Social Media Addictions

It was just released this morning that an 18 year old, Terry Gene Starnes, from Hayden, Idaho, was arrested last week for stabbing his own mother. The cause for this stabbing? She would not let her son get on MySpace!

Terry's MySpace page headline reads: "School work sleep!!!!! that's it!!!!".. and MySpace, of course.

Social media addictions amongst young people, Generation Z, are continuing to become more and more apparent. Ask any 13 - 18 year old to live without Internet access or texting for a week and see what would happen. Chances are they would not be happy about it and would not be able to fulfill the challenge. It is somewhat disturbing to think that kids are growing up more and more online instead of being outside with their friends playing, interacting with one another, and enjoying real life.

So what are your thoughts on this story? Do you feel that social media has the potential to turn into a big social problem amongst young people? Would you be able to live a week without Internet access? Without Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter? Without SMS (texting)?

Social Media On The Rise

Thanks to Google reader, one of my favorite social media tools; I was just informed of a new post by social media connoisseur, Marta Kagan, on her blog (The Secret Diary of a Bonafide Marketing Genius). In one of her latest blog entries, she discusses some interesting stats:

• 3/4 of US online adults now use social tools to connect with each other (compared with just 56% in 2007). On average, they spend one hour per week using these tools; however, 19% [and growing] are averaging 7 HOURS PER WEEK. [source: Forrester Research, October 2008]
• 75% of Fortune 1000 companies with Web sites will have undertaken some kind of online social-networking initiative for marketing or customer relations purposes in the next year. [source: Gartner, October 2008]

- Marta Kagan

Social media usage is going up and it doesn't look like it will be stopping anytime soon. It is pretty clear that social media is the future. 7 hours per week may not seem like much to you and I but the increase of usage from 56% in 2007 to where it is now (just in the span of a year) is pretty darn impressive. People of all demographics are beginning to understand social media tools and how helpful they can be.

What are your thoughts on this increase in numbers?

Business Wire Partners with Digital Citizen Media

Business Wire, "the leading source for press releases," has just partnered with Digital Citizen Media to offer something more to corporations everywhere. After picking up on how important social media is, specifically web video, Business Wire has decided to provide its members with the opportunity for " a unique set of customized video and management tools to fill a variety of traditional corporate communications needs" and more. As a result of this partnership, Business Wire members are able to use Digital Citizen Media for their professional use.


This is exciting for the corporate world because it is time for them to catch up in respect to their social media practices. Digital Citizen Media is very happy about the partnership and hopes to bring quality work to the new businesses that will be using their services.

"We looked to Business Wire as the ideal partner in expanding the role of video in public relations and investor relations efforts. Business Wire's long commitment to technical innovation includes their recent pioneering adoption of XHTML to support multimedia and their launch of the multimedia Smart News Release way back in 1996."

- Anthony DePasquale of Digitial Citizen Media

It's interesting to see that web video has been specifically cited as one of the main reasons behind this partnership. It's important to keep up with competitors' use of technology for PR purposes and it's great that Business Wire has picked up on that and will now be offering these services to their members.

Growing Up Online Discussion Panel Podcast

In class, we recently viewed the PBS Frontline documentary 'Growing Up Online'. Enjoy this panel discussion featuring three classmates (Wiltson, Ceci, and Shannon) and myself discussing the generational differences between the way we use social media (Generation Y) and the way the younger kids (Generation Z/C) are using it. Mind you, this is our first attempt at podcasting ever, so be nice! It was overall a great learning experience. Hope you enjoy the show!

Show notes can be found below.

The Social Media Syndicate - Episode 1 (click to listen to podcast)

:05 – Intro

:26 – Welcome

:41 – Panel Self Introductions

1:23 – The Hot Topic

1:33 – Shannon discusses generation definitions.

1:58 – Shannon asks panel: "What tools do you guys consider to be important in looking at the diferrences between how our generation, Gen Y, and the new generation, Gen Z/C, use the Internet tools?"

2:09 – Ceci discusses YouTube

3:42 – Wiltson discusses Facebook

5:21 – Christine discusses MySpace

6:04 – Shannon weighs in on Facebook and MySpace

6:22 – Wiltson responds

6:46 – Shannon discusses cell phones and SMS (text) messaging

8:16 – Wiltson weighs in on texting

8:49 – Ceci discusses Second Life

10:35 – Shannon responds

11:22 – Wiltson responds

12:09 – Closing

12:20 – Outro

Twitter

After being formally introduced in class to Twitter, I decided it was time to give it a try. When I first got on, I was instantly reminded of Facebook status updates. Basically, they are the same thing. Micro-blogging allows you to post short messages of up to 140 characters. I really like the fact that you can follow your friends and family, as well as other interesting people you many come across. Not only are individuals the ones to Twitter, but organizations, projects, and celebrities are doing the same. I came across Whole Foods, Social Media Club, and even Britney Spears! From a PR perspective, I think Twitter offers a great connection to consumers. Consumers are able to follow what is going on and get a better feel of the company's personality.

SocialVibe: Social Media Helps Give Back

SocialVibe, recently founded in 2007, is a new type of social media tool that is taking people and their online activity to the next level. Already with 160,000 members and counting, SocialVibe is all about giving back. The company understands the huge influence users can have online and are now giving people the opportunity to help causes that they are passionate about.

