Bacon….And Other Trends That Must Go in 2013

Author: Cedar Brown

Dec 17

Every year, a few crazy trends take the world by storm and eventually leave us wondering why the hell we ever liked that trend in the first place. Some things are always around, but have one really big year and disappear again. Others come and go with no explanation at all. Regardless of how they arrived, here are 10 trends that were big in 2012 that I think will wither away in 2013.

 

Bacon

Bacon trends

I love bacon, but there has been more bacon-related talk than just about anything this past year. I have no idea how it got so popular all of a sudden, but there is a clear obsession. Even the Huffington Post did a 2012 wrap-up of bacon! Although delicious, I don’t think its internet popularity will stick around in 2013.

 

Facebook

Facebook is dead

In 2013, Facebook will start to see its first real decline in users since it first began in 2004. With the rise of sites like Google+, Pinterest, Tumblr, MySpace and Twitter, Facebook cannot afford to keep making huge mistakes and expect to retain their user base. Constant problems with privacy issues, a failed IPO process and EdgeRank, these are just a few of the major problems angering users and causing headaches for Facebook. I predicted their downfall after watching Zuck present Timeline two years ago. Although I was wrong on that, I knew it wasn’t far away.

 

Instagram

Instagram trends

Seriously, one billion dollars!! Facebook bought them for $1B! They overpaid big time, in my opinion. Rarely does a startup remain once purchased by a larger company, this is just another example with a different reason. As of yesterday, many believe Instagram just destroyed themselves by releasing a new “terms of service”. They were all the rage once offered on Android, but trends can only be cool for so long until something better shows up, i.e. Snapseed or Camera+. Besides, all the pictures of people’s food, skies and bathroom mirror selfies took away any coolness it had left.

 

YOLO/Swag

YOLO Swag

STOP IT! Saying this does not make you cool, no matter how old you are. Justin Bieber and other pop stars do not dictate the English language, a proper education does. This better not be around next year.

 

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber trends

I’m not going to lie, he’s a talented kid, but I just wish he’d go away. Social media is what made him and is keeping him popular, damn beliebers!

 

Call Me, Maybe/Gangnam Style

Carly Rae Jepsen and Psy

These were pretty much the ultimate viral song and video of the year. WAY too many parodies of both songs and I’m about ready to never hear either again. To remind you how bad they are, check this out.

 

Jersey Shore

Jersey Shore

This is, quite possibly, the worst show on television. I am not a fan of reality TV, but this takes it to a new low. I get annoyed when my friends shout GTL (Gym, Tan, Laundry) because they know it agitates me. How can a show this bad last so long on TV? I hope 2012 is the last year that cast is ever in the spotlight.

 

Apple Euphoria

Long line for Apple iPhone 5

Apple has been the top dog in many industries for many years. I think the iPad is the best product they have across their product line, but not for long. Every year, Apple fanboys would wait in line for hours or days to get the next generation iPhone or iPad, but I believe 2013 will be different. I think Apple is no longer the best product available, I think the competition has finally caught up. In 2012, the best smartphone on the market was the Samsung Galaxy S3 with Android. Google has started to compete head-on and even surpass Apple products quite a bit this year and I believe the torch has changed hands. So far, Apple owns the tablet market with the iPad, but the Google Nexus is making a name for itself. Although Apple euphoria will never leave, it will certainly be toned down for this coming year.

 

Honey Boo Boo

Honey Boo Boo

Seriously, why do people support such garbage? I’m not sure which is worse, Honey Boo Boo or Jersey Shore. I believe that shows like this are part of the problem with our society, but that is for another conversation. I really hope that Honey Boo Boo doesn’t stick around for another year, for everyone’s sake.

 

Caturday

Caturday trends

Caturday happens every Saturday and takes place mainly on Google+. If you look here, you’ll see how crazy it is, especially on Saturdays! I don’t hate Caturday, but it has gone down the same road that bacon has on the internet. There are entire blogs, Tumblr accounts and even Google+ accounts devoted to cats and Caturday. What the hell did cats ever do to get so popular? I suppose, being a dog person, of course I’m confused on the whole subject. Anyway, I think the obsession will subside in 2013.

