I was just on one of my favorite blogs, Daily Blog Tips by Daniel Scocco, reading What Is Social Media?. Dan’s post was set in motion by Brian Clark’s post Since When Are Blogs Not Social Media? on Copyblogger. My comment on Dan’s post went so long I decided to keep it for myself as a separate post. That ever happen to you? Here’s my brilliant thought on the matter…
It’s a little funny, we adults with agendas (not a bad thing) sit around and tell each other what social media is while our teenage children live it all day long. Want to see what social media really is? Watch the teenagers. While we are trying to master these new tools to drive traffic, grow our lists, and create our own huge networks our children are the only ones using social media to be social. Sure, many of us play by the strictest of rules as not to blatantly advertise but what’s going on in the back of your mind? Go ahead and say it, it’s not a bad word… Yes, sales!
Surf around YouTube and watch the subscriber rates of a very social fifteen year old. Many of them could blow away the biggest marketers online without even trying and their subscribers actually watch the videos. There’s no agenda so there’s no shield up. No one wants to be sold to and our kids don’t have that obstacle – they just want to be kids and, yes, socialize with other kids.
If we could learn how to remove that ‘shield‘ we would be kings and Queens of social media (along side our children). You want to know what I think is going to be interesting? When those kids become adults interested in business. Will they still thrive with social networking skills or will they be like us trying to fake it till we make it?
Tags: Marketing, Social Media, truth
Twitter Comment
RT @brianDhawkins Brian D. Hawkins » Blog Archive » What Is Social Media? Ask Your Children [link to post]
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I think our Kids will not be like us, simple because we are different from our parents, generations are running more faster than before, and the world also changes a lot more faster!
Excellent post.
I think (hope) our kids will do a greet job!
Hesham´s last blog ..How to Follow Only Who are Following me on Twitter
I think everything’s going to be ok Hesham. Our children are smarter that we are. It seems like they mature slower but, you’re right, everything around them moves much faster.
Brian Hawkins´s last blog ..PPC Tips That Will Blow The Competition Away
It’s kind of funny when kids really get all the high traffic while showing their skills in youtube, but the problem is they can’t sell, whether or not when they grow up, if they still think like a kid they will fake it till it make it, but if they knew how to get the sales message put in video, then my friend, the delivery part will have no problem, since from kid they already know how to socialize !
The Bad Blogger´s last blog ..The Bad Blogger Swears Under Oath That Alex Of Blogussion’s “Secrets To More Effective Blogging” Can Only Be Done If You Know Your Subject Cold !
Hi Wong, It’s true, kids can bring in the numbers but don’t know what to do with them. Some of those YouTube videos are just them acting silly in from of their webcam and they end up with tens of thousands of hits and hundreds of comments. The other problem, of course, is the traffic… more kids.
Brian Hawkins´s last blog ..Extreme Ezine – Social Edition | Aug09
This should be one case where a father and son tandem will work perfectly. Of course, that is if you, the father won’t mind feeling like a parasite riding on your son’s back (e.g. floating your links on your son’s videos).
Seriously, I think when those kids grow up, they will turn into us, because by then the online social networking system would have drastically changed again and (again) serve ‘their’ kids purposes flawlessly.
Noel M.´s last blog ..Claiming Back Home Space
I think you’re right Noel, just like the music from one generation to another.
Brian Hawkins´s last blog ..Extreme Ezine – Social Edition | Aug09