DP24005 Social Media Types V01 120724

If asked which social media type that I best fit it would be LinkedIn. So not surprisingly most of my social posting are on LinkedIn. But as you can see here I prefer all my content to be on Blogspot, a Google owned blogging platform, that is truly amazing and does not have the text restrictions so frustrating on LinkedIn. Come on Microsoft get that sorted you are not a Twitter (X) clone. LinkedIn best fits with my serious career orientated, although now retired, but essentially private semi scientific way I want to present myself to the world. It best reflects what I perceive as the David Bannister brand with my only concession to flippancy my use of my nickname Banno in posts. But oddly enough being retired and not seeking paid work or a career others would suggest it is the wrong social platform. In truth I am more of the old school blogger so most comfortable on Blogspot but using LinkedIn as my shop window. I am not looking to sell myself to employers. Although I do try to market my publishing business DMB Publishing which is more of a hobby than a business but it keeps me off the streets. Like most Social Media users what I look for is positive feedback and that more than anything else is my driver. A typical frustrated writer looking for a readership.

Now for young people and those older wishing to emulate them the curating of an online identity is a vital activity. They want to project themselves using brand like principles. They may be impressing family, friends or potential partners which requires a brand projection that may not fit with the brand they need to project to seek employment. Bit of a dilemma !!! An employer is looking for authenticity so branding yourself as leading a fun and party life style does not help. So before posting any photograph, uploading any video, reviewing any movie or sending any message they must be mindful of if their choice will please or alienate. This is whilst trying to decide which of their perceived true selves will prove most attractive whilst being aware of what the average opinion of them will be amongst the online opinion makers. That is unless you want to deliberately provoke adverse reactions. The opportunity exists to capture and share every experience in a variety of media types and their mindset is continually consumed by the question as to whether to do so or not. Or as with live streaming video over TikTok just publish the lot and be damned. You are projecting your identity out to the world usually with the motivation to be perceived as successful for some underlying emotional reason that is nearly always personally worthless. To see someone pouring their heart out on a live TikTok stream with any three viewers makes you wonder about their reasoning for doing it. Strange they often do this whilst sitting in a car. Stored by TikTok for 90 days I suppose they can go back and look at their live streamed offering. Whilst if they wish to control better their published content use uploaded videos, rather than streamed videos, are retained indefinitely. You can clearly see the future where growth in digital storage will mean all live streamed video will be indefinitely stored. For science fiction writers amongst you then you can envisage your whole life from birth to death being one stored video for your future descendants to view for posterity.

So Social Media is constantly evolving and changing. Many of the Facebook users migrated to Instagram and WhatsApp but Mark Zuckerberg brought them out to retain his users but then they migrated to TikTok attracted by the new video intense experience but being Chinese it was not up for sale. But it might be if banned in  America although I cannot see this valuable format not being sold on to an owner that satisfies the American Government. Then Elon Musk brought Twitter renaming it X wanting to emulate the Chinese WeChat, the mobile messaging app owned by Tencent, with its seamless integration of communication, ecommerce, foreign investments with streaming music, scrolling social media, messaging their families and sending the Chinese currency yuan across China and to the outside world particularly those under the 2013 Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) its global development strategy. Then we have Amazon secretly doing data capture with Alexa and now Microsoft with their use of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google with Bard using AI chat boxes to capture your personal data. Whilst Apple has Siri acquired in 2010 as their virtual assistant integrated into their devices to do the same data capture. The most valuable asset to all these tech giants is your personal data that they acquire for free only to process it and sell it on in a variety of saleable formats or capabilities. Like letting Amazon know you are looking to buy a new computer but often after you have actually gone out and brought one so you are no longer a buyer in the marketplace but just irritated at the repeated attempts to sell you one.

So back to the Social Media Types. I decided to use ChatGPT to tell me what each of the major Social Media Platforms had their focus upon in terms of attracting you to use them. See below. At the same time it illustrates that as a writer I don’t need to write anymore using AI to do the work for me. I just copy and paste.

So lets look at Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), YouTube and TikTok.

