What Might Be the Big Idea in Social Media in 2022?

OK, the Holidays are done for now.

The Christmas decorations should have been put away by now and, hopefully, any New Year’s hangovers are a distant memory. 

So, what might be on the horizon for 2022?

Let’s talk about that!

This year, in looking ahead, I want to focus on what could be the Big Idea for social media going forward.

Now, for my regular readers, what I’m about to say might sound like I’m talking out of both sides of my mouth, especially if you’ve read my last blogpost here or my other one on a different forum.

The topic is the Metaverse.

Now, while I’m not about to suggest that we’re going to pop off and live there a la Matrix, there may be something here.

I’m old enough to remember when my elders (Now, mostly either long since discredited or deceased.) said things like “Who needs a LAN when I can carry my diskette over to the other PC?” or “”The Internet?, It’s a fad, it won’t last!”

If we dismiss the Metaverse too quickly then we run the risk of adding another memorable quote to the ones just mentioned. 

I have two primary reasons for saying this.

First, there’s a lot of money sloshing around out there right now.

Both VC (Venture Capital) and the value of intangibles like NFT’s (Non-fungible tokens for you newbies out there.) represent billions of dollars in valuations at the moment.

Next, covergence.

Covergence can be a giant killer.

When the Internet, cable television, and the media industries met there was a thermonuclear explosion to the world’s economy like none that was ever seen before.

Brick ‘n mortar businesses disappeared seemingly overnight, the music industry was thrown into disarray, traditional news outlets like newspapers and magazines are going the way of the dodo bird.

This time around, the three forces that I see converging are the Internet (Again!), cryptocurrencies/blockchain, and the Metaverse.

I don’t buy into Zuck’s view of a proprietary Metaverse like he’s proposing for Meta.

The proliferation of different virtual world standards makes it difficult if not impossible to move easily from one world to the next.

Truthfully, crossing the 38th Parallel on the Korean peninsula is probably easier.

But, as we’ve seen in the Information Age that began with personal computers back in the 1970’s, these challenges only exist to be surmounted. 

I can’t predict were the Metaverse goes, but it’s going to go somewhere.

Yes, I’m hedging my bets, but I’m keeping an open mind.

After all, I do run a broadcast for mystery/thriller writers out of Second Life!

Let’s see what the New Year brings us!

Have a Happy New Year and stay safe!

That’s it for now!

Please check out my 8 step approach for developing a social media program for more ideas on how to use social media.

Also, never forget to reach out to either ask questions or to ask for help from someone like myself!

In the meantime, thank you for following and reading my blog.

I look forward to any and all comments that you may have. I will reply to any comments made to this blog post as promptly as I can.

And, remember!

I do this for a living and if I can be of any assistance to either you or your organization, please feel free to call on me. Our initial discussion will be of no charge to you.

I can also be reached at conpsweeney@someddi.com