Social Media – Fad or “Business as Usual”?

On one discussion group in which I am an active participant, a member (of a closed professional group) said that social media was just a fad. Now this was in the context of the problems that social media is causing regarding data protection, confidentiality, brand positioning etc.

is social media a fad? or is there more going on that many of us have yet to realise?

FAD, a definition

Free dictionary defines fad as:

A fashion that is taken up with great enthusiasm for a brief period of time; a craze.

Business Dictionary defines a fad as:

A desirable trend characterised with lots of enthusiasm and energy over a short period of time.

Now of course this depends what you call a “short period of time”. To many this is weeks, months, or maybe a few years.

What about 10+ years? Is that a fad, or is that the “new normal”?

A Visual History of Social Media

It’s been going on longer than many thought.

Have a look at this wonderful historical time-line of social media via the internet:

If you need more proof about social media not being a fad, but being “business as usual” then check out this video:

Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business

Certainly the growth in the use of social media has exploded over the last 5 years. So has the diverse range of uses, including business, professional, personal/ family and very personal/ hobby use.

When the number one use of the Internet changes from porn to social media, we all need to sit and take notice.

Is this a fad? no, maybe certain uses and behaviours may be fad like in nature, but the tools themselves? no.

Indeed many organisations are applying social media tools into the business arena. This to me means that social media, or as some people call it social business is here to stay, our uses for engaging and collaborating are in an infancey… but this is anything but a fad.

Fad Surfing