What Is Social Media? And Do You Really Need To Know?

October 18, 2008

I’m beginning to wonder just how many folk understand what social media is. And does it even matter if they don’t know what social media is, so long as they gain enjoyment from using it?

According to Wikipedia: Social media are primarily Internet-based tools for sharing and discussing information among human beings.

Using social media is important to folk who want to network and market their business on the Internet. But this is by no means it’s only use. Social media is also used by a lot of folk who just want to connect for the fun and pleasure of it all.

What Is Social Media To A Child?

I decided to find out what folk from two generations know about social media. First off was my daughter Jessica, who is so addicted to Bebo that when my husband told her it was time to get off the Internet, she replied, “This is my life. And you’re ruining it.”

But when I asked Jessica if she knows what social media is, she explains that she knows what media is, but she’s never heard of social media. Considering she spends so much time using it, that’s surprising.

But she doesn’t believe adults should be using it either. She saw me using Twitter and asked what it was. When I explained it was sort of like Bebo, she thought that was just plain weird. Adults shouldn’t be using stuff like that - it’s just for kids.

What Is Social Media To The 60 Plus Generation?

My dad was next on the list. I was pretty certain he wouldn’t know a thing about social media. He hasn’t had a computer too long, never mind the Internet - maybe 2 or 3 years I think. He doesn’t use the Internet much, but he does like Ebay.

Anyway - my dad did have a good idea how social media works, once I explained it was like Bebo. The computer fixing guy told him and this is how he explained it to me: “It’s a site where the kids talk to their friends, then they tell their friends about them and they add them and talk to them too.”

So far so good, I thought he’s really understanding how all this works, until he said: “Then the folk they’ve introduced send the kids viruses by email and that infects my computer. And it cost £75 to repair”

Well, that is not what’s supposed to happen and it’s bad when it does. And I guess he won’t be joining Twitter or StumbleUpon soon. But he wouldn’t be the only one.

There is an even darker side to social media too, so it’s little wonder that some folk are suspicious of it. The deaths of many teenagers have been linked to social media, including several Bebo users from a small town in Wales.

So it’s clear that some people regard social media with suspicion and many use it regularly without knowing what it is. I’m betting a huge percentage of Facebook users don’t even know they’re using social media.

And I’m not sure that folk who are using it as a fun way to connect with others, really need to understand what it means. But businesses who want to connect with folk on the Internet would benefit from understanding it more. What do you think?

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Comments

15 Responses to “What Is Social Media? And Do You Really Need To Know?”

Mike Goad on October 18th, 2008 6:17 pm

I think businesses that want to use social media to further their business should really learn and understand the environment before trying to exploit it. I’m not saying they shouldn’t go there. I think there is just a danger of a backlash if they are perceived in the wrong way.

Mike Goad’s last blog post..Images of Petit Jean
cathlawson on October 18th, 2008 8:17 pm

Hi Rita - I think you exaggerate my virtues but thanks all the same.

Your point is a good one. I think we really have to ask ourselves what is good use of our time. My kids were getting to much into social media - now they’re getting outdoors and playing with “real kids” more, which is a massive relief.

Hi Mike - that is very true. I’m betting many business are going to see social media as one big advertising fest. And as you say, they most certainly will experience a backlash.
Davina on October 18th, 2008 8:35 pm

Hi Cath. Social media is an ocean that I haven’t yet jumped into. I’m still learning how to swim in this blogosphere.

I believe people who are using it for fun should understand it though, because that understanding can be a valuable tool for them to increase their fun, and to protect themselves from any undesirable influences.

Davina’s last blog post..25 Words That Connect Us ? Frosty Sunrise
Erica Douglass on October 18th, 2008 9:24 pm

Hi Cath,

My mom called me once to say, “I’m so proud of your Dad! Our TV remote broke and he went on eBay and ordered a new one.” This was a huge step for my parents — worthy of a phone call to me.

eBay, Amazon, and the newspaper are what my parents do online. (My dad will be 65 this year; my mom is 64.) This year, they finally got a website online for their business — just a simple brochure-type site.

My dad, who is an attorney, dictates email to me and his secretaries transcribe it for him and email it to me.

