Simple explanation of the Social Media revolution

David, merely linking together phenomena and then extrapolating that they are related in some meaningful fashion other than that they are coincident with technology (contrary to the author’s intention, but that is what he has done) does not explain their significance, importance, or value. I remember a similar argument for “They Youth Revolution” that colleagues and I made in 1970 as members of the Los Angeles Ad Club II; we even won an award for it. Boy, were we wrong.

These trends have been in the offing since the 1960s when TV gained its supremacy. More people watch more TV each day (at least in the USA) than go online each day. Does that make TV more significant than social media? I don’t think so, but in sociological terms, the evidence does.

Erik must go beyond empiricism and get to the meat of the matter to explain why social media is happening and its prognosis for the future. I see one quite different from his, with social networks more important as facilitating tools and less so as cultural determinants. I can cite the same wonders he does as support for my position as Erik does for his. My historical perspective is probably richer than his, however, my theory is more robust. What did I miss?

If China was allowed to be on the internet then it may be the largest country in the world.