“The new new thing is a notion that is poised to be taken seriously by the marketplace.  It’s the idea that is a tiny push away from general acceptance and, when it gets that push, will change the world.”

                                                                     – Michael Lewis

In snarky tones that suggest some personal level of satisfaction, Gawker.com reports that the number of activeU.S.users of Facebook declined in May.  The decline brings the most recent tally of domestic users to 149.4 million — still not too shabby — with overseas growth continuing.

Gawker suggests that the decline may stem from early adopters of Facebook who are looking for something new.  Perhaps.  But the underlying question is whether social media sites, like Facebook, are running out of gas.  Even as Facebook pursues its goal of 1 billion users worldwide, its creative team must wonder what its next competitive challenge will be and whether their avid fans will prefer the “new new thing.”

Certainly, it is far too early to predict the death of social media, especially in light of growing global appeal.  Yet it is not unreasonable to expect a new evolutionary development.  The past 20 years have demonstrated that Internet communication is ever changing.  Early static websites and email gave way to interactive blogs and eventually to popular social media sites.  Some believe that the next phase may offer a more directly interpersonal experience.

Whatever that next step might be, professional communicators must remain alert to change and ready to adapt.  That necessitates active involvement in current modes of online interaction – including current-generation social media – and readiness to embrace the next true advancement.

By: David Stiefel