In times of users being pulled away to smaller screens, TV providers are trying to keep their medium fresh and exciting. Through social tv, users can experience something they can’t if they were watching the programme online – participation. Joining the conversation has become as important as watching the programme itself.

Interruptive, annoying advertising is over. It is now safe to go online again.

Once upon a time...
Storytelling is an age-old tradition. It is how people have made sense of their worlds, passed on traditions and channeled their imaginations.

I’ve discussed the extent of the pervasive nature of social media in a previous post. But let’s take a more local look. What does social media mean to South Africans?

According to an article in IT News Africa, social networking in South Africa has crossed the age barrier as well as the urban/rural divide. People everywhere and of all ages are embracing social networking.

It’s not enough to exist in the real world anymore. You also need to exist on an alternative plane of reality, i.e. the virtual world of social media. This is where concepts like FBO (Facebook Official) stem from; the idea is that if a piece of information isn’t documented on Facebook, it’s not authentic or verified. So don’t think you can date someone without updating your relationship status on Facebook - nobody will believe you. (Facebook never lies.)