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Lists, Circles and Interests: How to Stay Organized in Social Media

Author: Cedar Brown

Oct 17

Social media users, both rookies and veterans, know that staying up to date and managing multiple social media accounts is a very difficult task, almost impossible at times. For some platforms, like Twitter, you may be connected to tens of thousands of people! Who in their right mind could keep up with everything going on with everyone they follow? Nobody! And that is just on Twitter. Imagine being active on Facebook and Google+ as well, trying to distribute unique content to each while attempting to engage and follow what people are posting is tough. How is it even possible to stay organized on Twitter, Google+ and Facebook? Luckily, for users, each social network offers a way to group your connections and accounts you follow into categories. These include Twitter Lists, Google+ Circles and Facebook Interests.

By organizing people and accounts into categories, you’ll be able to filter out much of the noise so you can still follow along with the things you find important. Hootsuite is a great tool to help view multiple social networks in the same place. It’s a social media management platform to help you manage your accounts on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and more. Hootsuite also allows you to sync up certain social media accounts and create running streams for each tab. Streams can include your Twitter Lists or @ mentions, Facebook keyword search, etc. Currently, you can only view streams for Twitter Lists, but not Interests or Circles. For some more help on Hootsuite, check here. Below is a brief explanation how to create and use Lists, Circles and Interests.

TWITTER LISTS

Some Twitter users follow 500, 10K, even 100K people. Following a high number of users makes it practically impossible to scroll through the stream to find relevant content. Twitter Lists offer a bit of refuge from the clutter. By clicking on your profile page, on the left side is a tab for Lists. Once there, you can view lists you’ve created, subscribed to, or are apart of. Learn to create Lists here. Organize them any way you’d like, by location, company or similar interests. You don’t have to be following people to add them to a list, although they are alerted once added. One thing I don’t like about Lists are the limits Twitter places on users. Each user can create a max of 20 lists of 500 or less people.

You may be wondering how you can create Lists for the thousands of people you are connected to, without it taking an entire lifetime. There are two amazing tools to use to help manage your Lists. Twitlistmanager is by far my favorite List manager. It allows you to view your followers in a long list (like a spreadsheet) that includes Lists you’ve created and easily select large numbers of people to add to Lists at one time. Socialbro also offers a more in-depth way to create and manage Lists. You can search Twitter, with the numerous filters Socialbro offers, and add people to lists in a very simple manner. If you’d like to search for Lists to subscribe to, or even submit Lists you’ve created, check out Listorious. Here you can find Lists that are the most popular or even by category. All of these tools are great ways to find new connections and build your network.

GOOGLE+ CIRCLES

Google+ Circles work slightly different than Lists. Here, you can choose which Circles can view your G+ posts, whereas with Twitter, everyone can see your tweets. Remember, when you follow an entire Circle, you automatically follow everyone in that Circle as well, not so for Twitter Lists. Each G+ user begins with 5 default Circles, but you can easily edit them as you wish. Head to your G+ page and click Circles, and there you can manage your Circles any way you’d like. You can only follow a maximum of 5,000 users and when you “share” Circles, you can only share a max of 500 users in each.

There are many tools to help manage your Circles, including numerous Chrome apps. I enjoy using the unofficial G+ directory, FindPeopleonPlus, to find users through specific filters. This tool also allows you to view which of your Twitter and LinkedIn connections are on Google Plus. Another great resource to search for users is “Recommended Users“, also a few Circles to follow. Here is a small list of tools for Circle management, profile analytics and G+ influencers.

FACEBOOK LISTS/INTERESTS 

Facebook Lists and Interests are basically the same thing, but Lists are private and Interests are public. Lists allow you to group your friends, Pages and subscriptions by categories such as Close Friends, Family, Acquaintances, Restricted or whatever you feel. Like Google Plus Circles, you also have the opportunity to share your posts to the public, lists you choose or all of your friends. On your main page, on the left side click “More”, where it says “Friends”, and you can edit your Lists. By clicking on any of the Lists created, you’ll only be able to see posts by accounts you’ve designated for that List. I like this option because you can see posts by people you’ll never see flash through your News Feed.

Facebook Interests work the same way, but are public. Instead of creating lists of your friends (typically) you are creating lists of accounts you’ve subscribed to, friends or Pages you’ve “liked”. Here is an example of an Interest List I’ve subscribed to. Another example, as a job seeker, I’m working on a list that includes job accounts and companies I’d like to work for. On the left side column of your homepage click “More”, where it says “Interests”, and you can edit your lists there. Most people create lists by a category, but you have fun and be creative. Tip: You don’t have to “Like” the Pages you add to your Interest Lists, which can give you more free reign with your creativity.

