This video is hardly the first entry in the “just how big will social media get?” debate, but it certainly amasses a compelling collection of data for the “social media is changing the world” camp.
The video was created by Eric Qualman (who’s quite fortunate that his parents gave him a name that abbreviates to “equalman”), who kindly includes all of the facts from the video in an accompanying blog post. Sift through those staggering numbers, and you’ll have a hard time finding anyone who doesn’t agree that the state of our (social) union is strong.
As for social media being the “biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution,” it’s impossible to say for now. Will there be a backlash where individuals feel stifled from being too connected (or too superficially connected)? Or are we really looking at a near future where “mass micromedia” will create a global community that has no center? Deep stuff, but a worthwhile question. Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below!
Thanks to Louie Calvano and Randi Wakefield for the tip on the video.
