So what will the landscape of social media look like in 5 years? Interesting to look at what has been done in the last 5 years to say the least, but I think in looking forward we should focus on what we’ve learned about it so far.
If you look at the “personal” sites like Facebook or the slowly dying (in my opinion) MySpace, you see incredible interest from folks looking to connect with friends. They love updating their status with what their doing at the moment, and we for some reason love reading it. I’ve reconnected with many old college friends whom I never would’ve seen or talked to again in the past. I can see pictures of their new family’s, see where they’re working and easily communicate with them. The best part? I can do this instantly from my cool web enabled phone. Simply amazing when you think about your cell phone and ability to connect with these folks just five years ago.
How about Twitter? What a low tech idea that has absolutely changed the way we think about sharing ideas. 140 characters, with no HTML or cool little pictures or designs? But I’m hungry for what the folks that I follow have to share. Again, they share this information instantly from their pocket. We engage in conversation and exchange with folks all over the world at amazing speeds, with no need for introduction. Our names and brands are spread like wildfire, increasing the importance of their constant refinement.
LinkedIn has opened the door for us to connect with professionals and build a brand with an almost silly ease. I can search for, find and introduce myself to the hiring manager of the dream company in moments. I can build a network of people all over the world, and share opportunities; gaining exposure to employee’s who they know, providing a sense of known quantity when it comes to hiring.
So what’s the common factor with these? They’re being commercialized faster than we can even hold onto. How many times have you followed someone on Twitter only to realize that they are only selling something? How many businesses utilize Facebook only for marketing purposes? We’re leaving the old way of catchy ads on TV to electronically inducing marketing that’s tailored to you exactly, and I mean exactly. I believe that if you update your post on how you’re going out to seafood dinner and to see the newest action movie, you’ll receive custom advertising from Red Lobster and your local movie theater advertising based on trends in your updates. And just think about when your mobile provider allows companies to text you directly. You’ll get a text at 11:30 that suggests you try a Big Mac on your lunch break. Don’t think so? Just wait and see. After all, we’re starting to see it on Twitter already.
At what point will this get old, will people move to the next new site? These things change, and the names (i.e. Facebook) will inevitably change with time, but I think the idea will remain the same. Sure, they’ll probably promise less advertising and stronger controls on who can see and do what, but in the end the almighty dollar will speak, and it’s saying the same thing. It wants to get its hands on your wallet.
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