Social Media Facebook killing forums?

[RascalsMom]

I thought there was a thread for this, and I searched and searched and couldn't find it. My apologies if this is a duplicate.

Do you think the popularity of Facebook and similar social media sites are damaging the traffic on forums? On Facebook, I can have one website to "like" many pages and join many groups on various hobbies & interests. Then they can all appear in one place on my news feed.

Do you feel forums are a dying breed thanks to websites like these?

I have to admit I mostly come here for the coffee chat thread & to chat to the people in it. I don't even remember the last time I started a thread. If I want to post something vegan related, I tend to default to sharing it in one of the many vegan Facebook groups in which I'm a member.

Thoughts?

 

[Mel]

I actually feel the same as you. I make liberal use of the "unfollow" button for certain family members, so I can only see what I want to see and follow a bunch of groups that interest me.

It's so easy to contact people through your mobile this way, even if they don't have a smart phone.

It's like a one stop internet shop...lol

Having said that, I hate their privacy practises and share the least amount of info possible on FB. But that's me. I prefer to come here to talk about more personal stuff (VIP Lounge of course, non visible to non-members).

 

[RascalsMom]

I also try not to post too much personal info on FB.

It's also a cycle, because the more FB pulls people away from forums, the more people will gravitate there. Within 10 minutes I seen a post have near 100 comments. Within 15 minutes, a comment of mine had 120 likes. You just don't see activity like that on forums anymore.

 

[Scorpius]

I feel like I can come to forums for more personalized advice and answers than I can get on Facebook. Also, debating of forums tends to be more productive because there are guidelines in place. Debating on Facebook is like the Wild Wild West. So, no. I think Facebook has its place in the world separate from forums.

 

[Second Summer]

I think you are correct, RM, that FB is killing forums, but not all forums. The one-stop shop aspect of FB is something that forums can't do as well. The closest you get is Tapatalk which allows you to access and sign up easily to lots of different forums. Maybe on future versions of Tapatalk they can do this even better.

There are however still forums that are thriving. Some because the subject area is incompatible with FB such as adult content, illegal content, taboo subjects, "free speech" forums that allows you to say almost anything you want.

Others are thriving because they are able to work well with social media. They share nice pictures posted by their members, and they know how to exploit social media to their advantage.

It also helps if it's an already well established forum that ranks well on Google search.

While FB has its advantages, it also has many disadvantages. The interface isn't well suited for long discussions like forums are. Also the sheer number of members in some of those FB groups makes it impossible to have a coherent discussion. My impression is also that despite using our real names on FB, when your in a FB group there is a lot less community-spirit than on a forum.

For VV there is no way around it, I have to learn how to exploit social media. Last night I had a chat with a colleague who is an admin on an aviation forum, and learnt some useful tricks, so we'll see how it goes.

 

[IamJen]

Maybe there could be a thread (maybe there already is) on suggestions for improvement of VV?

 

[Tom L.]

I don't have a Facebook account. I even passed on Myspace (is that still even around?)

While FB has its advantages, it also has many disadvantages. The interface isn't well suited for long discussions like forums are. Also the sheer number of members in some of those FB groups makes it impossible to have a coherent discussion. My impression is also that despite using our real names on FB, when your in a FB group there is a lot less community-spirit than on a forum.

I tend to lose track of people on really large websites even if there's a "friend" or "follow" function. That's one of the things I didn't like about VB although I still go there. And I do prefer to have long, interesting discussions on message boards.

 

[Andy_T]

My view is that specialised and active forums like this one are less threatened by the undifferentiated forum landscape on Facebook.

People who value detailed discourse will not be able to find that on Facebook.

Best regards,
Andy

 

[Clueless Git]

Thoughts?

Our Karate club abandoned having it's own forum in favour of facebook.

It actualy works quite well. We have our own group there but we can share with other groups of similar interests as well.

My personal view is that you'd stand more chance of making the Pope your sex-***** than you'd have of maintaining orderly(ish) debates on FB though.

 

[Clueless Git]

For VV there is no way around it, I have to learn how to exploit social media. Last night I had a chat with a colleague who is an admin on an aviation forum, and learnt some useful tricks, so we'll see how it goes.

Will you be accepting bribes to share anything usefull you find out, IS?

 

[Ann Chovie]

My view is that specialised and active forums like this one are less threatened by the undifferentiated forum landscape on Facebook.

People who value detailed discourse will not be able to find that on Facebook.

Best regards,
Andy

I agree. The value of Facebook is the ability to pop in and out skimming posts and adding the occasional remark or liking posts to acknowledge the comedy genius of our contacts or congratulate them on some life event.

It is a very useful way of 'touching bases ' with family and friends when finding the time for a phone call is impractical.

The forum fulfils a whole different purpose. It is a place to come in the precious 'coffee breaks' of life where we have sunk into a chair and allowed ourselves a period of abstract or reflective thought . It is luxury 'me time' when we probably should be ironing or cooking or something.

It is a place where we 'fit' when often we do not feel we fit at all because of our dietary choices. It gives us a virtual soap box when we need one to rant and rave and off load the lunacy of our day. It is companionship and a friendly hug when we are lost, lonely or just plain fed up. A place where we can test our wit and intelligence in banter and sparring with other members of opposing views. It is also a source of information and support at our finger tips about subjects specific to our own interests.

Facebook does not fill any of that criteria for me. I have never had any discussion or exchange of views on there. I do not use if to source information. And most of the time I feel more fed up as apparently everyone else has a perfect family and parties every night.

Veggieviews is the second place I go when signing on ..Facebook is first (sorry) to catch up on 'the news'.

Veggieviews is always second but never a second choice.And I spent significantly more time on here than I ever do on Facebook!!!

 

[Mufflon]

I think FB and other so called social media are sucking traffic from the forums.

However, I'm not sure if that is all bad. When thinking about the boards I frequent or which I used to frequent, these are a lot less "OMG LOLZ, XoXOXOXOXO!!!!!!!!11" than there used to be.

 

[Scorpius]

My personal view is that you'd stand more chance of making the Pope your sex-***** than you'd have of maintaining orderly(ish) debates on FB though.

While I wouldn't quite put it that way , I agree. Facebook discussions have a tendency to get really out of hand really fast.

Also, you generally have to foster more than a casual interest in a topic to be invested enough to participate in a forum community about it. Facebook is basically just filled with filthy casuals. Which is why forums are better.

 

[Poppy]

My laundry basket is filled with filthy casuals too.