Mobile Social Media, America’s New Addiction

November 4, 2009: summarized from World Market Media -- Social media is a rapidly growing market, with Twitter at the forefront growing over 1,000 percent since February. New sites are constantly rising and falling in an attempt to innovate the social media market place. With this new rise in popularity, the workplace has responded in its limitation of access to social media websites. Statistics show that over 70 percent of employers have banned such sites.

As always, The Man never fails to hold you down.

With new restrictions, the ever present work around arises, hence the birth of Mobile Social Media. Smart phones such as Blackberry, Droid, HTC and iPhone have all make it very clear that they are compatible with the big two, Facebook and Twitter. Social Media apps have become the new major selling point for all phone producers that support data plans.

I am completely guilty of being a part of this trend. The newest Facebook application is installed on my blackberry curve, and I am constantly checking it. It would be hard for me to go a day without accessing it at least once. With a data plan, the integration of phone and social media is almost seamless. The PC and mobile versions are equally functional, and with the added convenience of the mobile platform, I guarantee that we will see a large influx of innovation in the near future.

Although it is the teens who have paved the way for mobile social media, it is the adults who have the most use for it. As long as there is good cell phone coverage, and the boss isn’t standing right there, a working man can get his Facebook fix at any moment in time.

As a side note, a study has been conducted by Australia’s University of Melbourne concerning recreational internet surfing. The article states, “’People who do surf the Internet for fun at work - within a reasonable limit of less than 20% of their total time in the office - are more productive by about 9% than those who don't,’ said Dr Brent .”
Of course, a free-for-all in the work place is not the answer. There will be people who waste tons of paid company time messing around on the internet, but maybe it is time to lift some rules and let people relax a little in the workplace? No matter what the rules, if a consumer wants something, he will get it, and it is technology’s job to help him.

More at: http://bit.ly/1kyJpt