Most of us use our personal social media channels like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for just that reason – simply being social. It’s an effortless way to catch up with old friends and for keeping tabs on family – you know, the “My goodness, look at how your kids have grown” moments. At one time or another many of us have also used social media channels for posting videos of our accomplishments, our kids, vacations and yes, the awesome water skiing squirrel.

Even social media assets in the marketing and business realms serve social purposes with the goals of gaining business and notoriety within our manufacturing, higher education, financial banking or other fields of commerce. Most social media channels are online billboards for boosted digital ads in which a company’s message is displayed to targeted audiences. In many firms, social media is the supporting cast to marketing websites or blogs and if you have an energetic and focused social media department then it is easy and simple to make social media payoff. (1) Post a new blog, web content or announce an event (2) Send out thoughtfully crafted social media post(s) with link(s) (3) Most likely your blog, web site or event landing page will receive elevated traffic from aforementioned supporting social media actions and we all look like experts. There is a bit more to it than just those three steps but using social media is definitely a recipe for $uccess if done correctly.

Social Media Grows Up
But now, the times are sure changing. Social media giants like Facebook and Twitter have taken their products to a whole new level of social interaction. Facebook is now developing artificial intelligence with robots that talk to themselves and face recognition software that will capture your every blink and smile . Twitter feeds are being studied to forecast future weather and to predict human behavior using a type of pre-crime software similar to the movie Minority Report.  That Tom Cruise – he was sure right on that one!

So, let’s say it again, “My goodness, look at how your social media has grown!” Have a look at what else our favorite social media giants are currently up to and we’re pretty sure it’s trending away from water skiing squirrels.

Facebook
Facebook: Your Face Belongs to Us (theemarketingblog)
Facebook shuts off AI experiment after two robots begin speaking in their OWN language that only they can understand (thesun.co.uk)
Facebook envisions using brain waves to type words (Bloomberg)
Facebook ‘Watch’ Is Like TV, and It’s a Thing Marketers Want (Targetmarketing)
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg For President (The Atlantic)
Facebook News Algorithm – How Posts Are Getting Served Up On News Feeds (fb.com)
Facebook research targets emotionally vulnerable and insecure youth (news.com.au)

Twitter
Twitter can be used as crystal balls to foresee events before they happen (thesun.co.uk)
Twitter brings its TV app with live video to Roku (techcrunch)
Twitter building a 24/7 streaming video service to include the NFL, PGA, WNBA. (recode)
As many as 48 million Twitter accounts aren’t people, says study (CNBC)
Twitter explores subscription-based option for first time (Reuters)
Twitter has gone from bastion of free speech to global censor (businessinsider)

We hope you enjoyed this brief look into the social media wonders of tomorrow.  Choose to learn more about making social media work for you at Elliance.com.