The popular Media Archetypes on Facebook
If people are shifting time from watching television to Facebooking, it has nothing got to do with social interactions and keeping in touch with their network… it is just that they get to replay what they are used to seeing on the television. Mostly I feel, Facebook is nothing but television in a new avatar. Like in television you have various channels and programmes that are categorized into various genres. Similarly you’ll find people in your network who fall into such genres
Here are a dozen of media archetypes, I’m sure, you’ll find in your Facebook network too
The Newsreader: Breaking News!!! You heard it first here! Be it Qantas grounding their entire fleet worldwide…or the local Metallica concert getting cancelled. They want to the first to make a mention of it. No point of view, or any other description; just the headlines and link to the source news website. Usually, such people have their twitter feeds connected to their Facebook Updates. These types are one of the most popular archetype you’ll find in your network
The Reality TV star: They are always on the Facebook. It is actually like viewing their life through a fly camera. Each moment of their life is documented as Facebook updates. Their usual updates would be like “Woke up at 6 AM. Going for a walk” “Drank OJ for breakfast” “Metro is 2 minutes late” etc.. They bore you with their life’s details, that most of the time you wish you respond with – Go get a life
The Sitcom star: A wisecracker who brings a smile to the existing situation… By play of words or sheer pun they lighten up the grim truths about anything – be it economy, natural disasters, or politics. They also are satirical in their comments. These folks are by far the most popular archetype you’ll find with a lot of fans and high level of ‘likes’ and ‘comments’ on their updates
The Social activist: These are people who join each and every ‘social’ movement; be it the Greenpeace environmental initiative, India against Corruption, or Occupy Wall Street. They are also known as- Fb’er with a cause
The MTV star: His updates are mostly about songs…. Links to YouTube videos… They would also have ‘Now listening’ updates with # tags of the song title. Honestly, wish they even update interesting tid-bits of the singer or the song to make it a wholesome music package :)
The Travel star: Their updates are all about the places they have visited or are planning to visit. Full of pictures/albums they seem to be eternal gypsy, always on the move. Sometimes make me wonder, how they find time and money to travel so much The ESPN star: They are most active when there is a game on. No brainer that Cricket updates is the most popular, followed by soccer (EPL). Maybe now with India hosting the F1 Grand Prix, we could see more updates about the Formula 1 game. But nothing to beat cricket… some of them even have an over by over update on their FB page when an ODI with India playing is on
The Soap Opera star: Their updates are personal….and dramatic. Most of their updates have no head or tail – like a standalone soap episode… They are usually without any context, unless you are aware of what else happened in their life before leading to the update… Some of their updates are “Oh, I wish he hadn’t said it” “blowing hot, blowing cold” – what, why, where, how….. It is all for you to find out by watching their updates for more details
The Food/cookery star: Close up pictures of the food they cooked or ordered in a restaurant is their usual updates. Be it the visit to KFC to have a regular, or ordering an exotic dish a restaurant, everything is documented on their Facebook wall. Mostly you’ll find regular weekly updates on places where they have dined/dining…and maybe a monthly update on what they have cooked (This update usually happens on a Sunday afternoon). Generally, they also have their Foursquare integrated with their Facebook profile, and also are regular user of Facebook places.
The Documentary star: “Do you remember?”…. that is how most of their Facebook updates start with… be it links to old songs, the scanned image of the old school group photo, the b/w half naked photos from their childhood days. Most of their updates and comments are nostalgic. Such archetypes are usually 40 year olds..
