Is Social Media Just A Fad? (STATS, VIDEO)

"Is Social Media a fad or the biggest shift since the industrial revolution?" asks this new video based on Erik Qualman's book Socialnomics.

Although the short clip is not without an agenda--it wants to prove that we're on the brink of a social media "revolution" from which there's no turning back--the statistics presented in the animated short are hard to ignore.

Here are just a few of the notable social media stats:

- 96% of millennials have joined a social network.

- Social media has overtaken porn as the number one activity on the web.

- 1 out of 8 couples married in US met via social media.

- The fastest growing segment on Facebook is females 55 to 65 years old

- It took radio 38 years, TV 13 years, the Internet 4 years, and the iPod 3 years to reach 50 million users--while Facebook reportedly added 200 million users in under a year.

The Socialnomics video seems intended to convince businesses to invest in their social media strategy--"25% of search results for the world's top 20 largest brands are links to user generated content and 34% of bloggers post opinions about products and brands," the YouTube clip warns, asking "Do you like what they are saying about your brand?"

Here's another caveat: The video fails to cite its statistics, so take them with a grain of salt.

Tell us what you think of the clip.

Quick Poll

Is social media a fad?

Absolutely.

No.

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

WATCH:

Comments

[stopthemadness69]

12:55 PM on 06/17/2010

I sure hope so. My real concern is social poiltics. Our elected leaders have no business on twitter or face book. That is not the place for politics or politica statements or debates.

[JustlikeMercury]

07:20 PM on 06/11/2010

Practically all media is social now - anyone can comment on almost any news piece out there (you might have to sign up, though). So since social media isn't restricted to Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn, I honestly doubt it's going away.

[kathismom]

12:05 AM on 05/13/2010

Sign me up! I think social media is extremely exciting and get most of my info off twitter. It's fast, short, concise real-time. No legalese or corporate speak. I have no patience for people/companies who do not do their research before jumping into the fray. Either participate in social media full out, professional, dedicated employees monitoring it, updating frequently, engaging in conversation with your followers, or don't do it at all. I believe I have seen the future and it's social media based.

[dreamer1]

02:56 PM on 05/12/2010

I don't at all think that social media is a fad. I believe it will continue to evolve as something that will be integrated even more into our normal lives.

[taiwanjohn]

01:44 PM on 05/25/2010

It's a tough choice, but I finally voted "no" (it's not a fad). But it really depends on how you define the terms. All "media" are social in some way. And people were forming "communities" and sharing files on usenet newsgroups long before "internet" became a buzzword in the mid-90s. As the technology has evolved, the lines between media have blurred to the point that there's really no distinction between "social" media and the rest. Obviously this trend will continue, just as it always has... from the invention of writing to the present.

On the other hand, if we're just talking about Facebook... that is definitely just a fad. Just like MySpace and Friendster (etc.) it will last until something better comes along.

--jrd

[OneGirlsOpinion]

01:29 PM on 05/12/2010

People here that are commenting on social media being a fad might want to reconsider posting comments on an interactive blog that spurs dialogue among its community and encourages fanning and networking. Just because it's not Facebook or Twitter doesn't mean it isn't a form of social media. It only grows from here.

[freedomweknow]

12:46 PM on 05/12/2010

I don't think that Social Media is a fad - in fact, I feel that there are so many developments that haven't even been thought about yet! Social media has revolutionized the world that we live in.

So SM should have some form of staying power in our society. Unless, of course, something better comes along.

[Yinka Daniel - Elebute]

06:14 AM on 05/12/2010

I hope I don't sound like a broken record, but the fact is communication by any means is very essential for human nature. No matter the medium, in so far as a message is carried to its intended destination, communication is fulfilled among participants. Facebook, Twitter etc are just tools created to enable communication rise to a new dimension that was not noticed or experienced decades ago. If toddlers, geriatrics and those in between join the bandwagon, so much the better. Social networks fill in the gaps where a voice or message may not have been heard and is necessary in this day and age where the rate of developments are outstanding.

