Defining ****** Media

While doing some research on social media, and whether this term is valid and useful, I came across these diverse opinions on the topic: What is (and should we use) Social Media?

So I am going to polarize this discussion into two playing fields...

Against:

• Anti- Social Media (WARNING, wear your headphones, take his opinion with a grain of salt)

• Social Media? Did I miss the memo?

• What I call the, "academic" and cultural viewpoint.

For:

• Long broad summary on the state of "Social Media" and its usefulness

• Follow-up for the naysayers

• Web strategy guru Jeremy Owyang states the need for a new phrase, hosts a discussion of option

• Scoble weighs in

As an optimist, Brian points out, "Social Media has yet to reveal its true impact among those around the world who have yet to embrace it and participate." and "* Social Media is only a buzzword if certain individuals decide to call it such because they don't understand what or why it is**.....Social Media is more of description in order to frame media in a socialized context rather than hype."*

And finally

• Frustration, but landing with Social Media

I like this comment by a reader, "It’s just the kind of animal we are: We love to sort things into bags and put labels on the bags.* We can’t help it.** Looking for patterns is part of how our brains are wired."*