Is Mashable the CNN of social media?

agardina — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:19:38 +0000

CNN is one of the most-watched and most-visited news providers in the country. On TV, they provide round-the-clock coverage of news, entertainment and fluff. Online, they have access to video and articles on news, entertainment and, of course, fluff. The 24-hour news cycle emphasizes quantity over quality, with in-depth reporting falling to the wayside in favor of anything that gets higher ratings.

And that works for them. Viewers can complain all they want about biased reporting or shallow headlines, but, in the end, it's the responsibility of the viewer to be an active consumer of information. Don't agree with one reporter? Look for other sources online. Educate yourself. Cast a critical eye on any and all declarative statement you question.

This same idea applies to blogs and social media. Mashable, an online social media news source & educational guide, has over 2.3 million followers, fans and subscribers. They are frequently the first to break Internet news and rumors, and their links fill the tweet streams of almost every person on Twitter. Mashable provides great information & tools, but the danger of the 24-hour news cycle remains. Their top user lists are chosen by individual writers, articles dictated by newsworthiness and other priorities, and polls filled with responses from (obviously) biased readers.

There's an ocean of analysis and how-to guides online, beyond the behemoth that is Mashable. By being an active participant in the world of online information, you'll contribute more, learn more and build better and stronger relationships. Mashable is the CNN of social media - a great starting point and overview, but not a source you can count on in any situation, 100% of the time.

Need some suggestions for some new blogs to read? Check out the Social Media Challenge (#smchallenge).

alyssagardina.com - mashable

Is Mashable the CNN of social media?