[Verndale]

04:25 PM on 05/11/2010

Impressive statistics. If social media is on the brink of a revolution, then businesses should tune into Social Media Optimization (SMO). Interesting article on how "it has proven to be influential for the success of a website." http://bit.ly/9y8XMk

[MrVee]

01:58 PM on 05/11/2010

No, I don't believe social media is a fad. In spite of all the advance in technology, people are social. They enjoy the company of others and seek to share interests. That is of course you don't live in the walled garden. But for the balance of society, social media is hear to stay.

[enlightenedgirl]

11:54 AM on 05/11/2010

I haven't joined facebook because I don't want a bunch of people used to know pretend we were friends. To me it is just that daily Christmas Card Letter some families send pretending everyone wants to hear what they did all year, they don't.

It might be fun for awhile but the up-keep! Don't people have lives like do they read a book? This society of everyone look at me and how many friends I have from a tally on a web page is vomit worthy.

[yogandclimber]

12:19 PM on 05/11/2010

People on here commenting criticizing FB when this is similar to AOL 20 years ago. Remember chat rooms where there was a subject and you go in there and comment to a bunch of strangers with names like enlightenedguy? This is social media or and extension of it and can be linked to FB easily. So where are the lives of these people on HP making comments to strangers? Can't you get a book? The thing is we have more than free time to read a book and so guess what, you're on FB communicating. Yeah some people, you don't care about or barely know and so what there on there too. So you don't care about anyone else and hearing about anyone you know? It's better than reading a newspaper because at least you know them.

[OneGirlsOpinion]

01:21 PM on 05/12/2010

That's ironic. You have 12 fans on HP and have just commented on a blog post, to which people are responding. I hate to break it to you, but just because you're not on Facebook doesn't mean you aren't engaging in social media.

[PortlandZoo]

04:42 PM on 05/26/2010

er... sorry. But posting on HP to discuss news stories or politics is not the same as the banal "I'm having a great day!! OMG.. how about u???" FB drivel. And HP "fans" are strangers who appreciate your opinion on a given subject but they are, for the most part, strangers.

Not so on FB - friends are most often people you know, or could pick up a phone and call. FB is just a very poor substitute for face-to-face interaction - is sure isn't rocket science and given the privacy problems it has been having (and the juvenile attitude of its founder), it might be nearly finished. Plenty of other places to share photos (which imho is the only thing FB is good for).

I've taken to calling it babyface... shy kiddies hiding behind a smart phone or computer.

[BerkeleyHills]

10:11 AM on 05/11/2010

This is going to sound cruel and I'm sorry. I'm fortunate to work with very bright, very talented and {often} astoundingly wealthy people. And whenever SM comes up I always hear the same thing, "Stupid, untalented and broke is no way to live son. Whats wrong with having them up the house? Its cutsy as an adjunct to a marketing campaign. Kind of cool to keep track of loved ones but after that...its hanging out by the pay-phone down by the tracks. Yeah...it'll be and stay big but reverie is a physiological need. How about some Ritalin all you Tweeters"? Its a child's business model not a life.

[DJCranky]

09:50 AM on 05/11/2010

"The fastest growing segment on Facebook is females 55 to 65 years old"

That's the kiss of death right there...

[PortlandZoo]

04:42 PM on 05/26/2010

yup.

[Christina Brown]

09:12 AM on 05/11/2010

Old news...

[ConfuciusSay-]

08:49 AM on 05/11/2010

"Social media" is for those amateurs who haven't learned to play MMORPGs.

[ConfuciusSay-]

08:57 AM on 05/11/2010

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10100117.stm

Or, I could be completely wrong about that....

[Fiale]

05:22 AM on 05/11/2010

I doubt many people do much with their facebook accounts. Most of my family and extended family are on it mostly told to by their kids. The number of updates this year range from 0 (my mum) 3 from my Aunt, and less than 10 from several cousins, aunts and uncles. Using something less than once a month (and in a couple of cases just to say "had a great time").

There will always be people wanting to socialise with like minded people, facebook at the moment makes it awfully easy, it is however a rather shallow experience to many. A way of saying Hi to people without having to really make any effort to say Hi.

[PortlandZoo]

04:44 PM on 05/26/2010

"A way of saying Hi to people without having to really make any effort to say Hi."

exactamundo, fiale. Very well put. I'm fan #4.