Craig Wood
Gmail. The Growth of Social Media: An Infographic. UPDATE: We have published a new version of this popular Infographic here -> which covers data up through November 2013.
Say what you will about the tidal wave that is social media: it’s over-hyped, a fad halfway through its 15 minutes, that <insert social network, platform, app> surely won’t be around in a few years’ time. But take a look below at the steep curve of the user growth rate in all age ranges and demographics, and the continuing pervasiveness of social networking into every facet of work, play and life in general. It’s hard to argue that social media hasn’t changed forever how we interact and connect online. See for yourself: (click image to enlarge) This is part of a special infographic series by Search Engine Journal.
Also available in PDF format here. Jenise is CEO of Alpha Brand Media, publisher of Search Engine Journal. Proof Of The Gap: An Infographic. As you know, I’ve been talking a lot lately about the gap between most people — struggling with computers, technology and social media — and the enthusiasts and evangelists in the echo chamber that is the social media industry.
While Silicon Valley and Austin are all abuzz about “social business” — an etherial concept few regular business owners understand — and carry on all day about how much their stock rose on Empire Avenue, the rest of the world (about 99 percent of it) is still wondering how to change out their Twitter background. This isn’t the ramblings of a middle America marketing consultant. The statistics bear it out. We first saw inklings when the Network Solutions and University of Maryland study of small businesses showed us 44 percent of them don’t have a website. Recent information from Edison Research and Arbitron added to the proof. Check out the full infographic over at the Social Media Tips blog. But don’t just read it and move on. It’s simple. 7 objections to social media in learning (and answers) Social media – I’m a fan.
I blog, facebook and tweet daily, and love all of the additional resources and tools. But when an important social and technological phenomenon turns into a bubble of evangelism, we’ve got to handle it with care. I’ll present on the use of Social Media in organisations in Zurich this week, to Directors of many of Europe’s top companies, and explain the upside but it’s just as important to be open about the downside. I agree with the Nick Shackleton-Jones Tweet, “When the tide comes in you’d better don your trunks and not bury yourself in the sand” but it’s also rational, for some, to walk up to dry land to avoid getting wet. Even the Vatican had a Devil’s Advocate department when discussing canonisation, so before giving Social Media the status of sainthood, let’s consider some of the downsides.
Objection 1: Dumbness of crowds It’s a matter of balance, not blind belief in half-baked social theory. Objection 2: Weapons of mass distraction Objection 5: Crap content.
Help.