse sources in order to prevent misinformation and hate speech (García-Rodríguez et al., 2022).

Media literacy can act as a guide for appropriate use of social media by imparting knowledge, competencies, and skills essential for engaging in today’s society through accessing, analyzing, evaluating, and creating messages across various forms of media (García-Rodríguez et al., 2022). Social media literacy is crucial for mitigating potential problems such as mental and physical health issues, cyberbullying, the spread of misinformation, and other challenges arising from social interactions. It can also help individuals develop critical thinking skills to properly grasp and evaluate the content and identity credibility, ultimately reducing the persuasive impact of mass media by scrutinizing content intent and plausibility.

Scholars widely agree that social media play a crucial role in studying emerging social processes and their impacts. This includes the global perception of public opinion and its influence on societal issues beyond the platforms themselves (El-Jardali et al., 2020). Understanding the impact of playfulness on knowledge sharing and the changing role of social media is crucial in this digital age. In addition, further investigation should include the ethical aspects of engagement in online environments. Thoroughly analyzing the connection between play and social media can cultivate a more intricate comprehension of their effects on society. It is increasingly important to maximize the beneficial elements while reducing possible negative consequences as technology evolves.

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