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On Social Media, Are You a Type X or Type Y Thinker?

March 17, 2009
 in Social Media
. Tags: , .

Social Media X or Y?As sites like Twitter and Friendfeed continue to increase in popularity on the web, so does the potential for users to extract value from these communities. However, while there are many people who love to be at the forefront of it all, others are only there because they have to.

I’ve found there are [VERY] generally, two schools of thought on Social Media and it’s future.   There are the skeptics who I call Type X thinkers, and the believers who I call Type Y thinkers.

Type X  (Skeptics or Pessimists):

This school of thought sees Social Media as a big, never-ending popularity contest rife with narcissism: “Look at me, I’ve got 5,000 followers, I’m awesome!”

Skeptics also adopt the idea that Social Media has no real ROI and if it does, there’s no standard way of quantifying it. Some base it on page stats, while others base it on influence via network size but most find it hard to tie it back to $$$, market share, etc.

Even though the most hardcore of skeptics cannot deny the existence of the growing phenomenon that is Social Media, most are cautious about taking it too seriously.

Type Y (Believers or Kool-aid drinkers):

Type Y thinkers see Social Media as the incumbent future of interaction on the web. They are avid tutors for those still stuck in Web 1.0 and yearn for the mainstream adoption of Social Media. Contrary to the skeptics, they believe that Social Media ROI can be measured effectively; while being linked to revenue, market share, and other corporate benchmarks.

In addition, the Believers foresee more to Social Media than just revenue. They see an opportunity for real world social change through activism, community building, and awareness.

I’m not trying to label you

I’m sure no one fits perfectly into either description; I consider myself a Type Y thinker, I’d really love to see Steven Hodson’s impossible dream of social technology come to life. On the other hand, I’m still a little skeptical about Social Media ROI.

How do you see Social Media?

On Social Media, Are You a Type X or Type Y Thinker? Tags: community, Social Media

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  • March 17, 2009 at 3:30 pm Shey, Jamaican of FF
    I’ve found there are [VERY] generally, two schools of thought on Social Media and it’s future. There are the skeptics who I call Type X thinkers, and the believers who I call Type Y thinkers.
  • March 17, 2009 at 3:56 pm Dobromir Hadzhiev
    type Y, but I can see why some think ROI isn't there, it takes time, a lot effort and a set of new skill and some aren't ready to take the jump
  • March 17, 2009 at 3:59 pm Shey, Jamaican of FF
    @Dob Good point, I also think that many companies aren't patient enough. They think results will happen at the same pace as offline models, which often isn't the case
  • March 17, 2009 at 4:02 pm Dobromir Hadzhiev
    not that they think, but they want. They all know how hard was to get recognized on the streets and want to believe it should be easier the 2nd time
  • March 17, 2009 at 10:36 pm Amani
    Nice article. I would say I am Type Y. And you all are right about it does take time to get ROI, but I think it is worth it for the long run.
  • March 18, 2009 at 7:29 am Bec Rowe @d0tski
    I can't get enough of the kool-aid. I'm practically getting it via IV at this point. And I completely believe in the ROI.
  • March 18, 2009 at 7:54 am Shey, Jamaican of FF
    Sometimes I think it's good for those in the industry to push the kool aid, but other times I wonder if it's all legit.
  • March 18, 2009 at 8:01 am Meryn Stol
    I'm type Y. But I don't think you should be concerned with "ROI" every time you say something. And that's what social media is about: conversation.
  • March 18, 2009 at 8:23 am Thomas Power
    Y
  • March 18, 2009 at 8:39 am Thomas Power
    hey with all us Y's here can someone create a Y only FF feed for us to follow?
  • March 18, 2009 at 8:49 am JMaultasch
    Type Y all the way.
  • March 18, 2009 at 8:51 am Meryn Stol
    "I wonder if it's all legit." Shey, of course it's not ALL legit. Speculation can go to far. Which things do you wonder about specifically?
  • March 18, 2009 at 9:48 am Shey, Jamaican of FF
    @Meryn For example: I'm pretty skeptical about Ph.Ds and Master's degrees in Social Media. Maybe I'm just ignorant, but it just seems kinda ridiculous to me.
  • March 18, 2009 at 10:36 am Shey, Jamaican of FF
    @Chris It's hard to imagine Amazon and Google Search being replaced by anything

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  • I'd say I'm definitely more of a Type Y. Whether it be money or social change or whatever, if you engage and interact with people, your goals will eventually be met. The key is actually being social and making real connections. Most people miss this entirely and, even if they do see it, they're too lazy to follow through.
  • Shey I can't see Rahsheen's comments above...
  • weird -- try reloading?
  • OK, see it now
  • I agree with you - but money talks, to a certain extent. Lots of executive folks wanna see hard numbers that social media is a risk worth investing in.

    Personally, I think that any company can use SM to for PR, Cust. Service, etc. The challenge is converting your SM activities into revenue or cost savings and being able to measure efficiency/effectiveness.
  • I guess I kinda see both sides as far as money goes. It IS a risk. It's new and ever-changing. On the flip side of that, I think it is quite possible to gather stats and whatever numbers are necessary to get some type of estimate on ROI.

    Then again...what's really being invested? Time? One guy could possibly be the voice of an entire corporation. I'm sure most companies spend more cash on other marketing methods than they ever would in giving SM a shot.
  • True, but time = money + time-that-could-have-been-spent-on-something-else
  • Type X, but slowly converting
  • What would you say is your biggest criticism of Social Media?
  • I'm totally a Type Y. I'm all about the kool-aid
  • Nothing wrong with that, keep on drinking :)
  • Mary
    I love Twitter but suck at it
  • Why do you say that? I guess it depends on what you're trying to get out of Twitter.

    I'm sure you'll understand it the more you use it.
  • Good post Man, I am a type Y person all the way, it is funny how social media is being a huge part of or personal and professional lives. Sometimes it scares me
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