Social Networking Seizes Business and Personal Attention

When Facebook launched on the Harvard University campus in 2004, few could guess the explosive rise of social networking across the broadband landscape in the years to come.  In light of the widespread popularity of social networking to both business and personal interests, our latest Broadband Now video discusses how this online phenomenon has brought our communications far beyond phone calls or even email. 

From Twitter to Facebook to blogs, social media is catching the attention of Americans everywhere.  In fact, social networking has already surpassed email in popularity, and by 2011, social media, instant messaging and micro-blogging are projected to be the "de facto" tools for voice, video and text communications in business.

LinkedIn is a prime example of a site that has taken a business networking approach that many find invaluable as they seek to change jobs or careers.  And, in the face of human resource budget cuts, many companies are recruiting more than ever online--which presents a far more affordable option compared to running expensive ads.

Beyond employment searches, both the private and public sectors are also leveraging social media in innovative ways to gather insight or even to build their bottom line through new business models.  From listening to customer issues to solving problems to gaining product feedback, many companies are using social media to engage and learn from consumers.  A recent Wall Street Journal article highlights how some businesses are trying to profit from the popular micro-blogging site, Twitter, by brokering ads to appear alongside Twitter's 140-character messages, known as "tweets."  Even Washington is entering the social media world, with federal, state, and local elected officials letting old filters fade away to join the new ways of communicating.

Whether you merely dabble in online networking or have become an active member of the social media space, broadband is uniting us across continents to share everything from serious business objectives to minute personal moments.  It's an exciting, interactive world brought to you by the power of broadband.

For more on social networking, tune into our latest Broadband Now video.