And there you go. With the craziness that is social media, I hope these tips and tools can help you organize your connections. It takes a bit of practice to get the hang of utilizing Lists, but once you do, you’ll wonder what took you so long to do this.

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Does Giving Your Brand’s Social Presence A Face Matter In Your Strategy?

Author: Cedar Brown

Jun 27

Have you ever interacted with a brand on Twitter or Facebook and wondered who you were talking to? Ever thought that if you knew it was a 50-something male or a 20-something female that you’d approach with a different tone? Would it even make a difference?  Many people probably wouldn’t care, but those that do are pretty split on this. I am a big believer in promoting the faces behind the account to help make communicating with the brand a tad more personal. Logos just aren’t enough.

I haven’t done research or found stats that prove why showing off your community manager could be helpful for your company, but I believe it would help give your brand a more human voice when posting and conversing with fans. ‘Humanizing your brand’ is the new thing these days and has been adopted by few companies, but is a growing ideal. Some brands that are promoting their operators include @UPS, @Dominos, @Southwestair, @JetBlue and @Starbucks by putting the names and/or Twitter handles in the company’s profile. @Dell is the only one I’ve found that adds their community managers on the background image of their Twitter page. It’s tough to do the latter because of the lack of real estate available, but is a great way if you can! I suggest keeping the logo in the avatar and adding your operators in the company’s Twitter profile or in the background image, like the brands mentioned earlier.

I always feel comfortable when conversing with a brand that does this because I can see who I’m talking to and I’m willing to bet that others feel the same way. When I’m only talking to a logo it often feels like I’m talking to an old corporate codger who is grumpy all the time or a lawyer who is way too worried about each word posted. Personally, I like to chat with the brand’s community manager on my own Twitter account because I am in the same career field and like to learn from others like myself. By doing this, it also allows me to chat with the company like I am with one of my friends, with a more relaxed feel. This is the type of thing all brands hope for in social media, to interact with fans on a deeper, more personal level. The goal is to build a community with your following, but you need to be transparent and open about your goals and intentions. Letting people see behind the curtain of your brand’s social channels is a must, in my opinion, because it can really help attain that goal, or at least steer it in the right direction.

Just my short, quick opinion on the topic, but I really believe it can be a valuable asset for a brand’s social strategy. What do you think?

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While Twitter Was Down, May It Be A Lesson Learned

Author: Cedar Brown

Jun 21

I don’t know about you, but when Twitter was down today I was affected. Much of my work revolves around social media and when there is a technical problem, I get anxious. Today’s outage was the biggest in 8 months, but much different than others in the past. It made me realize how far off our world has come with technology. Reminded me of that South Park episode (Season 12, episode 6) where the internet went down and the world went nuts. Randy took his family to Silicon Valley where millions of others flocked and were put into fenced off camps, similar to the movie Red Dawn, and the internet was being rationed in 45 second intervals per family; hilarious!

I really believe the world will end when the entire internet goes down permanently. It’s sad how much we were shaken due to the Twitter outage. I was watching other social media sites during the “blackout” to see what was being said about the issue. The majority of people flocked to Pinterest and Facebook, mainly to complain about Twitter not working. I realize that if the internet went down, most people would seriously have no idea what to do. I’m from a small town in Wisconsin and know that Twitter is virtually unheard of and certainly not used, so this entire issue has not forced anyone there to even bat an eye at the mention of a “Twitter blackout”. But in most cities, this was a major problem. I understand Twitter being down hurts a lot of people’s work progress, but I’m just pointing out a larger issue.

My point is is that our world revolves around the internet and social media so much that when it is MIA we are like blind camels wandering the desert with no idea what to do. Let this be a lesson, that there is more to our lives than the internet and Twitter. Ration your time better and spend it with friends and family more, get out and experience the world or take on new hobbies. If what you are doing on the internet isn’t helping you become better somehow, leave it alone. With the right efficiency, you can have done on the internet what you need done in a much shorter period of time if you try hard, but most would rather surf the net. Lucky for me, I grew up in an area where being outdoors was all we ever did and even now, outdoor activities still consume my life much more than the internet does.

By no means is this a rant, I just want to point out how dependent on technology we’ve become. That needs to be fixed. That being said, check out what was said with the hashtag #WhileTwitterWasDown on Twitter. I was too lazy to put together any sort of curation revolving around things being said about it, but look forward to Mashable finding the funniest things mentioned. What are your thoughts on this and what were YOU doing during the infamous “Twitter Outage” of 2012?

