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Is micro-blogging the demise of email?

Friday, 12 December 2008

As a member of the SEO industry I have spent a lot of time using the new 'social' websites that have risen from the depths over the past years. Many of them like Myspace and Facebook which at first were hugely popular with the younger demographic, are being embraced by the mainstream. (See this) Facebook now reaches out to and gives functionality for all ages, and is changing the way people use the internet. In addition, there are DeliciousReddit and Digg which are landmark sites in their niche, which employ the users desire to save and store content to actively take part in the sites.


So with the availability of social networking, social news and micro-blogging sites out there: is email dead?

The latest trend micro-blogging is another attack on email. Twitter started as a micro-blogging platform which in itself wasn’t much different to email, you sign in leave a message and friends can see it and respond; great for keeping contact with your virtual friends from Digg or Reddit etc. This micro-blogging system is now fast becoming mainstream (See here & here) with the MSN messenger style browser extensions and client installs like twitterfox and snitter, now make it even easier to keep in touch with your friends.

 

Do I think social platforms will kill off email?

No it wont, it may seriously damage its usage but ultimately the introduction of email was a milestone in the internet and will continue to be used for the foreseeable future. Its like the wheel, it was a landmark event in our civilization and has yet to be beaten. Other forms of transport exist but the wheeled vehicle will always be the simplest solution. As the younger generation grows they may use web 2.0 functionality but they will always be based on the foundation of email

What do you think?


Comments

Jon H

I've been thinking about the same thing lately. It's definitely replaced a good portion of the communication I used to do either via email or instant message. However, there's still a place for the other two, so I don't think it will replace it (thanks to the 140 character limit), but it's certainly biting into the usage of email and IMing.

wannadevelop.com

I'm sure it already has effected it quiet a bit with certain people... With texting and blogging and micro-blogging growing in popularity.. It all takes away time from the most basic communications, which are e-mail and real time messengers.

Best,
Mike

Neo

Yeah, now a days, people dont use email much for normal chitchat. But for personal matters people still prefer email, because it gives you privacy which Twitter don't give. Even I used to send lots of mails a day to all of my friends, but now it is reduced to only personal messages. So,We can say that E-mail is surely affected by micro-blogging, but it can't kill E-mail,it has it's own advantages :P.

Hannah_Bo_Banna

I don't think micro-blogging will see the demise of email. I use twitter very much as an instant way to communicate / get answers to questions etc. But the 'instant' nature is the key. I very rarely look back over my feed when I've not been online - but I do check my '@' messages.

I also don't have email addresses for the vast majority of my contacts there.

As an aside, none of my non-techie friends are on micro-blogging services yet - although most are on Facebook.

But, the way they use Facebook is quite unreliable - not all check it often etc - therefore email's often the most reliable form of contact (bar phoning).

Email also has the added benefit of privacy - although I think increasingly people are getting more comfortable with being completely open online.

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Has read all in detail, excellent blog! It all takes away time from the most basic communications, which are e-mail and real time messengers.

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Camarad

The interesting information, the tonic on a note! But, the way they use Facebook is quite unreliable - not all check it often etc - therefore email's often the most reliable form of contact (bar phoning).

Jennifer Aniston

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