via Joseph Primiani
Dictionary.com defines social as:
so⋅cial [soh-shuhl]
–adjective
- pertaining to, devoted to, or characterized by friendly companionship or relations: a social club.
- seeking or enjoying the companionship of others; friendly; sociable; gregarious.
- of, pertaining to, connected with, or suited to polite or fashionable society: a social event.
- living or disposed to live in companionship with others or in a community, rather than in isolation: People are social beings.
- of or pertaining to human society, esp. as a body divided into classes according to status: social rank.
- involved in many social activities: We’re so busy working, we have to be a little less social now.
- of or pertaining to the life, welfare, and relations of human beings in a community: social problems.
Almost all of these definitions are active – involved in social activities, seeking or enjoying the companionship of others, living in a community rather than isolation.
When we examine the blogosphere, the descriptions of “Social TV” application – what I would call the equivalent of a “definition” – are surprisingly static. For example, the following have been described as Social TV:
- Detailed reviews or recommendations of TV programming.
- Broadcast messaging to the masses, such as the Fox Fringe program and its use of Twitter – which I would call “Parallel Programming” – simply two broadcast streams, with limited-to-no interactivity or interpersonal engagement
The only examples of “active, engaged community” around television programming are happening on the PC now. In streaming video websites like CBS in their Social Rooms and what Facebook and CNN did during the Obama inauguration. It’s not happening on the regular old television. Ironic, isn’t it?
We feel really strongly about options that bring the “Social” and the “TV” back into Social TV. True Social TV. And frankly enable people to communicate across all devices, PC, TV and mobile. Simultaneously in real-time. We’re thinking about this at MediaFriends with our Chat service.
What do you think? How can we increase the social aspects of TV and create a definition of Social TV that makes sense?
