Is Social Media a Fad? (A video response)

[phoenix11rae]

@tippingpointlabs Interesting video and definitely thought-provoking - but I think your argument gets lost in the semantics of the word "Fad" and loses traction as a result.

A "Fad" (to most of us) always carries the connotation of being short-lived or doomed to die out once the novelty wears off... and I think the question "Is social media a fad?" is looking at this quality, which is even in the wikipedia article you cite. By this definition, if it DOES stick around, then it's not a fad.

[rafamartinagartirado]

@tippingpointlabs Thanks for the video! It's always great to have different points of view, although in this case I disagree with you. IMHO, the stats shown in the Socialnomics video are proofs of a fundamental shift in the way people behave, interact and communicate, thanks to the combination of the technology and the social nature of the human beings. What I learned from the video is that if you're a company, you better react, learn and use Social Media integrated into your communications...

[lotsofcooki3s]

Very well put sir!

[tippingpointlabs]

@lotsofcooki3s Thanks so much!

[tippingpointlabs]

@lotsofcooki3s Thanks so much. Really glad you liked it!

[rbvid]

From Wikipedia... "Lies, damned lies, and statistics" is a phrase describing the persuasive power of numbers, particularly the use of statistics to bolster weak arguments, and the tendency of people to disparage statistics that do not support their positions. Wikipedia should probably add... statistics are also often used for selling products - like books for $24.95 titled Socialnomics.

[tippingpointlabs]

@rbvid Thanks so much for the great comment! Really appreciate the support. :)

[rbvid]

From Wikipedia... "Lies, damned lies, and statistics" is a phrase describing the persuasive power of numbers, particularly the use of statistics to bolster weak arguments, and the tendency of people to disparage statistics that do not support their positions. Wikipedia should probably add... statistics are also often used for selling products - like books for $24.95 titled Socialnomics.

[tippingpointlabs]

@rbvid Ha... really funny. Thanks for the comment!

[jonniejensen]

Great response to a Socialnomics YouTube video. We're talking about internet marketing which by the way is just marketing, which by the way is a thing we came up with to describe one person recomending something to another person. Enjoy it, make the best of it and look forward the next faddy name we give to marketing. Now, where did I put my hoola hoop?

[tippingpointlabs]

@jonniejensen Thanks so much for the comment! I'm looking forward to the "next big thing too!"

[CashBackAtEbay]

Totally, it's a FAD! Thanks.

[tippingpointlabs]

@CashBackAtEbay No problem. Glad you liked it!

[KoyaanMaster]

I love this video. Thanks for pointing out the obvious fallacies in the "Is Social Media a Fad?" argument.

[tippingpointlabs]

@KoyaanMaster Glad you liked it. There's some push back as you can see.... it's really a semantic argument.

[gdott1]

The problem with the hula hoop example is that it was never built as a malleable tool. It can never evolve and reinvent itself the way social media can, does and will. The rules for defining that fad cannot be applied to social media. I am routinely astounded by some new use or redesign of social media. If social media was limited to Facebook, you might have a point. But you're missing one of the biggest points of this 'revolution'. It's user defined and culturally driven. The hula wasn't.

[tippingpointlabs]

@gdott1 Thanks for the comment! I do think you're taking the metaphor a little too literally, but you make a great point. Social media is an ever changing medium.

Thanks again!

[RealLifeRikku]

@TotallyTrucked: TippingPointLabs is not comparing the worth of social media to that of a hula hoop. He is drawing comparisons between the attention and zeal it currently commands in the consumer market. He is explaining that rather than supporting the theory that social media is a revolution, the statistics cited in the "Is Social Media a Fad" video only attest to the current popularity and prevalence of social media, not its ability to maintain the forefront foothold in marketing persuasion.

[tippingpointlabs]

@RealLifeRikku Thanks so much - you're dead on! Really appreciate it.

[drolo202]

Lol this guy is retarded. Comparing social media to a hula hoop! hula hoop didn't revolutionize nothing compared to social media.

[tippingpointlabs]

@drolo202 Thanks for the comment. No need for the retard reference.

