The Best of Year 2010 – Social Media Highlights of the Year


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The year 2010 is about to end and the whole world is eagerly looking forward to celebrate New Year as we step into 2011. It’s a good time to make your Social Media resolutions for year 2011 as well as look back at the very best of social media for year 2010.

Though social media has been around for several years, it’s fair to say that 2010 was the defining year when it truly went viral and surpassed all expectations. Here’s a quick look back at the defining social media moments of 2010.

BP Oil Spill

With power comes responsibility and social media is no exception to that rule. The BP Oil Spill will always be remembered as one of the worst ever social media disasters of all times. If the oil spill and its environmental hazards weren’t damaging enough, BP’s social media policy to tackle the crisis was a perfect example of how NOT to use social media.

BP completely lost the plot in social media circles and faced major embarrassment over its miserable Twitter and YouTube presence. There was virtually no engagement and no effort to revive its tarnished image.

Facebook & Privacy

Facebook might be world’s most popular social network but users love-hate affair with its privacy policy continued through out year 2010. If anything, Facebook’s privacy affair went from bad to worse when a security consultant named Rob Bowes released a file containing a list of more than 170 million Facebook users and the Web address of their profile page on a file-sharing site named ‘Pirate Bay’.

Facebook received a lot of bad press, but it continued to grow at a scorching pace for the rest of the year. The world’s leading social network launched a new look business-friendly profile towards the end of year 2010 to sort out its privacy woes but the move failed to impress a substantial proportion of the Facebook population.

WikiLeaks

Julian Assange was a little-known man till the WikiLeaks scandal was exposed in 2010. From being a virtually nobody, he was hailed as being an internet hero before being jailed and later released on bail.  The WikiLeaks episode was an eye-opening reminder for businesses as it blew away the concept of “foolproof data security” and re-opened the Pandora’s Box over sensitive data issues such as privacy and transparency.

WikiLeaks also served a couple of important reminders

1)    We now live in the age of Web 2.0 where information travels at speeds beyond our imagination. Therefore, businesses should be careful about what information they want to publicize.

2)    Anonymity isn’t dead. In fact, it can often prove to be a better marketing agent than celebrities and big names.

Google-Twitter

Through out the year 2010, there were several speculations suggesting that it’s a matter of “When” Google decides to buy Twitter. We highlighted that some of Google’s earlier social media attempts (aka Google Buzz and Google Wave) were big-time disasters and why Twitter now needs a big brother to step it up to the next level.

Microsoft-Facebook

Much like the Google-Twitter episode, several industry analysts predicted that Microsoft and Facebook are destined to get married to each other in year 2010. Though the two collaborated on integrating Facebook profiles in Bing search results, which was just about as close the two got to working with each other. Microsoft cited its interest in Facebook and the latter said “No, Thanks!”

Mark Zuckerberg

I have no doubt that Mark Zuckerberg emerged as the “Social Media Icon of 2010”. He took Facebook to new heights and even had a blockbuster movie released on his life. Named as Time Magazine’s 2010 Person of the Year, Zuckerberg emerged as a true inspiration for social media loyalists such as me.

What are your favorite social media picks for year 2010? Please share your opinion by leaving a comment below this post.

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21 comments
  1. LinkedIn – but for not so great reasons for me…

    It seems this year LI chose a path to commercialize their professional networking. They’ve added lot many features in Recruiter package – including resume builder. While it’s great value-ad for recruiters (like me); it comes with a big threat too. If LI continues to focus on their recruiter audience – people will view this as a job board (which they are already) and shy away from this.

    It’s time LI strikes a right balance….

    1. Great points Sarang. IMO, LinkIn is kind of fighting for its survival. It’s come to the realization long ago, that it’s not smart to compete head-on with Facebook but to further differentiate itself from Facebook and Twitter and stick to what they know best, which is professional networking.

      LI still has a lot to be concerned about. Facebook, as indicated by its recent design update, is fighting to compete with LinkedIn in its very own core territory of pro networking. Every move LI makes in recent times are most intended to further defines its niche. Hence, a more conducive environment for collaboration with the major social platforms.

      Thanks Sarang…. and welcome to the Smedio community.

  2. How could you leave out the Old Spice Guy?! For me that was easily one of the best Social Media campaigns I have seen for some time. The fact such a large brand dealt with individuals on a personal level was great – and those video’s are still being shared today! Old Spice Guy – I salute you!

    1. You’re right on David. The Old Spice Guy was one of the best of 2010. In an effort to keep the piece short I left it and the Haiti Earthquake disaster out. However, you’re right on!

      Welcome to the Smedio community.

  3. One of the fastest growing segments of social media is in emergency response and public notification. I’m surprised that it’s not included. Maybe next year.

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