Wait, America-Hating Foreigners Will Be Influenced By How Many Twitter Followers A US Diplomat Has?
from the is-this-the-washington-post-or-the-onion? dept
We've discussed a few times in the past the absolute ridiculousness of services like "Klout" that try to assign a "number" to influence based on random things like how many Twitter followers you have or how often you tweet. Of course, the actual research on this stuff (you know, not by some random company trying to make people and companies think they're important) says that this kind of stuff is all hogwash, and you can't really predict who will "influence" others on certain things. In most cases, who influences you on what is driven more by the close circle of people you know and trust, not someone with a lot of Twitter followers.But Klout continues to spread its own silly marketing message... and the press apparently just loves it. But, you would think that the Washington Post, of all publications, wouldn't publish an (unintentionally?) hilarious puff piece by Brian Fung suggesting that something like Klout could influence how US diplomats interface with America-hating foreigners. Honestly, the story reads like something straight out of The Onion, taking a faux serious tone about how much diplomats can learn from their Klout score. It opens by talking about just how hated the US is abroad:
America�s reputation abroad has reached a new low. In the Middle East, America is even less popular now than when President George W. Bush occupied the White House. Washington�s image has suffered the most in Turkey, plummeting from a high of 52 percent in 2000 to a dismal 10 percent in 2011. In Asia this past week, Vice President Joe Biden tried to build bridges with Chinese President Hu Jintao�s presumptive successor, but the visit was clouded by doubts about the U.S. deficit.But have no fear, US diplomats. If you just embrace your Klout score, the Middle East will be eating out of your hands in no time flat.
Klout, which Time magazine included in a list of the year�s 50 best Web sites on August 16, gives its users a score based on how influential they are across a range of social networks. Contributing to the social savviness readout is a wealth of information about users� most engaged followers and the topics they respond to best.If not The Onion, at best this reads as a weak press release from Klout itself. The article doesn't quote anyone. It doesn't attempt to explore whether or not Klout's rankings actually mean anything. It just assumes that they do. I'm happy that diplomats are using social media, and I hope they learn to use it well. But relying on Klout to figure out how they should move forward doesn't seem like a particularly fruitful strategy.
It�s not hard to see how diplomats can turn this data to their advantage. In an environment that often rewards targeted communication over indiscriminate broadcasting, diplomats have an interest in finding out who their followers are and what they like. Posting content that influencers will spread themselves can maximize the State Department�s impact via network effects while economizing effort. And by learning about their audience, diplomats will be able to tailor their engagement strategy and make course corrections, just as commercial brands do in the private sector.
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Filed Under: diplomats, social media
Companies: klout
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As a "foreigner" ...
Now, if you would stop trying to export your twisted and broken laws to other countries I'd be much happier. Can you work on that please?
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Must be we used Cut and Paste instead of Copy and Pasted them
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That's quite a statement you make here Mike. How do you know it won't be a fruitful strategy? I'm pretty sure that Klout will make tons of money if the State Department start using Klout extensively. I'm sure the founders and execs of that company will become insanely rich. I'm sure the people working there will get bonuses and raises.
Oh wait... Sorry... You mean fruitful for American foreign policy... My bad.
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Real Power!
When an ambassador posts a link... actually, I don't know. Wasn't aware there were any ambassadors with twitter feeds worth following.
Also, I'm fairly certain twitter followers are referred to as 'twits.' ;-P
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Again
In short - mainstream media doing as mainstream media does - a shitty job at best, a propaganda piece at worst.
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Wut?
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the real issue
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Re: the real issue
both are problems and both need to be corrected.
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Is that so?
Is that so? Well, I really like anal midget gangbang porn.
I hope the ambassador can find something relevant to my interests to tweet about. Or else I start hating America
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America-Hating Foreigners
most people do not really hate America, ive been there several times and I find it a very nice place.
I have been to a lot of different countries, and I find that all of them, except America displays some idea of life and culture in other countries, including America.
But Americans appear to not have a clue, or care what the rest of the world is doing of has done, Lots of high ideal's but a clear inability to put them into practice.
the land of the free and the brave !!!
America is neither.
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Opportunities for Klout.
Influence should look at long-term actions and patterns, not singular actions attached to supposedly-influential or "important" people. As it currently stands, social influence is more of a fun thing than a useful thing. It's a numbers game.
It's interesting to see how social media as a whole can improve communications and relationships globally in applications beyond business.. But I don't see Klout being anywhere near ready for such a venture.
Can you imagine how messy that would get?
"Your Klout profile indicates that you do not believe in my beliefs.. And you do not like Lindsay Lohan. I am going to nuke your nation now. kthanx"
Hmmmm... Let's stick to traditional methods for now.
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Cultural Differences
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