Social media (in terms of things like Facebook/Twitter etc) is an interesting phenomena...
As many have pointed out it's a great way to keep circles of family, freinds and like-minded individuals together; And by that I mean things like Forums, and common interest groups such as Facebook...
But actually it's nothing new. Forums recognisable as being like this have been around for nigh-on 20 years; before that there were newsgroups , BBS etc..
Facebook is just a series of hyperlinked BBS with a relatively slick graphical interface. Where before you had to be fairly tech-savvy to access BBS or forums, now it's pretty much idiot-proof. - And how evident that is from much of the childish nonsense that goes on...
Justin; the individual who took the mick at work - are they perhaps ten-years-old?
Obviously collecting random 'friends' is a childish as it is potentially dangeorus! I've heard this sort of thing going on in workplaces before and it's pretty pathetic.
Somehow I'm reminded of, as a small boy, being accosted by one of the school idiots/bullies who demanded I hand over my football cards - "Ain't got any", I responded. There ensued a shortish conversation wherein it became clear this oaf's tiny brain could not assimilate the fact I hate football; and even if I did enjoy it, I would be out actually playing the game instead of collecting stupid bits of cardboard...
A few years back when things like Myspace and Bebo were
de rigueur I recall overhearing a conversation wherein this bloke (who would be in his 40's I guess) was holding court with two of his younger Bebo-ite chums and lording it over then pronouncing that because he knew
a bit of HTML that made him a
webmaster...:rolleyes:
Oh! how we chuckled - before quickly moving to another pub before this saddo donned a purple cloak and Wizard's hat!
Twitter - hmm - What was it Cameron said about it? "Virtual Stalking" about sums it up for me though virtual ticker-tape is closer to the original concept; there are those in who's business interests it is in to be stalked. There are those who are at a stage in their mental development (i.e. teenage kids etc) where they wish to stalk and be stalked... And there are those who need the advice of a Professional specialising in Mental Health.
For me, as a
social medium Twitter seems more than a bit unhealthy... Again newsfeeds aren't new; but anyone beyond their teenage years who is so self-absorbed they imagine the world needs constantly updated as to their status - It's called attention-seeking and is a bit sad really to see in a (supposedly) grown up. That or (as is the case of many celebrities)they're cynically seeking the attention of the weak-minded in a sort of 'Pied Piper''follow me' way - Depending on who is behind it this boils down to either sinister or cynical...
Business-wise?
I can see the use of it if you're selling the sort of thing that is generally bought by the 'some of the people' that are usually fooled 'all of the time'...
Forums have of course been around much longer. And in business terms can be excellent for gleaning and exchanging information. I'm always somewhat wary though of business forums that are full of people talking about doing stuff who don't seem to be doing much more - And the mad rush to get 'Twittered up' fully SEO'd and achieve as many Facebook friends as possible just strikes me as so much snake-oil...
These things go in and out with the tide IMHO
but it does appear to be useful, again, for business use.