Social Media Will Kill You
A recent study shows that social networking sites have negative impacts on children such as (duh) shortening attention spans, making them expect instant gratification and becoming self centered. First of all, parents know that they already experience ALL of these things, but we agree that social networks accelerate these behavior issues.
So we get that social networking will make our kids’ brains mushy, we’ve said the same of television, but there’s something interesting at play here. Yesterday, when Fox News reported the study with “scary tone” (leaving me to feel like social media might actually kill me and our kids) oddly enough, the male anchor ended with “so everyone, stay off those sites.” Now, this piqued my interest because the same Fox News is pimping out Facebook and Twitter more aggressively than “car watchers” on Red River Street.
Despite what Fox News scared us into thinking (that we’d be brain damaged and soul damned if we use social networks, according to a “study” they never named that we had to hunt down), less than 60 seconds later, they asked us to go leave comments on their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.
I don’t get it. They’re not alone, this report is floating around all over the news and web and many are talking about how scary it is, yet end their pitch with “follow us on Twitter.” We’re glad the story was reported, but don’t hype it up and seconds later pitch your social media presence. In your own content production, remember your audience and try your hardest not to over hype or contradict yourself or you may end up scoffed as Fox has been scoffed above.
Tags: social-media
Flickr Photos
Feb 25, 2009
Let’s not forget that this is the same Fox News owned by News Corp., owners of MySpace.
Kind of reminds me of the time Forbes called participating in sites like LinkedIn one of the top 10 most dangerous online activities.
I suppose they’ll try to say this is an example of editorial independence. To me it just looks like typical corporate left-hand/right-hand issues.
Feb 25, 2009
FTR: Fox didn’t do the study, Harvard did, and Fox has promoted the heck out of Facebook and takes commentary from both Facebook and Twitter on all of their daytime programing and some of their primetime.
Feb 25, 2009
If you want someone to do something, tell them not to do it. This is simple reverse psychology.
Scare the beJesus out of them, then tell them to do what they have just scared you with? I would be too scared.
If someone warned you not to touch the stove, gave you good reason not to touch the stove, but concluded by encouraging you to do that which they just warned you of–what would you do?
Dave King
Cross Harp Chronicles/
Just Roots PR
Feb 25, 2009
yes, with every tweet i inch closer to death. call me wild, call me reckless, but don’t say i haven’t lived
Feb 26, 2009
I think the “warning” was more for/about the kids. We should be monitoring what or children do, but like you said that is nothing new. If Elvis didn’t destroy my parents and cable TV didn’t make me an idiot (well, that may be debatable), I doubt that Social Media will kill my kids. However, I’m reminded of the words of my departed great-grandmother when asked how she survived well into her 90’s; “All things should be taken in moderation”.