The Televangelist: Never knew that I would find televangelist on Facebook (esp. in my network)… but hey, hey there are Televangelist archetypes too.. Their updates are about religion and spirituality.. They generally seek the meaning of life through the responses they seek from their Facebook updates such as- “Who are we? why do we do what we do??” etc
The Motivational star: Quotes, quotes and more quotes… While I cannot categorize which media archetype they would be.. I’ve named them as motivational stars. All their updates are some quotes, or sharing of few pictures or videos that is about a motivational quote or speech
Browse, nay, Surf your friends updates in your Facebook network and you’ll see the similarity with the above mentioned archetypes
Here are a dozen of media archetypes, I’m sure, you’ll find in your Facebook network too
The Newsreader: Breaking News!!! You heard it first here! Be it Qantas grounding their entire fleet worldwide…or the local Metallica concert getting cancelled. They want to the first to make a mention of it. No point of view, or any other description; just the headlines and link to the source news website. Usually, such people have their twitter feeds connected to their Facebook Updates. These types are one of the most popular archetype you’ll find in your network
The Reality TV star: They are always on the Facebook. It is actually like viewing their life through a fly camera. Each moment of their life is documented as Facebook updates. Their usual updates would be like “Woke up at 6 AM. Going for a walk” “Drank OJ for breakfast” “Metro is 2 minutes late” etc.. They bore you with their life’s details, that most of the time you wish you respond with – Go get a life
The Sitcom star: A wisecracker who brings a smile to the existing situation… By play of words or sheer pun they lighten up the grim truths about anything – be it economy, natural disasters, or politics. They also are satirical in their comments. These folks are by far the most popular archetype you’ll find with a lot of fans and high level of ‘likes’ and ‘comments’ on their updates
The Social activist: These are people who join each and every ‘social’ movement; be it the Greenpeace environmental initiative, India against Corruption, or Occupy Wall Street. They are also known as- Fb’er with a cause
The MTV star: His updates are mostly about songs…. Links to YouTube videos… They would also have ‘Now listening’ updates with # tags of the song title. Honestly, wish they even update interesting tid-bits of the singer or the song to make it a wholesome music package :)
The Travel star: Their updates are all about the places they have visited or are planning to visit. Full of pictures/albums they seem to be eternal gypsy, always on the move. Sometimes make me wonder, how they find time and money to travel so much The ESPN star: They are most active when there is a game on. No brainer that Cricket updates is the most popular, followed by soccer (EPL). Maybe now with India hosting the F1 Grand Prix, we could see more updates about the Formula 1 game. But nothing to beat cricket… some of them even have an over by over update on their FB page when an ODI with India playing is on
The Soap Opera star: Their updates are personal….and dramatic. Most of their updates have no head or tail – like a standalone soap episode… They are usually without any context, unless you are aware of what else happened in their life before leading to the update… Some of their updates are “Oh, I wish he hadn’t said it” “blowing hot, blowing cold” – what, why, where, how….. It is all for you to find out by watching their updates for more details
The Food/cookery star: Close up pictures of the food they cooked or ordered in a restaurant is their usual updates. Be it the visit to KFC to have a regular, or ordering an exotic dish a restaurant, everything is documented on their Facebook wall. Mostly you’ll find regular weekly updates on places where they have dined/dining…and maybe a monthly update on what they have cooked (This update usually happens on a Sunday afternoon). Generally, they also have their Foursquare integrated with their Facebook profile, and also are regular user of Facebook places.
The Documentary star: “Do you remember?”…. that is how most of their Facebook updates start with… be it links to old songs, the scanned image of the old school group photo, the b/w half naked photos from their childhood days. Most of their updates and comments are nostalgic. Such archetypes are usually 40 year olds..
The Televangelist: Never knew that I would find televangelist on Facebook (esp. in my network)… but hey, hey there are Televangelist archetypes too.. Their updates are about religion and spirituality.. They generally seek the meaning of life through the responses they seek from their Facebook updates such as- “Who are we? why do we do what we do??” etc
The Motivational star: Quotes, quotes and more quotes… While I cannot categorize which media archetype they would be.. I’ve named them as motivational stars. All their updates are some quotes, or sharing of few pictures or videos that is about a motivational quote or speech
Browse, nay, Surf your friends updates in your Facebook network and you’ll see the similarity with the above mentioned archetypes
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