Is Facebook Killing Automotive Forums?

[Thirty-Nine]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/Tekka_Maki/ONLINEFORUMS_zpsnonkmpl9.jpg

I wrote a little bit about this yesterday. The topic had come up in a thread in the general discussion area. Is Facebook taking a bite out of online forums? What do you think?

http://www.subcompactculture.com/2015/05/is-facebook-killing-online-automotive.html

[ern-diz]

Love the Pacman theme lol

[7:34pm]

I don't think it's only Facebook, I'd say it's mostly Youtube/Google. People are getting all the information they need through tutorial videos and such these days.

[CrankyOldMan]

I guess it depends on what you come to the forums for. If you only come for DIYs or to post pictures of cats, then yes, Farcebook/YooToob would divert those users. I come here for solid, direct, practical advice from a community of reliable and intelligent people.

[nookandcrannycar]

post pictures of cats

:laugh:

Farcebook

:laugh:

community of reliable and intelligent people.

:thumbsup: I'm not on Facebook. However, quite a few of the articles that are linked to the MSN homepage have comment threads that seem to be 'Facebook only'. Some of the posts on some of those threads.....not the brightest people in the world :eek::laugh:.

[bronsin]

Is CT Scott on FB? ::bow::

No? :iono:

Well then FB isn't worth a pitcher of warm spit as far as information about your Yaris is concerned! :biggrin:

I look on FB for information about many vehicles I or others own.

I am NOT impressed! FB is no substitute for a good forum. :headbang:

[Thirty-Nine]

Is CT Scott on FB? ::bow::

No? :iono:

Well then FB isn't worth a pitcher of warm spit as far as information about your Yaris is concerned! :biggrin:

I look on FB for information about many vehicles I or others own.

I am NOT impressed! FB is no substitute for a good forum. :headbang:

Yes, actually he is. :thumbsup:

[bronsin]

Yes, actually he is. :thumbsup:

Well, what do you know!?:eek:

[ern-diz]

Well, what do you know!?:eek:

:bellyroll:

[Ben_]

I must admit that I'm a part of the new phase of automotive social networking you speak of. When I meet new people who are interested in Utah scca auto x I push them to either find our webpage utahscca.com or the facebook Utah scca. I'm not a fan of our forums and thinking about this makes me think I should be more active on our forum for those fun long term projects

[ilikerice]

I agree with Ben. As an Solo Chairman of my region. Facebook is probably the best way to get free advertising for events. We have increased our attendance in the past 5 years from average of 30 drivers, to now an average of 70 drivers. Because of this, we have been able to update all our timing equipment and upgrade our trailer. I started a Facebook page 4 years ago and its been nothing but beneficial to our club. Forums just doesn't have the sharing capability like social media does. I have noticed the only ones who don't have a form of social media is the older folks, but even that is just a few who just don't want to bother with it.

[Ben_]

I notice even the older folks are getting involved in social media here in utah

[bronsin]

Forums have the benefit of being private whereas S&M is public and thus exposes one to predation.

I hope they are not the future.

[Kar98]

I notice even the older folks are getting involved in social media here in utah

It's only old people on facebook these days. I've gone back to my regular forums long ago and ditched facebook. Screw Zuckerberg.

[Thirty-Nine]

It's only old people on facebook these days. I've gone back to my regular forums long ago and ditched facebook. Screw Zuckerberg.

What do you consider "old"?

[Kalispel]

I'm in that tiny % of Americans (less than 5% last I heard) who don't use Facebook, Twitter, etc. and never have. It just doesn't interest me, but then I tend to be an introvert anyway. I don't even find smartphones very appealing, useful, or worth the monthly charges, and just carry around a basic little cell phone for texting and emergency calling purposes. When I want to be on a computer or the internet, then I use my home/work desktop.

[NYC-SE]

I'm in that tiny % of Americans (less than 5% last I heard) who don't use Facebook, Twitter, etc. and never have. It just doesn't interest me, but then I tend to be an introvert anyway. I don't even find smartphones very appealing, useful, or worth the monthly charges, and just carry around a basic little cell phone for texting and emergency calling purposes. When I want to be on a computer or the internet, then I use my home/work desktop.

I'm in that 5% too. Facebook, twitter, etc. just has no appeal to me. I do have a smartphone but that's only because my 10 year old flip phone finally bit the dust last year.

[kimona]

I'm in that tiny % of Americans (less than 5% last I heard) who don't use Facebook, Twitter, etc. and never have. It just doesn't interest me, but then I tend to be an introvert anyway. I don't even find smartphones very appealing, useful, or worth the monthly charges, and just carry around a basic little cell phone for texting and emergency calling purposes. When I want to be on a computer or the internet, then I use my home/work desktop.

I'm in this group as well.

[WeeYari]

I'm in that 5% too. Facebook, twitter, etc. just has no appeal to me. I do have a smartphone but that's only because my 10 year old flip phone finally bit the dust last year.

Add one Canadian to this population. Had to graduate to a smartphone simply because I could not keep up texting with my daughter with the old flip phone numeric key pad. At least now I can enjoy the forum via tapatalk when on-the-go.

My 16 year old has bailed on facebook. Finds twitter too 'noisy'. Instagram she likes and relies on it for her social media needs.

[Ben_]

Apparently everyone on the yaris forums is part of the 1% haha

I guess the thing we share is adversity. Sharing a love for a car that most people find boring/obtuse

[bronsin]

I'm in that 5% too. Facebook, twitter, etc. just has no appeal to me. I do have a smartphone but that's only because my 10 year old flip phone finally bit the dust last year.

I would imagine that 5% figure is wrong. I have friend who is the CEO of an insurance company and he doesnt even have email!

[fnkngrv]

I agree with Ben. As an Solo Chairman of my region. Facebook is probably the best way to get free advertising for events. We have increased our attendance in the past 5 years from average of 30 drivers, to now an average of 70 drivers. Because of this, we have been able to update all our timing equipment and upgrade our trailer. I started a Facebook page 4 years ago and its been nothing but beneficial to our club. Forums just doesn't have the sharing capability like social media does. I have noticed the only ones who don't have a form of social media is the older folks, but even that is just a few who just don't want to bother with it.
Yup. Facebook has become a necessary evil. You will find much more diversity on FB as well plus people can't hide which many folks find appealing since it can cut down on trolls to a point. Plus there is messenger which beats the hell out of clunky forum pms especially since you aren't limited for storage space which drives me bonkers.

[Kar98]

What do you consider "old"?

State of mind. There's people born 25 years later than me and and I'm younger than them ;)

[47_MasoN_47]

I think FB has definitely had a big part in stealing membership away from not just automotive forums, but all forums in general. Most of the non-automotive forums I'm on don't have many members younger than their 30s. I haven't had a Facebook since around 2007 and have no desire for any social media BS. Forums FTW!

[Farcry]

I don't use Facebook which I know keeps me out of the loop some times.
I think there is a difference between a club, and an information hub.
When it comes to social things where people get together frequently Facebook works much better, but forums hold years of info that you can search!!
So I think for cars it's not in any danger.

But I don't post much, Il make more of an effort maybe.

[ilikerice]

Yea, I agree farcry. Forums are a great source of information and well organized in category of interests of specific things. Social media is great for meet and greets.
They each serve a purpose.