Social Media: A Fad?

Is social media a fad? The trends do seem to fade just as fast as they come. Many argue that Twitter is just a fleeting craze like Myspace and other once popular social media sites (Remember Friendster?) Will it get left in the digital dust? According to generation y and z, email is becoming passe. Do you think we will still be utilizing YouTube in a year or two, or will some new video sharing site take over? Many are already making their mark.

While the technology is changing as fast as we can keep up with it, the changes in our communication skills are here to stay.

This video by Socialnomics shows social media is bigger than you think.



The facts in this video demonstrate that social media is too entrenched in our lives to be just a fad. It certainly is a fundamental shift in the way we communicate. So, just how has social media changed our communication skills? Or rather, should the question be how has social media killed our communication skills?

Yes, social media is replacing many of our personal interactions and thus "killing" our communication skills. However, for those new to the social media marketing world, it is less of a matter of loss of communication but a matter of learning a whole new language and etiquette. Creating different accounts, becoming a member of a different online communities and everything else that goes along with social media marketing had developed into a full time task. Online marketing is important for startups as well as those with already established companies in order to keep up with competition. So in this sense, we are actually growing our communication abilities.

The backlash of using social media, however, comes from the supposed loss of proper communication skills. The backlash movement is a popular topic for social media users. For example, there are countless posts and blogs stressing the importance of maintaining the integrity of face-to-face interaction in our online relationships. Those who do not comply with the anti-automated etiquette of social media are looked down upon for breaking the rules of conduct.

It is a balancing act between quick and constant communication with content and quality. Another example is the use of "ghostwriters" (those writing tweets for another) on Twitter. Ghostwriting has become an ethical debate due to the same loss of interface. Some businesses have even banned social networks in the office as they can take away from employees interacting in their real-world environments. And almost all of us would sooner send an email than make a phone call. What ever happened to the days of junior high when you talk to your crush on the phone for 6 hours straight...will that ever happen again?;)

But the question remains...is this a bad thing?

What it comes down to: Isn't it better that people engage online than not at all?