How do you define social media?
I’m quite sure that someone out there has a clean, comprehensive definition of social media. Wikipedia has an entry, but it’s apparently not up to standard.
So, while I am searching for an official definition, I thought I’d throw this one out for debate:
Social media are the means for any person to: publish digital creative content; provide and obtain real-time feedback via on-line discussions, commentary, and evaluations; and incorporate changes or corrections to the original content.
Agree or disagree? Partially agree?
Let’s discuss and you can tell me what you think!
Fat Kid Unleashed:
I agree with it most definitely, but I don’t consider social media “publishing” content, more like sharing.
9 February 2008, 2:28 pmbrainadmin:
@Fat Kid Unleashed: sharing is part of it, but in the past you had to do this form of sharing by publishing a printed document
9 February 2008, 3:22 pmJason Falls:
I wouldn’t argue with your definition. I would only rephrase it to say that social media are tools used to enable sharing among interested parties, including but certainly not limited to digital tools applied in on-line or Internet environments. Thoughts?
9 February 2008, 3:33 pmbrainadmin:
@Jason – The reason that I used the wording “digital” was that I didn’t see how social media content could NOT be digital. I’m a bit challenged to come up with an example of how it could be used with non-digital media. Maybe I’m missing something obvious.
9 February 2008, 3:43 pmKristen:
I agree with Jason. I see social media as more of a tool while social networking is more of an action. Social media is a broader term that encompasses so much, that I think this is why it is harder to sell social media because it entails a lot of different tools that are needed for different projects.
9 February 2008, 4:46 pmbrainadmin:
@Kristen – When you used the word “tool”, I used the word “means”. I think we are in agreement. There are multiple tools in the social media toolkit. This blog is just one of them.
9 February 2008, 6:17 pmMaki:
Here’s a definition I wrote in my post: Social Media Marketing in a Nutshell
“The meaning of the term ?social media? can be derived if we examine both of the words which constitute it. Media generally refers to advertising and the communication of ideas or information through publications/channels. Social implies the interaction of individuals within a group or community.
Taken together, social media simply refers to communication/publication platforms which are generated and sustained by the interpersonal interaction of individuals through specific medium or tools. “
10 February 2008, 12:21 ambrainadmin:
@Maki – quite elegant.
10 February 2008, 10:41 amspostareduro:
In Nov, I briefly skimmed through Maki’s “Social Media Marketing in a Nutshell” and it was slam packed with a better guesstimation of what Social Media entails than the Wiki version. I am just learning the ins and outs of its advantages today. There’s always more to learn about how to utilize it in more efficient ways. Ever growing and evolving it seems.
Each category of persons will want to view SM differently I believe.
A marketer of products will want to view it as a means of financial gain through mutual friends promoting advertisements.
An activist of human rights or eco system health provider may view it as an awareness promoter.
A teenager without promo agenda may find it useful as a friend-making tool to build a network of support to them, maybe even because they cannot find such support within their home environment…
And so on..
Social Media is a city containing all the streets needed to get you from point a to point b, whether you are the driver or the passenger. Exploration and experimentation is what leads to a more structured map of the territory you wish to travel. For we are still building it’s roadways.
10 February 2008, 4:35 pmbrainadmin:
@spostareduro – Very thoughtful, Kim. It’s true that different people will attach different meanings and value to social media. I was trying to come up with an objective meaning. Naturally I checked Wikipedia but saw the warnings at the top of the article, so I looked further.
10 February 2008, 4:42 pmMarty:
[Social Media means] “Internet way-finding tools informed by human judgment. ‘informed’ can mean many things including egregiously uninformed.”
Chris Sherman, Executive Editor: Search Engine Watch @ SES Chicago 2006
11 February 2008, 12:18 ambrainadmin:
@Marty – Chris’s definition is one designed to stimulate some thinking, I’d say.
11 February 2008, 10:02 amJD Rucker:
Your definition definitely works, as do many in the comments. Here’s my un-dictionary-friendly version:
Social media is any media, most commonly a website, that allows the users, readers, contributors, and journalists/artists to share their idea of quality content and allow it to be praised or bashed through public commentary and a voting system of sorts.
11 February 2008, 7:06 pmbrainadmin:
@JD – I like the inclusion of the word “bashed” – makes it real!
11 February 2008, 7:28 pmWhat Is Social Media?:
[...] Mark Dykeman says, “Social media are the means for any person to: publish digital creative content; provide and obtain real-time feedback via on-line discussions, commentary, and evaluations; and incorporate changes or corrections to the original content.” [...]
