The reason fueling the boom in fast-growing technology services is social media , which, when used correctly, can virally spread awareness of a firm with nary a dime of conventional ad spending. Social media platforms allow businesses to reach large audiences quickly and efficiently, leveraging viral sharing mechanisms without the need for traditional advertisement budgets.
Another related answer found is app stores , which also contribute significantly by providing a platform for developers to distribute applications widely, leading to viral awareness without conventional advertising. However, the more direct fit to the sentence is "social media" because it explicitly emphasizes viral spread of awareness with minimal ad spending.
