What Is This Social Media Thing?

Last night, I had a pleasant conversation with Brad King for a new book he's writing about social media (in a nutshell). In the midst of him figuring out what I'm all about, he asked me a simple yet surprisingly baffling question.

"So," he said, "let me ask you this ... what is social media?"

I had been throwing around the term here and there in description of my experiences, so it was only fair of him to clarify. At first my response consisted of a jumbling of "umm" and "well it's, you know," but after some careful thought and prior to a trip to Wikipedia, this is what I came up with:

"Social media is any digital application that allows users to share media with each other."

However, I'd argue that many people have different interpretations of the term, and I've noticed a lot of discussion about this in the blogosphere lately. David Meerman Scott, for example "[suggests] that the term social media describes online media with a participatory or interactive component."

Wikipedia offers quite a muddled definition:

"Social media is an umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words and pictures. This interaction, and the manner in which information is presented, depends on the varied perspectives and 'building' of shared meaning, as people share their stories, and understandings."

Hmm - this sounds like much of the goobledygook David Meerman Scott talks about. Although I have a serious issue with the lack of simplicity in its wording, I do agree social media is an "umbrella term." For example, I think social media includes but is not limited to social networking (i.e. Facebook, LinkedIn).

I agree with @Brad_King when he suggested social media is one of those things you recognize when you see but can't easily describe ("much like the term pornography," he offers). There have been so many times I've tried to explain to my family and friends not familiar with social media what it is and what it means for my new job. This often proves a challenge. I end up talking about "Twitter" and the "blogosphere" and am frequently confronted with a blank stare.

For the simple sake of my budding career in public relations,
to me, social media means opportunity.

What do you think social media is, and more importantly, what does it mean to you?


Related Articles:
"What is 'social media?'" Joseph Thornley
"What's Wrong with Social Media?" Brian Solis