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Leaving Instagram So Soon? Here’s A Few Options To Check Out Instead

Author: Cedar Brown

Apr 19

When news broke that Facebook was acquiring Instagram for $1B, Twitter went all Charlie Sheen for the next couple hours while I sat there doing my best Dr. Evil impression for the next 30 seconds. Over the next few days, people began to claim they were deleting their Instagram account because of Big Brother, I mean, Facebook. I don’t disagree with deleting your account, but I also don’t like Facebook for their bloodsucking, data-collecting and monopolistic ideals. If you are interested in switching platforms, there are numerous comparable photo apps available. I rate Instagram a 3.5 out of 5, personally. Here are a few that I have personally dabbled with and believe will grow now that image-based platforms will continue to increase in value.

STREAMZOO

Streamzoo is a versatile competitor to Instagram because it has pictures AND videos, badges to achieve and more filters and effects to choose from. They also have share options to other sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Flickr. Options for viewing an image include ‘like’ the image, see who liked it, share it, follow any streams or hashtags that the image references or view the profile of the image owner. Streamzoo is both free and unique in a way that it is also a social gaming app, which allows it to build a larger community faster. To earn badges, you need to score points. To score points, you need to ‘like’ people’s photos, comment on their photos, upload your own photos, follow people and have people follow you back. There are daily and weekly leaderboards that show users with the most points and you can find friends in a similar fashion as Instagram. The best part is that you can use this app on its own website, where Instagram is purely mobile. This is a great app for both iPhone and Android phones and an app I will continue to use in the future.

4.5 out of 5

PIXLR-O-MATIC

Pixlr-o-Matic is amazing AND free! Although it isn’t a social platform or hub for your photos, it is a photo editing app that shares your photos to numerous sites including its own site, imm.io. And like Streamzoo, you can edit photos on the website as well as the mobile app. What makes this such a great choice to use is the uber amounts of editing options such as colors/hues, frames and effects. You can also download MANY more filters and effects to increase the coolness factor of the app. I suggest to download the ‘creative’ filters, which are pretty cool to use! Pixlr-o-Matic also has a fun shuffle button to use a random selection of filters and effects to any image you choose. If you’re on the website, there some more great options. Pixlr Grabber allows you to download an extension on both Firefox and Chrome so that you can right-click any image and send it into the Pixlr Editor, similar to Pinterest in a way. It was awarded the 2011 “Best App Ever” award for the Best Photo Editing App on Android by 148apps.com. There are over 2M combinations to use with the filters offered. Pixlr-o-Matic is offered on both Android and iPhone.

4.5 out of 5

HIPSTER

Recently, AOL acquired Hipster to work with their mobile team. You may have also heard that they acquired Huffington Post too. Doesn’t matter, AOL is so 90′s anyway, ha! Back to the app, I must say that I very much like the images created by Hipster. There are 17 filters available, which isn’t much, but more than Instagram. You’re able to share images with friends, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Foursquare and Flickr. The main gimmick with Hipster is that you’re creating virtual postcards to send to friends or share on your networks. Each preset filter has space for a caption which, by default, contains your location and made to look like a postcard. You can easily edit the caption, and your text will carry through all of the presets as you pick what you like. The geo-tag option can be toggled on/off, thankfully. Hipster almost works as a Instagram/Foursquare combo with its photo editing and location-based connection. Unlike Instagram, Hipster has a website that allows you to view yours and others photos, find friends and even shop for stuff you’ll never want. When you view your image you will be able to see who has commented, “liked” and who is viewing your photo, something different than the other apps. Because this is a location-based app, they give you the option to see images posted from nearby your current location. Hipster is free and available for both Android and iPhone.

3 out of 5

CAMERA +

I have never used Camera Plus, because it is only for iPhones, but I hear it is much better than Instagram in every way. There is a free version and a pro version that costs $1.99. Because I have never used this app, I cannot properly review it. After reading the website and another 3rd party review, I am convinced that Camera Plus sounds like the greatest photo app ever made! I have talked to many people who use this app and they say they will never use another app again. I suggest you check the website and/or download the app yourself.

I know there are an uber amount of other options to choose from, but these are the few that I’ve used and can properly review. Plus, I have an Android phone. If you know of some other great options, please share them and your favorites!

 

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Is Your Company Being Antisocial?

