Did you know 41% of tablet owners use their devices while watching TV? And did you know that up to 62% of people now use social media while watching television?

Is social media defining the way we watch TV? Or maybe it’s simply ruining the experience.

From Facebook to Twitter, television talk is a daily occurrence on my social media news feed. Whether it's a shocking elimination from X Factor, or the low down on who’s hooking up with who in this week’s MIC (Made in Chelsea for all of you non MIC fans), social media provides a channel for viewers to express their opinions about the shows they are watching.

However, has this latest trend affected your TV viewing habits? Have you had to go from a couple-of-days late viewer to a live viewer? Or has your social media newsfeed resulted in you not even tuning in at all?

The surge in social media has even changed the way programmes are communicating with its viewers. Presenters are now incorporating the use of hash tag keywords that allow you to live tweet comments and ideas. For example, popular daytime TV show This Morning has a special social media hub which allows viewers to engage directly with the presenters and ask questions to guests via their preferred digital platform, ultimately taking on the role of the virtual presenter.

Another example is sports programme A League of their Own. James Cordon sometimes selects a hash tag and asks viewers to use it in tweets. That hash tag then gets promoted both on the official A League of Their Own Twitter account and on his personal handle; it’s a very clever way to unite social media presence with the on-air live experience.

So whilst it may be frustrating that your best friend’s brother has just ruined the season finale of your favourite programme, it can be a great way to receive instant feedback, whether that be good or bad, as it happens. In addition, it offers up a sense of how many people are tuning in and are engaged enough to want to talk about it online, presenting a fantastic opportunity to businesses. 

Are you a TV Tweeter? Let me know in the comment section. 

 

By Emma Cooke, Account Executive at Neo PR.

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