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by Stephanie Bishop on 6.8.2011 in Interactive Marketing, Trends + Surveys 0

Unless you’re either without a TV, the Internet, or you’re living under a rock, you may have heard a few weeks ago that Osama bin Laden was killed. However, did you know that Twitter is where the news first broke?

Not only did Twitter break the news, but social media outlets led the way for how people heard about the news. According to a poll conducted by social media news blog Mashable, a total of 51.1% of individuals said they found out about the news via an online source, which includes Twitter and Facebook. Meanwhile, TV only accounted for 17.9% and phone/text for 12.35%.

Although I can’t include myself in the Twitter statistic, since I actually first heard the news from my mom via phone, I can say that I immediately turned to Twitter for additional information. Twitter users directed me to turn on my TV because a live news conference led by President Barack Obama was about to take place.

The point is that social media is evolving as not only a place for people to join a “community,” or where influencers go to be heard, but as a go-to source for news, especially breaking news.

While some traditionalists may frown at the thought of social media “breaking” news stories, I think this concept should be embraced. Social media is driven by the now. It’s not only an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, but a way for the whole world to be connected at the click of a mouse.

Think back to the time when the world was without cellphones, then think about what our lives would be like now if our phones were taken away. There would be mass panic. I believe this is how we would be without the presence of the Web, including social media. I’m not saying that Facebook and Twitter will be around forever, but I am saying that I believe social media, in some form, will be here to stay. I can’t predict how it will look or what its new features will be, but I do know it will constantly evolve to meet the needs and wants of the people. The next time a world news event happens, I challenge you to take a second to notice not only where you are, but through which medium you received the news. You shouldn’t be surprised if it’s through a social media outlet.

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