Do you remember the advent of social media when they were praised for being disruptive, positive innovations? The talk was of long tails, wisdom of crowds, the end of old-fashioned business models (dead tree press is dead) or statements like the new world is bottom up – or flat – rather than top down. Now they are being discussed by the same enthusiasts as if they were managed by oligarchical villains selling addictive, toxic products and lifestyles to an inert public that is blind to reason. But the commentators’ new-found pessimism is as misguided as their abandoned optimism. Read on ›

There has been lots of talk in PR circles about value networks and the networked society. Here I take a closer look at what the fuss is all about and issue a note of caution and a call to moderate the hype. Read on ›

Here’s a manifesto in favour of decent top-down adult leadership rather than the febrile fashions of the crowd.   Read on ›

I had thought that Facebook would go the way of Friends Reunited, Bebo and MySpace: hyped today, sidelined tomorrow. But what if Facebook became the new Google? That’s now the company’s objective and it is backed by some substance. Read on ›

The British General Election barely registers on the street. It’s the mainstream media which is writing the narrative, creating overnight superstars, capturing the public’s attention, and driving opinion polls in all directions. What’s to learn? Read on ›

Oh! My! God! Organizing for America, the successor to Obama for America, is searching for a Social Networks Manager: apply here. But before you do read this. Read on ›

Barack Obama has 2.6 million followers on Twitter and follows around 750, 000, but he recently admitted that he’s never Tweeted in his life. Are you surprised? I’m not. But some people might need to reconsider their hype. Read on ›

Neville Hobson, arguably Britain’s leading social media blogger, has replied to my charge that social media do not change the rules of business. He says: This is no fad, this is a revolution. Let’s take a closer look at his arguments. Read on ›

I’ve just been out rowing on Zurich lake. It’s a good place to muse. You can’t share my blisters but I hope you’ll share my water-borne (and not water-logged) thoughts on whether the ultra-modern “social” media really are all that different to poor old “mass” media. Read on ›

The British National Party (BNP) is thrashing the mainstream parties – but only online. This says as much about the internet as it does about politics, and I don’t think the mainstream should overdo its response. Read on ›