Facebook

Facebook relies heavily on the genre of user-generated content. This encompasses a wide range of sub-genres, including:

1.Status Updates: Personal updates, thoughts, and feelings.
2.Photos and Videos: Sharing moments, experiences, and visual content.
3.Links and Shares: Sharing articles, news, and other external content.
4.Comments and Reactions: Engaging with posts through comments, likes, loves, etc.
5.Stories: Temporary posts that last for 24 hours.
6.Events: Creating and sharing events for public or private gatherings.
7.Groups and Pages: Community and interest-based posts.
8 Marketplace Listings: Buying and selling items within local communities.
9. Live Streaming: Real-time video broadcasts.

 

These various genres of posting enable diverse interactions and engagement on the platform, catering to both personal and public communication needs.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn primarily relies on the genre of professional and career-oriented content. This includes a variety of specific sub-genres, such as:

1.Professional Updates: Announcements about job changes, promotions, and career milestones.
2.Industry News and Insights: Sharing articles and news related to specific industries or professional fields.
3.Thought Leadership: Posts and articles authored by users to share expertise, opinions, and professional advice.
4.Job Listings: Posts about job openings and opportunities.
5.Networking Interactions: Connecting with other professionals, endorsing skills, and writing recommendations.
6.Company Updates: Posts from companies about their activities, culture, and job openings.
7.Events and Webinars: Sharing information about professional events, conferences, and webinars.
8.Educational Content: Posts and articles about courses, certifications, and learning opportunities.

These genres foster a professional community focused on career development, networking, and industry knowledge sharing.

Twitter (X)

Twitter primarily depends on the genre of real-time, concise communication. This genre includes several specific sub-genres, such as:

1.Tweets: Short messages up to 280 characters, sharing thoughts, news, and updates.
2.Replies: Responses to tweets, fostering conversation and interaction.
3.Retweets: Sharing someone else’s tweet to your own followers.
4.Quote Tweets: Sharing someone else’s tweet with your own commentary.
5.Threads: Series of connected tweets that provide more detailed information or tell a story.
6.Hashtags: Keywords or phrases preceded by the # symbol, used to categorize tweets and participate in broader conversations.
7.Trending Topics: Popular subjects and hashtags that gain widespread attention on the platform.
8. Media Tweets: Tweets that include photos, videos, GIFs, or links.
9.Polls: Interactive tweets that allow users to vote on a question.


These genres enable quick, real-time communication and engagement, making Twitter a platform for timely news, opinions, and discussions.

YouTube

YouTube depends on the genre of video content. This genre encompasses a wide array of sub-genres, including:

1.Vlogs: Personal video blogs documenting daily life and experiences.
2.Tutorials and How-To’’s: Educational videos that teach viewers how to do something.
3.Reviews and Unboxings: Videos reviewing products or unboxing new items.
4.Entertainment: Comedy skits, music videos, web series, and more.
5.Gaming: Gameplay videos, live streams, and game reviews.
6.Documentaries and Educational Content: In-depth videos exploring topics, events, or phenomena.
7.Live Streaming: Real-time broadcasts covering various events or personal streams.
8.Podcasts: Video versions of podcasts or talk shows.
9.Interviews and Talks: Conversations with notable figures, experts, or influencers.
10.Challenges and Trends: Participating in or creating viral challenges and trends.

These sub-genres allow for a diverse range of content that caters to many interests and niches, making YouTube a versatile platform for video-based entertainment and information.

TikToK

TikTok depends on the genre of short-form video content. This genre includes a variety of sub-genres, such as:

1.Lip-Syncing and Music Videos: Users perform songs or sound bites.
2.Dance Routines: Choreographed dance performances, often to trending songs.
3.Comedy and Skits: Short humorous videos, jokes, and comedic sketches.
4.Challenges: Participation in viral challenges and trends.
5.Tutorials and How-To’s: Quick instructional videos, often covering beauty, cooking, or life hacks.
6.Lifestyle and Vlogs: Glimpses into users’ daily lives, routines, and personal experiences.
7.Reaction Videos: Users reacting to other videos or content.
8.Duets and Collaborations: Split-screen videos where users interact with or respond to another video.
9.Educational Content: Bite-sized informative videos on various topics.
10.Visual Effects and Transitions: Creative use of effects and transitions to create visually appealing content.

These sub-genres support diverse and engaging content, encouraging creativity and interaction among users on the platform.

Published in 2013 it is amazing how little has changed other than its all 

done on a Smartphone these days. 

Although sadly Google + got cancelled since although not popular it had the Google quality and they should have stayed in the Social Media marketplace rather than just depending on YouTube.