Podcasts are the digital publication of audio files for download on the Internet. Like social media, podcasts are new media—meaning they fit under the umbrella of digital tools using multimedia and interactivity—but are not necessarily social media.
Social media is a term to describe Internet content that solicits audience participation—such as Twitter or opinion forums. Downloading and listening to a podcast is not necessarily social; it can just be instantaneous radio. However, sometimes podcasts are housed within social media. Meaning, maybe a podcast is hosted on a blog that allows comments.
It’s just like how Internet video is not necessarily social media, but YouTube is social media because it allows for users to connect.
Comments
I disagree -- podcasts do meet the criteria for social media, and have always been considered a form of social media by podcasters. They aren't just published and viewed, like a static web site. They can be shared, embedded, commented on, and rated. They have RSS feeds, which allows them to be subscribed to, just like blogs. In fact, they are blogs, just with audio or video. These interactive and social features definitely put them in the category of social media.
Hi Mary - I appreciate your countering view. I definitely see your point. I hope I made it clear that I believe podcasts CAN be social media, but by nature of being an audio file that is automatically downloaded, they are not automatically social media. It's kind of like how blogs are not social if they disallow comments. Now, when the podcast is shared on Digg, it becomes a part of social media. But I don't believe it is in itself automatically social media.
Maybe I'm being a little too analytical and it doesn't matter anyway:) There are obviously differing opinions from my hypothesis, and I respect yours. I am a complete podcast junkie and also produce a podcast, and know all about their usefulness and interactive potential. But until a podcast is more than an audio file, I do still believe it is simply interactive potential.
Thanks for your thoughts and I'll continue to "examine" this.
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