Will I introduce my parents to social media? Not likely. I’m just proud that they finally have a website online!

-Erica

Erica Douglass’s last blog post..Why I Became A Blogger
cathlawson on October 19th, 2008 7:47 am

Hi Davina - that’s a good point -even the folk who are using it for fun might have more enjoyment and stay safer if they understand more about social media.

Hi Erica - LOL - your parents sounds about as Internet savvy as mine. But at least they have a website.

It sounds like your dad could do with one of those voice recognition programs - they’re brilliant for folk who can’t type.
Barbara Swafford on October 19th, 2008 7:50 am

Hi Catherine - I certainly can’t say I understand all there is about social media. Although I’ve dabbled in StumbleUpon and Digg, when I think about joining Twitter, I realize it’s going to be eating into my time. I ask myself, “is that the best use of my time?” and I keep coming up with the same answer, “NO”.

Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..Blog Registry - Open Mic
cathlawson on October 19th, 2008 8:51 am

Hi Barbara - I know where you’re coming from. Often I don’t switch Twitter on. It’s just far too time consuming. And there always seems something more important to do.

You know, I’m wondering if Steve Pavlina uses social media sites such as Twitter and StumbleUpon. I can’t say I recall hearing him mention it in any of his posts - and he gets heaps of traffic to his site.
Lance on October 19th, 2008 9:32 am

For the casual user, I don’t think it matters much to them “what” social media is. Nor is it probably important, especially if they are getting out of it what they want to.

As a business tool, the more we understand social media, the better. I can see it being a powerful tool in connecting with other like-minded people from all over. And that could have many very positive implications - if done right.

Lance’s last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
Brad Shorr on October 19th, 2008 2:30 pm

Hi Cath, over the last few years I’ve definitely seen the business world develop a better understanding of social media - not that there isn’t a long way to go. I think the popularity of Facebook, YouTube, and even LinkedIn makes it easy to explain the power of social media to companies, even when they don’t participate.

Brad Shorr’s last blog post..What Do You Want Me to Write About?
cathlawson on October 19th, 2008 4:30 pm

Hi Lance - it does seem like social media has a lot of possibilities for business doesn’t it. But as you said it would be better for business to learn how to do it right.

Hi Rita - I see what you mean. You can be making a comment to someone on Twitter but hundreds of eyes could be reading it. I’ve seen folk have real slanging matches on there.

I suspect they forget others are reading - also some probably post when they’ve had a few drinks.

It’s kind of like having every single word you utter recorded and I guess that is very intrusive.

Hi Brad - that is a good point. As you say, if they don’t participate, many people have heard of those networks because they’re so huge. So it’s easier to explain the benefits I guess.
jessica noble on October 19th, 2008 9:14 pm

To mum

i didn’t say this is my life your ruining it but i don’t know what i said.
also the people i speak to on the internet e.g (bebo) are real there my friends from school and i have all ways gone outsidde for abit but i do go out more than i used to.
also the reason i think that social media is for kids and teenagers is because we have more free time and we have good stuff to talk about.
and why don’t you make a chat room on your blog so you can host them and speak to people instantly.

love jess and if you know lots about social media you’ll know what this means wb! xoxo
mark_hayward on October 20th, 2008 12:42 am

Hi Cath - what a great question!! From my small business perspective, we never would have survived our first year without social media. Over 80% of our guests come to us via our blogs, TripAdvisor, and some other travel forums that we participate in.

mark_hayward’s last blog post..Putting the ACTION into Blog Action Day 2008
cathlawson on October 20th, 2008 7:38 am

Hi Jessica

You got me there - I didn’t mean to say your Bebo friends weren’t real people. I meant that it’s good you’re going out to play more in the real world, if you see what I mean.

The chat room is a nice idea - but if I could speak to people instantly, I’d never get anything done. Maybe a forum or something?

I didn’t know what WB means - but I do now - Write Back.

LOL Rita - I fell right into that one saying the folk on Bebo weren’t real. I wonder what age we run out of “good stuff to talk about.”

Hi Mark - It’s brilliant that you get all that work from social media. I must admit, from the traveller point of view - places like Trip Advisor and forums have made it a whole lot easier to find nice small hotels that we wouldn’t have known about without the Internet.
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