[drolo202]

@tippingpointlabs Apologies. But honestly the comparison is absolutely illogical. Social media has changed so many things, it has been a gateway for so many advances. That makes it ridiculous to compare social media's popularity it with a hula hoop's.

[tippingpointlabs]

@drolo202 Well, I appreciate the comment, but I don't deny that it's changed the landscape. I'm merely trying to showcase the fact that Social Media by definition is a fad. That doesn't mean it might stick around...

Thanks again,

Drew

[badgeras]

Comparing the hula-hoop to social networking/media? That is on of the worst comparisons ever to make an argument

[badgeras]

@badgeras It's a completely new way to communicate, I guess land line phones were a fad too since hardly anyone uses those.

[tippingpointlabs]

@badgeras Maybe next time I should use pagers... :) I think I'm just trying to get the point across that the definition of a fad is in fact this phase of the evolution of social media... thanks for the comment!

[Wh3tst0nE]

Correlation, not causation. This guy is a idiot. Trolling is a art.

[alphasun1]

This is rubbish. Doesn't this guy realise that 138 milion hula hoops were sold since January this year?

I mean the cereal! :-)

[TotallyTrucked]

You say you love statistics yet you provide none to support your claim that social media will become a passing fad..except to compare it to a hula hoop?? Really?? Social media has changed the way we find news and share info with others, and therefore creates more value to our lives than a hula hoop. It has changed worldwide culture by giving primacy to individual agency. Witness how much Obama's campaign owes to FB. Your argument is lame.

[tippingpointlabs]

Thanks TotallyTrucked to spending the time to watch the video. I'm not devaluing Social Media at all. I'm a huge believer in Social Media, but the definition of the word fad is clear and all I want to do is make it apparent that we shouldn't be referring to Social Media as a Fad. It's here to stay - not like the hulu hoop which IS a fad - by definition.

[SaltwaterC]

527,000 people have watched that? You can not love statistics. Let me count ... 1,354 current views for THIS video. You may actually be right, but how ironic that is to spread your answer through social media as well.

[tippingpointlabs]

SaltwaterC,

Thanks so much for the comment. I'm not looking for millions of viewers, just the right viewers. :) I'm a big fan of social media and work for a company that participates very heavily, I just take issue with people that won't admit it's a fad. It needs to find it's place in the marketing spectrum.

Thanks again,

Drew

[rafaelconverso]

Well, being a fad or not , it doesn´t really matters, does it? It´s not a bet. The fact is that businesses should be and work wherever the costumers are. That´s the point. Whenever social media disappear, all the bussinesses can change their strategy the same way they have always done.

[tippingpointlabs]

Rafael,

You're absolutely right! I agree 100%.

Thanks for taking the time to comment!

[relevantsocialmedia]

Social Media should not be the "centerpiece" of your marketing strategy now... Just like billboards or radio should not be a centerpiece. You just restated the obvious, that social media is one aspect of business promotion. You could create the same response to the video "Are Infomercials a Fad?"

[tippingpointlabs]

You're right. You certainly could. I just was hoping to help put all the stats in perspective. Thanks for your comment!

[jillbryant]

Gotta - say - first few slides, completely swept away and then...started to think and more and more dubious percentages (80% of what, of who, where, what survey.....c'mon)....I didn't even look at the overall premise the way you did which brought me even more back to Earth....

[tippingpointlabs]

Hey thanks so much for the comment! Appreciate you taking the time to add your perspective.

I too agree that Social Media is here to stay in some form or another. Not even sure what it will be called in a couple of years. I mean a couple of years ago, User-Generated content was the 'fad' in online marketing circles and I think it's now lumped into Social Media.

Anyway, appreciate you airing your views!

I'll follow you on Twitter.

[DigitalGodess09]

Great response and something to ponder. I agree that social media will not underpin a brand completely and should not replace sound marketing practices. It does provide platforms for high engagement, and rich media experiences. It creates a vehicle for good news to travel faster and companies to create relationships with their customers and community. More transparent and a heck of a lot more fun. I think it will be stayer...thanks for sharing your views!

@digitalgodess on Twitter