Forrester: Social Technology is Like Sex
Forrester Research CEO, George Colony, writes a blog where he helps other CEOs understand how business and technology intersect. His most recent post compared social media to sex, a comparison that may have you giggling at first, but is actually a pretty apt way of describing what it's like to delve into the social realm.
According to Colony, you can't understand the hot new media tools and technologies like Twitter, Facebook, and blogging by merely reading articles or reports about them. You simply won't be able to really and truly learn what they're all about until you participate. That's why social media is "like sex," he says. "It's fun to talk about and read about, but you can't truly comprehend unless you do it."
We suppose he could have used other comparisons, but none would have the impact of comparing the technology to sex. It's true, though. In fact, we'll even expand on that thought a bit. For example, at first, Twittering your thoughts may feel awkward and strange. It might even be a little uncomfortable. But give yourself time to get comfortable with the process and next thing you know, you'll be Twittering away, enjoying yourself in the process. In fact, you might even get to the point of craving Twitter. How many Twitter addicts out there have seen or heard something interesting and their first thought was "Oh man, I have to Twitter that!" (Our hands are raised.)
But the overall point of Colony's blog post was that you won't and you can't get social media unless you engage in it. That seems pretty straightforward to us, but you'd be surprised how many people think they're experts in the matter, despite having an abandoned Twitter account...or worse, none at all. And then there are the companies rejecting social media because "it's just not right for them" - a decision they've made without even so much as a few weeks of experimentation. How sad. Just remember Mr. or Ms. CEO, you may find social media a boring waste of time, but you'd better believe that your customers are out there using it everyday. Ignore it at your peril.
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Very fair analogy I think, though I don't know that authenticity and engagement in the sack is something I'd take lessons from a marketing analyst firm CEO in. :) I'm just sayin'. Show me a really good livestreaming mobileblogger, who can pull off quality chat integration and has extensive social web background research habits - now that's someone I'd take tips like this from!
@adbroad got there first with the Social Media is like Sex, but both are good analogies. The sex/dating metaphor is always a great one for any marketing. Brings home the relationship aspects.
http://adbroad.blogspot.com/2009/04/social-media-is-like-sex.html
Message boards, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and social media are also greats ways for independent scientists and innovators to get their message out.
http://dvice.com/archives/2009/05/6-technologies.php
That's a rather awful analogy but I can well believe that it does the trick for most CEO's. I've only dealt with VP's and giving them something juvenile to laugh about reels them right in.
If social tech was more like sex, at least the sex I tend to have, I'd be doing a lot more of it!
I didn't mean that as quite the slam on execs as it came across.
It's just still such a good old boy's club that locker room tends to work far more often than I would have expected.
So how many of you have promiscuous sex with multiple partners in public?
Not me!
Venture Capital too is just like sex. As an investor, I wont put out unless you can get some elsewhere. - @journik
There is nothing that is like sex...sex is sex...nothing else...other things can be addictive like sex but nothing is just like it...:)
Posted by: Owen Greaves
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May 8, 2009 12:29 PM
Samir wrote about a week before Colony did, and better.. IMO :)
http://leftthebox.com/marketing/9-ways-social-media-is-just-like-sex/
No, it is not like sex. It is more like masturbation, because while it is called "social" it is more about pretending to interact with technology between you and others.
great idea. but some different between these two. social link need keep in touch alway. sex purchase the new one always.
You've got to try it to find out if you like it!
If you don't like it at first, try some new partners and new moves.
when it comes to ease of access technology is by far better than sex ;-)
Social media is like sex. Though it's not nearly as easy to get to sleep afterward...
thanks for sharing. Social networks are greater way of exploring useful information. for people who are searching for any kind of information , should be easily get there at social network.
Face book and Twitter are great way spreading information
That's a rather awful analogy but I can well believe that it does the trick for most CEO's. I've only dealt with VP's and giving them something juvenile to laugh about reels them right in
its nice article for social technology
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Regards,
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I think Facebook,Twitter,MySpace are also greats ways for shearing our Information....
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Meh. CEO's don't need to understand it. They just need to hire good people who do.
Interesting comparation "you can't truly comprehend unless you do it."
That's true!!
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You are doing Good work keep it up.....
Thanks very much for sharing it.
hello
If you don't like it at first, try some new partners and new moves.
It's just still such a good old boy's club that locker room tends to work far more often than I would have expected.
The big bosses dont need to get it... they just gotta have the means to pay the pro's and make sure what needs to be done gets done :)