The elemental side of social media

If you do the Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Digg or Twitter thing (or anything similar to those popular sites/applications) then you're involved in social media. What is social media? According to Wikipedia social media are "Internet- and mobile-based tools for sharing and discussing information among human beings. The term most often refers to activities that integrate technology, telecommunications and social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos and audio." That pretty much means most everyone online these days is involved in social media in some form or another.

People can get pretty serious about this whole social media thing. Me? I try not to underestimate its power but I do tend to take it a little more lightly than others. I focus on the "social" aspect of social media rather than its far-reaching effects. For those like myself who look on the "light" side of social media you have to check out eyecube's "The Periodic Table of Social Media Elements." Even if you know nothing about this medium you'll still be able to appreciate the ingenuity behind this unique periodic table. It has just enough humor to make you laugh out loud and yet is nerdy enough to appeal to even the most technical of social media experts.

If you want to understand just what each element means you'll have to read the entire post. Rick, the post's author, provides a key for every element and shaded area on the table. My favorite are the elements that make up the list of social media practices. I guarantee you'll be familiar with and have done at least half the practices on that list!

Though I would never have the time, energy or brainpower to create an original periodic table I am really glad some guy named Rick did or I might never have suffered from high-school chemistry flashbacks with a social media twist. I can think of no better way to spend a that's hot! thursday! --Emily