The upside of social media's mainstreaming

By Alec Hogg

When I started Moneyweb in 1997, we joked how Internet connectivity was so scarce my weekly newsletter had more fax than email subscribers. It took years of persistence before SA’s Internet pioneers saw any fruits from their labours. Primedia’s Metropolis dropped a couple hundred million rand before going bust. Thankfully for M-Web, its parent (Naspers) had deeper pockets and greater conviction as losses there exceeding R1bn before the tipping point was reached.

Judging by two dinner parties I’ve attended this week, we are not far off a similar mainstreaming of social media. Twitter, tweeting and tweets were worked into conversation the same way we might have mentioned movies or books. And much of the “news” wasn’t really that because dinner guests had followed each other’s tweets. This is not unique to northern Johannesburg either. Look around you and everybody everywhere seems to be engaging on social media – those waiting for transport; security guards; receptionists; even an alarming number of people driving cars.

Our social media obsession is having a predictable impact on the art of conversation. But an upside is how it also frees up information channels. In this highly connected world, one propagates untruths at your peril. Judging by the instructions issued to e.tv’s departing CEO Marcel Golding, this social media reality clearly hasn’t worked into the SACTWU or, indeed, National Cabinet just yet. When it does, they may well find the editorial prize they sacrificed so much to attain, wasn’t worth it after all. Poetic justice.

Yesterday’s top stories:

ANC’s Mantashe compares NUMSA to ‘sick person’

Another e.tv scalp for Team Zuma – Group COO resigns

Allan Gray: What’s wrong with South African economy

Helen Zille: ANC logic – why catch a Kombi when taxpayers are paying for your Limo?

Malema’s anger justifiable, says La Grange

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