Since the Motrin uproar and Chris Brogan scrutiny I have been wondering (out loud to some) who made/makes the social media rules? Is it a person? By committee? By culture? I still have yet to receive an answer.

As marketers it’s our nature to test, test again and re-test…and to push the limits. When did this change? Let’s face it, times have changed with technology advancements. And not all people involved in social media are marketers (or people involved in communications, PR, SEO, etc.). And as marketers we need to understand that and move forward with new ways to market (anyone remember when SEO/SEM was new?).

Social media is new territory and we are still learning and exploring. Being social with other people or customers isn’t anything new. Being trustworthy shouldn’t be worth an award or prize, it should just be. There should always be etiquette when dealing with other people, that’s just common decency. And we should be plain smart about how we present ourselves. You get what I am saying…

Social media is already coined the wild west and these types of incidents just convince companies even more so that it is. And this untamed wildness isn’t just effecting social media…it’s spreading to traditional marketing too. If it’s not the wild west, then perhaps it’s an ivory tower because a lot of people seem to want to put themselves on pedestals.

So, I just have one question. Who made the social media rules?

And if anyone can’t answer that question, then why should we follow them? And why should people be chastised for bending or breaking unwritten rules?

[Image: Blake Studios]