Apple News, Analysis and Podcasts

Facebook, Twitter, Google +1,... and that's just the beginning of the list. There are well over a dozen different world-wide main-stream social media outlets one can use for free to get "their message out," and most everyone who is anyone is part of this social media trend. Even T–GAAP sports a Facebook page and Twitter account.

Yet someone is missing from this social media upheaval — Apple. Apple has deliberitly made a choice not to directly play in the world of social media. iOS 5 is loaded with goodies for Twitter users, but Apple, Inc. is absent. This seems somewhat bizarre given the fact that social media is especially popular with those under 30 years old — the same group that gobble up the iPad, iPhone and iPod products. So why would Apple not use social media to communicate it's own offerings to this crowd?

• Maybe social media isn't as "necessary" to communicate to potential customers as the experts are telling us. Yes, there are hundreds of millions of users, but Apple seems to be saying, "We know how to communicate directly to our audience, and don't need to rely social medai to communicate our message." 
• Apple doesn't like to use anything it can't control. Having millions of people "like" Apple, may make Apple feel special, but it also let's Facebook and Twitter know exactly who Apple's strongest followers are. Apple knows how to reach out with its communication without telling others who their customers and potential customer are. 

An increasing amount of studies are being conducted on youth and social media. A 2010 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation showed that while social media is helping to develop multi-tasking skills, at the same time it is eroding the ability to think deeply or stay focused on a particular subject. So while Suzie is able to get her home work done while texting her friends, she may not really retain what she's learned. Apple may understand that as well and know that if its message is just another update on your Facebook page its message can quickly get buried by the uproar of who Jon-Jon is hooking up with next.

Car companies, fast food outlets to clothing stores, they're are clammering to point you to their social media sites. Apple's flat out saying they don't need another companies website to relate or communicate to their audience. Apple simply knows how to communicate to the people they need to, all on their own.

1 Comment

1. Kootenay Redneck ~ October 11, 2011 17:59
   Could'nt agree with you more. Social Media has been over hyped, over blown and a total waste of time for most people or companies, but it does occasionally have it's moments.

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