Users Utilizing Social Media as Form of Search

Social media has become one of the largest forms of communication in use today. Equally, it seems that Google, Yahoo and other search engines are part of our daily lives. But what happens when one begins to dominate the other? These days, it seems that users are searching for more and more information online, seeking the support of their contacts. For instance, when making a decision on buying a Macbook, laptop or netbook, a user might search for user-generated reviews for all three products, visit forums or simply ask their contacts on Twitter or Facebook. What does this mean for search?

Adage suggests, “The separation between search and social media is melting away, and a new paradigm is taking hold. Finding the right content is as much about whom it comes from as where you find it. By building a network of credible sources via social media, we’re able narrow our “searches” to a select group of people whom we trust”. For business owners, being part of that group that users trust is the key to getting the sale, and ultimately the better reputation. Search will also change to include the more social aspects of keywords. Even now, a search yields results in news, blogs and more commonly, YouTube videos. Search and social media will continue to coexist, as the two evolve.