Are We Embracing “Big
Brother”?
Ever watch your favorite television show and surf the net at the same time? I do it often! What I have discovered is I really like to watch my favorite program or sporting event while on Facebook so my friends and I can discuss it in real time. No more waiting for conversations around the water cooler the next day. We can all watch together, without actually being together. I just never thought of the data we might be supplying to marketing representatives and television networks through our use of social media.
“The world's largest social network will now share weekly data on social chatter with the country's four largest television networks, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal.”[1] In a deal with Facebook, ABC, NBC, Fox, and CBS will now be supplied with information about our social media chatter. If you mention, The Voice, NBC is going to know about it. What does this mean to the viewer? Well, they will have up to date information about what we like and don’t like. This should change their programming to suit the needs of those with the largest following. Not only will they have their data, but they will have access to their competitor’s data. If the CBS show The Amazing Race gets mentioned a lot tonight during its premier you can bet ABC will be checking into creating a show similar to that format. Why, you ask? Is it because they want to create stimulating shows that we race home to watch? Well, yes it is but not because of creating our enjoyment. High ranking shows mean big profit to the networks. The more watched a show, the higher the advertising dollars during that time frame. Social media can point out where and when networks can get top dollar for their commercial slots.
Apparently, I am not the only one who is multi-tasking during prime time. “During the company's most recent earnings call, Facebook pointed out that between 88 and 100 million users tune into the site during prime time television hours”.[2] Obviously, we are trying to fit more into our day than time allows and multi-tasking in this way means we can still catch up on cousin Susie’s little boy’s baseball game and not miss Adam Levine and Blake Shelton exchange pleasantries.
Facebook is not the only social media that is trying to capitalize on more than just our daily web surfing. Twitter is getting in on the action as well. In the past month Twitter has began a partnership with Nielsen. “Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by the Nielsen Company, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States”.[3] This fall the “Nielsen Twitter TV Rating” report will be released. It will contain information regarding the types of conversations that have taken place over Twitter regarding the television seasons greatest hits and misses.
While this all seems harmless enough, and possibly I can even see the benefits of this kind of information being sold to the major networks, at what point does social media cross the line? At what point has it invaded our lives too much? Is it even possible to stay off the web denying them of their pervasive actions? I am not sure. What I do know is I will be watching the Steelers play today, and win or lose, I will be posting taunting messages on my uncle’s facebook page during the game.
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