Author: Cedar Brown

Mar 23

Now I’m not going to go out there and track down all the factual numbers of companies using social media vs. companies that don’t. I can, but I won’t. I will, however, tell you that there is a major correlation of success between the companies that do and don’t. There’s a saying out there, “companies not using social media will cease to exist in five years.” Too many executives refuse to buy into the ‘social media fad’ or don’t believe in a true online presence. Many are learning to accept, but some are still behind the times. It’s not about shifting your entire company’s marketing plan to social networks, but instead creating a social presence to connect with your customers. Being social allows you to listen, learn and change strategies accordingly. Understand this, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Building a solid social presence will not happen overnight. You need patience, confidence in your employees and an innovative thought process to accept the fact that social media can, and will, help your brand. DON’T BE ANTISOCIAL!!

There are a number of reasons your company should be using social media. But first, know that there is a major difference between having a social presence and being social in that presence! Too many companies say “Well, we’re on Facebook, but it’s not working.” YOU HAVE TO MAKE AN EFFORT!!! Create posts or contests that have calls to action and consistently write content that will create conversation! Facebook and Twitter are very different for a brand, when conversing with fans. For example, if you tweet 50 times a day, with only 1-2 being posts and the rest being @ replies, then you are being social. But it’s different on Facebook because you’re not posting 50 times a day. Target or Coca-Cola may post once a day and get 1-3K ‘likes’ and 100-500 comments on any given day, but may only reply once or twice per post in order to keep the conversation going. If you are a smaller company, you may only get a few comments and ‘likes’ in all, but replying to each comment is unnecessary. Answering questions or trying to prolong the conversation is a good time to reply on Facebook. Whether you’re on Twitter, Google +, Facebook, Pinterest, MySpace, LinkedIn or running a blog, the one thing you need is consistency!!

There are numerous social networks out there, but you don’t need to be on all of them. By now you should already know your target audience and the type of social networks they are using. Don’t attempt to be on more networks then you can handle. If you can only handle one or two, pick the site where your customer is most likely to be at. Quality over quantity! One VERY important thing: DON’T CREATE A SOCIAL ACCOUNT IF YOU WILL NOT KEEP IT ACTIVE!!!! If you are not confident that you can keep a social site active for more than two years, don’t create one. If you know your company has an account and it’s not being used, do one of three things:

1. Delete it, plain and simple.

2. If you are creating a different page, leave a note on the current one for your followers that says that you’ve moved and leave a link. Also, leave a message saying the account will be deactivated within a month.

3. Leave a message on the profile saying that you are on hiatus and will be back in action again soon.

Nothing annoys me more than a company who has an inactive social account. In fact, I sometimes refuse to use that product or shop at that store because I consider them lazy for this issue. Yes, I’m hardcore with this, but I’m also very passionate about what I do and it bothers me to see companies failing at the social level.

It’s important to remember that having social accounts helps boast your brand’s online presence and can help/hurt your brand’s reputation as well. If you’re active and social on your networks, then your brand can certainly have a great reputation online. But if you aren’t, or are doing it poorly, your reputation can be taking a hit. When your company is active online, one of the most important things you need to do is build social relationships. Building a community of followers can, and will, establish trust and confidence in your brand, from your followers’ perspective. With this trust and community you have built, you then create brand advocates. Key things to remember when you are building, and nurturing, your community is constant interaction and communication with your followers! Your fans can be your greatest asset or your greatest enemy. So be fun, be social, build these relationships and never underestimate the power of social media!

 

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Is Twitter The Best Social Network?

Author: Cedar Brown

Feb 13

My answer: YES!

Facebook offers a lot of extra things, such as third-party apps and games, to keep people on the site longer than any other social network out there. But the reach is limited. You converse with your friends and that is it. Other than knowing the very move your friends are making at that moment, what good is Facebook? Youtube is in the category of ‘social networks’, but isn’t that social. There are some awesome v-logs and channels, yes, but overall it is mainly a collection of videos without a real sociable concept. Google+ is growing and will take time to spread, but it is too early to tell. LinkedIn, not even close.


Both for personal and business, when you start up on a new social network you need to set a few goals. Do you just want to try it out? Do you want to network or build followers? Do you want to use this platform as a way to brand yourself or your company? Too often people sign up and try a platform for a few days, then get annoyed and delete. Rarely do they take time to plan out ways to really make the platform work for them. Some people want to try Twitter, but don’t get it or dislike it for whatever reason. The main excuse I hear about why people don’t like Twitter is because they don’t want to read that someone is eating a sandwich this very minute. When I hear this I just want to slap the person with a bass fish or a pair of wet, smelly gym socks to knock some sense into them. Slight humor there. It’s simple as not following those people, but the overall lack of education about Twitter is why it’s not as popular as other networks.

