TMI: The Downside of Social Media

Blogs are bubbling with news about Barack Obama. His new cabinet picks, his plans for the crucial first one hundred days, and...his workout routine?

Obama's been known to work out in regular gyms, which has anyone who has been beside him rushing online to dish the juicy details. A google search on "Obama Workout" turns up over 4 million results(!), the first page containing results from noted blogs such as Politico, the LA Times, and Buzzfeed. To which we respond: Seriously? The highlights of descriptions include details of humming while he bikes, not breaking a sweat while he works out, and having hands that are as "soft as butter".

Social media is a great tool, but some of this "news" is pretty unnecessary. In the olden days of newspapers, this wouldn't be such a phenomenon. But then again, if the public wants it, who's to say they're wrong? We'll stick to real news here at Axiom, though.

Luke Wilson and Me are BFF

Hey guys! Try not to get too jealous, but guess who I'm following on Twitter? Yeah, that's right, Luke Wilson and I are Twitter friends (kind of, he isn't following me back...yet.) Luke is the other Wilson brother, less famous than Owen but more famous than Charlie. And he's the cuter one, too.

What does this mean for the rest of the world? The autobiographical details are accurate, and it looks like it's really Luke Wilson. A "fake" account is usually filled with exciting information and is regularly updated, but this one looks like the real thing. It's updates are sporadic, and the tweets are a little less than glamorous.

Usually anyone who wants to get in contact with a celebrity has to find their address, send fanmail through the office of the publicist, and consign themself to the fact that their letter will most likely be read by a bored intern. If more celebrities get on twitter, this means direct contact with the stars. Great idea for a movie? Tweet it! Or maybe Luke Wilson will come and meet you for drinks at your place (lol).

Happy Birthdays are worth a lot on Facebook

You wouldn’t think it, but sending your friend a happy birthday message on Facebook foreshadows what is to come to really call social media social media. As social network developers become more attune to what is valuable or who is valuable in your circle of influence, you’re going to see less and less updates from your 500+ friends on Facebook. Chances are you have around 10 friends you actually want to hear from on a regular basis.

Peter Shankman, in an address to the Minnesota Public Relations Society of America, said “you only send a happy birthday message to the people you’d like to stay in contact with, or you care about.” The ability to say happy birthday—it’s on the your Facebook’s home page and it only takes 5 seconds.” Enter the new world of social media.

If you’re not saying happy birthday to the people you care about, do it and see if they get a warm fuzzy and have more likelihood to like you. The same goes for those brands you represent that people want to hear from. Go ahead, tell consumers you hear them and know what they need, so they can have a truly special day that goes beyond their birth.

What do you think? Are social networks going to become more focused like the "5" you see on T-Mobile?