The Numbers Don’t Lie: 2016 Social Media Statistics

Social media is growing and there are statistics to back it up. Remember Myspace? and remember when Facebook was strictly for college students? Social media has changed drastically in the last 10 years and platforms are changing daily. With the introduction of platforms like Snapchat social media as marketers know it is not the same. To get to know where social media is today, here are the top social media statistics of 2016.

According to Brandwatch.com:

• Social networks earned an estimated $8.3 billion from advertising in 2015
• 38% of organizations plan to spend more than 20% of their total advertising budgets on social media channels in 2015, up from 13% a year ago
• Only 20 Fortune 500 companies actually engage with their customers on Facebook, while 83% have a presence on Twitter
• People aged 55-64 are more than twice as likely to engage with branded content than those 28 or younger
• 96% of the people that discuss brands online do not follow those brands’ owned profiles
• 78 percent of people who complain to a brand via Twitter expect a response within an hour
• On WordPress alone, 56 million blog posts are published every month
• A 2011 study by AOL/Nielsen showed that 27 million pieces of content were shared every day
• The top 3 content marketing tactics are blogging (65%); social media (64%); and case studies (64%)
• Facebook now sees 8 billion average daily video views from 500 million users
• Snapchat users watch 6 billion videos every day
• US adults spend an average of 1 hour, 16 minutes each day watching video on digital devices
• 78% of people watch online videos every week, 55% watch every day

What statistics did find surprising?, comment below and share your thoughts.

Smith, K. (2016, Mar 7). Marketing: 96 Amazing Social Media Statistics and Facts for 2016. Brandwatch. Retrieved from https://www.brandwatch.com/2016/03/96-amazing-social-media-statistics-and-facts-for-2016/

Apple Cuts the Cord

On September 7th, 2016 Apple hosted it’s highly anticipated Apple WWDC 2016 Keynote. The annual keynote is always fully of announcements that send technology lovers and consumers into an electronic frenzy. Apple announced updates to the Apple TV, the Macbook and Apple Watch, but the whatever one was looking forward was what they had to say about their best-selling product, the iPhone.

Apple unveiled the 7th generation iPhone. The iPhone came with a host of upgrades including new design, new colors, more storage, water resistance and improved battery-life. But, there is one feature that stood out among them all. The removal of the headphone jack. Yes, apple removed the headphone jack. They removed the jack presented AirPods the world, their wireless earbuds.

“Apple today introduced AirPods, innovative new wireless headphones that use advanced technology to reinvent how we listen to music, make phone calls, enjoy TV shows and movies, play games and interact with Siri, providing a wireless audio experience not possible before. AirPods eliminate the hassles of wireless headphones, by just flipping open the lid of its innovative charging case and with one tap, they are instantly set up and ready to work with your iPhone and Apple Watch. Advanced sensors know when you are listening and automatically play and pause your music. Using Siri, AirPods allow you to access your favorite personal assistant with just a double tap. This revolutionary experience is enabled by the new ultra-low power Apple W1 chip, which enables AirPods to deliver high-quality audio and industry-leading battery life in a completely wireless design. AirPods will be available starting in late October.” (Apple, 2016).

Consumers had quite a reaction online to the announcement. The consensus seemed to be why change things when regular headphones worked just fine. Here are what consumers took to Twitter to express:

What are your thoughts on AirPods?

Sources:

Cnet. (2016, Sept 7). Jet-black Apple iPhone 7 is here with a water-resistant body, better cameras, 256GB capacity — and no headphone jack (hands-on). Retrieved from http://www.cnet.com/products/apple-iphone-7/preview/

Apple. (2016, Sept 7). Apple reinvents the wireless headphone with AirPods. Retrieved from http://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-reinvents-the-wireless-headphones-with-airpods.html

Where Social Media Meets Culture: Black Twitter

According to article entitled “African Americans and Technology” it was found that 73% of African American are internet users and of those users 22% are Twitter users. Twitter is a diverse platform that caters millions of users, but for African Americans this platform is a unique part of emerging media.

Twitter was created in 2006 around the time another platform was dominating the social network realm (Remember Myspace?). However, it wasn’t until 2009 when Twitter became popular among the masses. This was my senior year of High School and can still remember my early days of using Twitter. The message bar on the Twitter sites asks “What are you doing” and I’d reply with just that “I’m on my way home from school”, I followed friends and strangers and it was just a place for me to say what I had to say in less than 140 characters. Today, Twitter is billion-dollar platform used to meet new people, advertise and break news. For African American users Twitter to gain a since of community in the space of Twitter donned #BlackTwitter.

“Black Twitter is a force. It’s also not particularly well understood by those who aren’t a part of it. The term is used to describe a large network of black Twitter users and their loosely coordinated interactions, many of which accumulate into trending topics due to the network’s size, interconnectedness, and unique activity,” (Ramsey, 2015).

Interview with a #BlackTwitter user:

@ChillWill27
Following: 274 Followers:567
User since: April 2009

What does #BlackTwitter mean to you?

As an African African Black Twitter is place for me to talk and joke with people who look and talk like me. It feels like Black Twitter is sacred place where everyone is allowed, but they may not “get it”.

When did you realize #BlackTwitter was a thing?

It always felt like a community, but I didn’t realize it until I saw media outlets like BuzzFeed use jokes and tweets from Black Twitter to create content, jokes and hashtags created from Black Twitter go viral all the time.

What is your favorite part of #BlackTwitter?

The sense of community and the fact that I can get on Twitter and know I am not alone in my life experience as an African American. When someone does something wrong to offend our culture we stand together point it out. For example, the #BlackLiveMatter movement there have been so many events in the world that might have gone unnoticed if it wasn’t for Black Twitter using our voices to make it national news.

Black Twitter is place where users can laugh, connect and spark serious conversations. African American consumers are online and using platforms in ways the strengthen the community. Black Twitter is only a segmented part of Twitter, but an area that should not go unnoticed.

References:
Carlson, N. (2011, Apr 13). The real history of Twitter. Business Insider. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/how-twitter-was-founded-2011-4

Mcdonald, S. (2014, Jan 20). Black Twitter: A virtual community ready to hashtag out a response to cultural issues. Washington Post. Retrieved https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/black-twitter-a-virtual-community-ready-to-hashtag-out-a-response-to-cultural-issues/2014/01/20/41ddacf6-7ec5-11e3-9556-4a4bf7bcbd84_story.html

Smith, A. (2014, Jan 6). African Americans and Technology Use. Pew Internet. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/01/06/african-americans-and-technology-use/