Trying to define the undefinable

What is social media? Famous first words.

Here I am, bravely trying to define a term which is so huge in what it encompasses and so nebulous in terms of meaning. But, as part of the Social Media Mafia, someone has to take those first steps, right?!!

It’s not a new term, of course. A quick Google for ‘what is social media’ throws up 679,000,000 results, no kidding. So I’m not going to try and rewrite what’s already been written about it, because there is more than enough already and that would only be stupid. I’m going to start by pointing to different places where there seems to be a coherent enough explanation of what social media is. (If you do want my two cents worth, then at its most simplistic, social media can probably be defined as forms of communication (media) that involve people, thereby making it ’social’).

1. The Wikipedia definition of social media.

2. The BuzzLogic definition of social media. This is useful because it clearly explains not just what social media is, but the various terms commonly associated with social media. It is also probably the most easily understandable to laymen: ‘Web content such as blogs and wikis, created by individuals or a collaboration of individuals. Often times, social media content is intended as the starting point for larger conversations.’

3. The iCrossing definition of social media, which is in the form of an entire eBook and is very detailed. It takes you through pretty much the A-Z of social media, from what wikis and blogs are to how to create a podcast.

Then of course, you have the viewpoints of different individuals on what social media is - just trawl through different blogs -as a starting point, you can go to the Social Media Wikispace, Social Media Club and Scobleizer.

The discussion is open. We at the Social Media Mafia can help bring more clarity to what is already out there, perhaps.

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June 11, 2008 | Filed Under Anjali Ramachandran 

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