Twitter has unlimited reach and speed. It is the fastest news source in the world, although there are accuracy issues; just ask Huffington Post and CBS. Quite often the news is right from the source, which is the reason for the speed. A good example is the breaking news about the death of Bin Laden. Major announcements are often made first on Twitter, which makes the site quite valuable.

You can build relationships with people from all over the world, celebrities or even brands. Celebrities and athletes use Twitter more than Facebook. ESPN even has a tab, on the bottom scrolling part, that shows the handles of athletes and what they are saying. You can follow anyone you want in the world with an account, this to me is the most important. Twitter has allowed me to build quite a following with people from NYC to SF, Florida to Washington, Canada to Australia and I have connected with some of the coolest cats on the planet in the process. I use this medium in a more professional manner. I follow like-minded people, often times within my industry of marketing and advertising, and look to build relationships with people. For the job seeker, it allows for you to build some credibility.

I recently saw an article about how people are finding new jobs through social media. I found all of my jobs and best job opportunities through social media channels, mainly Twitter. Following brands, recruiters and job accounts can help you immensely in your job search. Build the right profile, put yourself out there and you never know the great things that can come from it. Connecting with people in your industry can help build your network as well. One of my favorite things about Twitter is the constant posting of articles regarding business, marketing, social media and many more categories. This helps people learn about what is going on in an industry and around the world.

Of course, there are other reasons why Twitter is great. I could go on and on, but there are a few of the main reasons I wanted to point out. In the end, I think Twitter is the better network to be social. I think Apple just may agree. I suggest, for non-users, to take some time and make an effort and I’m willing to bet that you’ll enjoy the concept once you get the hang of it.

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Facebook Timeline: Good move or bad move?

Author: Cedar Brown

Jan 4

And there it is, the biggest mistake Facebook has made to date. This week, it was announced that in the coming weeks, Facebook Timeline will be mandatory for all users. Timeline is going to be a major change to the overall user interface of Facebook, where your profile will be dramatically changed. Released to the world at the f8 conference back in September, by Zuckerberg himself, its intent is to tell the story of (your name here). It will allow you, and your friends, to travel back in time to see all your old posts, posts you thought were gone, dead and buried. Well, guess again! But, Facebook says you can hide posts from friends, which you have to do one by one. For someone like me, who started in 2004, this could take a while.

 

There have been many mixed reviews about this change, but those feelings may change soon as Facebook continues its current innovative moves. Recently, Facebook announced the addition of more than 60 new apps with the intent of retaining users and hopes of continual growth. They are referred to as “frictionless apps”, which means the user can use the app and have the information shared automatically, with your permission. Some may already be familiar with a few popular apps such as Spotify and the wildly-addicting, Pinterest.

Facebook has always had issues with privacy concerns and Timeline isn’t helping their cause. I think it is a serious breach of privacy, forcing people to have to hide all their previous information they no longer want public, which will likely not go over well. Also, sharing every single move you make, while involved with any of the new integrated apps, is a bit much as well. If Facebook publicly has to say that they are giving users one free week with a privatized Timeline, in order to clean up old posts, that should be a tell-tale sign right there that this isn’t a smart option. Sure, there ARE ways to privatize any and everything you do, but Facebook isn’t about to waste a second to educate you on these moves. Because of this issue alone, I think it will begin to scare people away from using Facebook in the future.

I watched the f8 conference, live on UStream, where Mark Zuckerberg first introduced Timeline. At that moment, I immediately said that change will be the ultimate demise of Facebook. Am I right? Maybe, maybe not. I think 2012 will be the year that they see their first decline in numbers. This will at least lead to a major decline in growth, and it will be derived from this move. What do you think? According to the social media reporting site, Mashable, the average Facebook user was 38 years old in 2010. That age has likely increased since 2010. Older generations are less likely to be informed of the drastic changes or defend against such moves. For that matter, the average user doesn’t understand how or why this change happened. I believe they will simply delete their profile rather than deal with the hassle. Everything anyone has ever posted will be available to the public eye, and that just may scare them away for good.

There comes a time when every great giant must fall. I think 2012 is the beginning of the end for the Facebook Empire and the rise of a new social media contender, Twitter. Twitter will rain supreme as the most popular social site of the year! Now you may not agree with everything I say, but it is food for thought. Tell me where you stand on this issue. Good move or bad move? I’d love to hear where YOU stand!

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