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Since When Are Blogs Not Social Media?

Since When Are Blogs Not Social Media?

Social Media

I've noticed a strange trend lately.

For some reason, people seem to be equating social media with social networking.

At the same time, they seem to be treating blogging as something other than social media.

I find this very strange indeed.

For example, here the author proclaims that he's quitting social media and gives his reasons why. But he also states he'll continue to blog, by god.

Then there's this other post, which did a nice job of rounding up the discussion about the latest blogs are dead red herring. Problem is, the title Blogs vs Social Media seems to expressly state that the two are different and distinct things.

Did I not get the memo on this?

Blogs are Social (and Alternative) Media

First, let's look at a definition. In the case of social media, I think even Wikipedia can be trusted:

At its most basic sense, social media is a shift in how people discover, read and share news, information and content. Technologies include: blogs, picture-sharing, vlogs, wall-postings, email, instant messaging, music-sharing, crowdsourcing, and voice over IP, to name a few.

In fact, it’s a fairly easy case that blogs were the first modern form of social media. I say "modern" because many would argue that social media started pre-web with Internet Relay Chat and BBS systems. Heck, the most popular part of lame ol' America Online was the ~~cyber-sex~~ social aspect.

So in the “modern” social media sense, blogs came way before social networking exploded with MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter. Blogs pioneered social media well before Friendster came and went (remember Friendster?).

One thing you'll notice in the definition above is the emphasis on content. Not just user-generated conversational content, but the production of content that is an alternative to traditional media AND that benefits from interlinked conversation and comments.

Maybe the fact that "old media" has co-opted those aspects of blogs is the reason that some people no longer see blogging as social media. I think that's a bit silly.

Media Producer Versus Social Networker

Maybe I've got it wrong, but the fascinating part of social media to me is not just the social networking. It's the fact that anyone willing to put in the work can become a media producer/personality without speaking a word to anyone in the existing media power centers of Los Angeles, New York, et al.

Blogs are simply the best way to publish new media content. And social media news and networking sites are the ways that content gets exposure. It's not money and geography that determines if your content spreads… it just has to be deemed good enough to be shared by regular people.

If you want to become a music journalist, no one in LA or NYC can tell you no. If you want a shot at becoming an actress or celebrity without enduring casting couch sexual harassment, you can absolutely go for it and succeed.

From a more practical standpoint, using social media in terms of "media production" is what content marketing is all about. Producing content and having something related to sell is one way where free content pays for itself big time.

It's how producing your own video show about wine boosts the bottom line of your bricks-and-mortar wine store to the tune of millions, all while making you a celebrity along the way.
It's how you write a book and create buzz for it without waiting for Oprah to call.
It's how you create a lucrative business with high margins and hefty happiness.

When you think like a media producer in this brave new social media world, it's your content that social networkers are sharing and promoting, and that translates into your cash. If you're only social networking, you're only someone's user-generated content, and even your digital overlord struggles to make money.

What's the Point?

Honestly, I'm not sure. I just see so much unnecessary confusion out there.

What do you think?

Is it because people with vested interests in confusion portray social media as something radically new when it's mostly an evolution of the old?
Should I simply quit worrying about it and stick with those of you who get it?
What do you think about tofu? Tasty or nasty?

About the Author: Brian Clark is founder of Copyblogger and co-founder of DIY Themes, creator of the innovative Thesis Theme for WordPress. Get more from Brian on Twitter.