"SocialVibe is a new social media platform that facilitates interaction between people, the brands they love and the causes they care about. SocialVibe recognizes the influence people have online and has created an easy way for people to use their influence for social good. Social media advertising opportunities are plentiful, however SocialVibe's unique platform empowers communities of real people to make a real difference. With SocialVibe, people enhance their online experiences by getting sponsored by brands to support the causes they believe in."

- SocialVibe website

Broken down to three simple steps, here's how it works:

1. Select your favorite cause to support.
2. Choose a sponsor & post your badge to your social profiles. (MySpace, Facebook, blogs, websites, etc.)
3. Earn points for donations to charity and perks.

Once you earn points they are then turned into funds for the charitable cause of their choice. Basically, users are advertising their sponsors for a good cause on their social networking sites. Some of the sponsors featured on SocialVibe include Apple, Colgate, Gibson, and Billabong. Examples of some of the causes featured are To Write Love On Her Arms, Stand Up To Cancer, World Wildlife Fund, and Invisible Children. Currently, an impressive $20,395 has been raised by 30,731 supports for TWLOHA.

I think the SocialVibe is a great concept! People can put all that time and effort they put into their MySpace pages to good use by supporting and help earning money for a cause they are really into. SocialVibe has the potential of really catching on and making a difference in the world. This is another great example of the positive effects of social media.

Would you consider joining in on SocialVibe and posting a badge in support of the cause of your choice? What do you think about this new type of social media and what they are trying to accomplish?

Blog Action Day - Poverty 2008

I was first introduced to Blog Action Day by Dr. Weisgerber in our Internet and Social Media class. I thought it was a pretty cool idea. After doing some research on the event, I found out just how big of a deal it really is. People from all over the world are uniting today to fight against poverty. We are all coming together via the Internet and our blogs to advocate against poverty.



I really like how the Blog Action Day website defines advocacy. "What is Advocacy? Advocacy is speaking up. Before change can happen, decision-makers need to know that their customers, community and constituents want change. Advocacy is letting them know." This definition really goes hand in hand with what are learning about social media in terms of PR. It is all about starting the conversation. Hopefully, after today, politicians will get the idea that poverty is still a huge issue in our lives and we want change, such an important issue that continues to plague our world.



Initiatives such as these use social media to bring people together to take a stand and make a difference. Blog Action Day has also made resources available to all that are interested in the cause. Educating those that want to help is a big part of the initiative. "What can one person do?" This is the most important question that is answered on the organization's website. People need encouragement and to know that what they do really does matter.


Below is a great video about the Micah project in Australia which gives tips on what you can do to fight poverty in your area. This is just one example of a viral video that is a large part of the fight against poverty.







Social media for advocacy, hope, and change.

Blog Action Day - 2008

PodBean

PodBean.com, around since July 2006, is a social networking website centered around podcasts. There are two types of accounts available on PodBean. Users can choose from the podcast publisher account and the podcast audience account.

Podcast publishers are able to learn how to create podcasts, as well as gain production tips. After creating and uploading their podcasts to the website, publishers can use tools to promote their podcasts and gain better exposure. Publishers can also keep track of how many listeners are streaming and downloading their podcasts through the use of statistics. Publishers even have the opportunity to profit from their podcast by sporting ads on their pages and offering paid subscriptions to their audiences.

Podcast audiences are able to collect all of their favorite podcasts into one place. Users can browse what other people are listening and subscribing to, much like YouTube. Users can use tags to browse available podcasts and easily find something they like. Audiences can also share podcasts with other users as well as get recommendations from other users.

Podcasting vs. Radio

The battle is on.

With younger audiences being drawn to iTunes, mp3s, and podcasts.. what are the effects on radio? Research has show that younger radio audiences (ages 12-24) are slowly slipping away. Audiences are able to find more specialized media through podcasts as opposed to turning on the radio and listening to talk shows and music. Podcasting is definitely giving the radio business a run for its money. Although, radio is not going anywhere soon. Tim Gordon, expert in the digital recording realm, agrees that podcasting has had a huge effect on radio over the past couple of years and will continue to do so.

In class Thursday, we began to work on Garage Band. We were able to experience first hand how simple it is to product a podcast. Podcasts are a huge aspect of the development of social media. People can record their own podcast shows and distribute them easily via iTunes and uploading them onto their blogs or websites.

As far as radio and podcasts go, what's your preference?

Facebook Responds

Looks like Mark Zuckerberg, and the rest of the folks at Facebook, are listening to its users. Zuckerberg just started an official Facebook group to get the option between the two platforms of Facebook (new and old).

After a long hard decision I, Mark Zuckerberg, will bring back the option of New and Old Facebook if 10 million people (which is less than one-tenth of the current active users) join this group/petitioning spot. The reason I am making this group is because I would like to see how many people would really like the choice of the old Facebook. I wanted to make this group in Facebook because it globalizes your opinion with not only words but statistics (which my co-workers and I can examine closely).

If you would like the option to choose between the new and old Facebook please raise your opinion and join this group. Your membership will not be overlooked but closely examined. Thank you for your time.

As of now the wall and discussions etc will be taken off, later they might be added.


Thanks,
Mark Zuckerberg

Join the group and pass it along! [Update 6:07PM: Group has been taken offline.]

This is a great example of the efforts of people, through social media, demanding and getting a response. Like we talked about in class, this is about starting a conversation and responding to the public. Stay tuned to see what happens next!