Social Media VS Reality TV

I believe I twittered upon this idea and it really caught me off guard.

Todd Defren wrote "Is there any connection between Social Media (power to the people) & Reality TV (people as stars)? Why do I hope *not*?"

and the thing is.. I'm afraid they are somehow connected.

Now, I don't necessarily think that these two concepts are related, there are just some incredibly similar characteristics, that have similarly really shaken up the TV and PR industries.

1. Humanizing factor -- Lets be honest. What we all love about the Real World, Survivor, and American Idol is the fact that we can relate to each "character" because they are real people. We can feel their emotions and we have an easy time developing relationships with them (it only takes a few weeks with AI). It's funny that with social media, people are representing companies, instead of being hidden behind a curtain, as though their identity is a big secret. For that reason, so many major corporations have been forced to come clean, and we now identify faces and names with companies. This idea was strikingly clear at PodCamp, an event that felt so human and welcoming, where relationships were made in the middle of a hallway before a session.


2. Cheap Cheap Cheap.
Although reality TV can certainly be seen as an inexpensive way to have a hit TV show, I'm gonna have to argue that social media is NOT a cheap way out for PR people. One of the most important things about social media, is that its so new. Becasue of that reason, so many PR people have to learn about this interesting, new way of doing things. And although reality TV can be an easy way out for TV channels (no script, no acting, no set etc.) social media is NOT an easy way out for PR people becasue its time consuming and needs to be well thoughtout.

3. Were Making Real People Important!
enough said.
(or in the case of Dancing With the Stars, it can reinvent a career)cough Marie Osmond cough

What can we learn from this? Well that's an interesting question if I say so myself!
How about... PR PPl -- Don't go overboard or at least let's not try to! Althogh social media is great, which it is, we have to make sure we don't end up with anything that resembles temptation island.