12 October 2008, 7:27 pmHow self-actualization and social media go hand in hand | Broadcasting Brain:
[...] of us in the blogosphere write about social media. This ability to connect with other people via computers and user interfaces is, among other [...]
20 October 2008, 7:11 amHow Do *You* Define Social Media in 140 Characters or Less? | by Ari Herzog:
[...] and evaluations; and incorporate changes or corrections to the original content.” – Mark Dykeman at Broadcasting Brain, Feb. [...]
25 October 2008, 9:26 pmWhat is Social Media? A not so critical review of concepts and definitions < life under electronic conditions:
[...] Mark Dykeman: “… the means for any person to: publish digital creative content; provide and obtain real-time feedback via on-line discussions, commentary, and evaluations; and incorporate changes or corrections to the original content” [...]
14 November 2008, 4:43 pmKoopTech » Literatur » “Social Media”, “Social Computing”, “Web 2.0″, “Social Web” oder “Kooperative Technologien”?:
[...] Mark Dykeman: “… the means for any person to: publish digital creative content; provide and obtain real-time feedback via on-line discussions, commentary, and evaluations; and incorporate changes or corrections to the original content” [...]
15 November 2008, 12:28 pmThe definition of SOCIAL MEDIA « Bilal Al-Badry’s Blog:
[...] Mark Dykeman: “… the means for any person to: publish digital creative content; provide and obtain real-time feedback via on-line discussions, commentary, and evaluations; and incorporate changes or corrections to the original content” [...]
27 February 2009, 4:09 pmLoan Modification leads:
nice post
14 June 2009, 10:32 pmijeoma:
recently, i found studying about the media very interesting.
17 June 2009, 10:52 amSocial Media Cupcake » What is Social Media?:
[...] Mark Dykeman says, “Social media are the means for any person to: publish digital creative content; provide and obtain real-time feedback via on-line discussions, commentary, and evaluations; and incorporate changes or corrections to the original content.” [...]
7 July 2009, 7:17 pmSocial Media Cupcake | What is Social Media?:
[...] Mark Dykeman says, “Social media are the means for any person to: publish digital creative content; provide and obtain real-time feedback via on-line discussions, commentary, and evaluations; and incorporate changes or corrections to the original content.” [...]
13 July 2009, 5:18 pminternetcontentpublishing.com » Blog Archive » What Is Social Media From Facebook To Twitter:
[...] Mark Dykeman says, “Social media are the means for any person to: publish digital creative content; provide and obtain real-time feedback via on-line discussions, commentary, and evaluations; and incorporate changes or corrections to the original content.” [...]
28 August 2009, 2:07 amWhat is Social Media? | My Brand Online:
[...] Mark Dykeman says, “Social media are the means for any person to: publish digital creative content; provide and obtain real-time feedback via on-line discussions, commentary, and evaluations; and incorporate changes or corrections to the original content.” [...]
28 October 2009, 4:47 pm» What is Social Media? Blog Marketing Strategies - Article, Social Media, Email, Affiliate and Web Ideas:
[...] Mark Dykeman says, “Social media are the means for any person to: publish digital creative content; provide and obtain real-time feedback via on-line discussions, commentary, and evaluations; and incorporate changes or corrections to the original content.” [...]
13 November 2009, 5:25 amWhat is Social Media? |:
[...] Mark Dykeman says, “Social media are the means for any person to: publish digital creative content; provide and obtain real-time feedback via on-line discussions, commentary, and evaluations; and incorporate changes or corrections to the original content.” [...]
14 December 2009, 5:01 pmWhat is Social Media? | Katie's Chronicles:
[...] Mark Dykeman says, “Social media are the means for any person to: publish digital creative content; provide and obtain real-time feedback via on-line discussions, commentary, and evaluations; and incorporate changes or corrections to the original content.” [...]
24 December 2009, 2:59 amWhat is Social Media? | Agent Zoo:
[...] those specific things as much as it is about what happens around and because of those things.” Mark Dykeman says, “Social media are the means for any person to: publish digital creative content; provide [...]
8 January 2010, 11:24 pmWhat is Social Media? | TSA Digest - Technology, Science & Automotive News:
[...] Mark Dykeman says, “Social media are the means for any person to: publish digital creative content; provide and obtain real-time feedback via on-line discussions, commentary, and evaluations; and incorporate changes or corrections to the original content.” [...]
16 January 2010, 5:53 amWhat is Social Media? | myfreesoftonline.com:
[...] Mark Dykeman says, “Social media are the means for any person to: publish digital creative content; provide and obtain real-time feedback via on-line discussions, commentary, and evaluations; and incorporate changes or corrections to the original content.” [...]
25 January 2010, 7:29 am