What Is Digital Snacking?

The other day, we mentioned the term “digital snacking.” Specifically, we mentioned that blogs were not (usually) a platform for digital snacking. So what exactly is it? We view digital snacking as a reference to the consumption of bite-sized pieces of content.
Can you think of anything that might fit that bill? Browsing through RSS feeds is a form of digital snacking. Pinning on Pinterest, re-blogging on Tumblr, sharing and liking images and video through Instagram, Viddy or other services are examples of digital snacking. Memes are another great example. Even updates on Facebook and Twitter are examples of digital snacking. But just because something can be consumed in bite- sized pieces, doesn’t mean it can’t account for a significant amount of time. You may “snack” on multiple pieces of content for long periods of time. In fact, that is one of the reasons that Pinterest is so addicting to some. No doubt there are people who spend hours sharing, liking, pinning, and posting across their preferred networks.
Sometimes you don’t want to have an in-depth experience. Sometimes you just want to browse. Sometimes you’d rather snack. Digital snacking is less about what you need, and more about what you want. Brands and organizations now have the opportunity, especially in a digital world, of making sure that their audiences have content to consume.
What do you think are some great examples of digital snacking content?
The Five Things You Shouldn’t Have Missed This Week: Friday, May 4
Shadow-Activated QR Code Actually Useful and Cool - Retailer’s sign scannable only at lunchvia AdWeek (See Video)
What it’s like to work in PR as a former journalist via PR Daily
40% of Teens Video Chat With Their Friendsvia Mashable
Experience Digital Weather With Burberry’s ‘World Live’ via Branding Magazine
ABC News Exclusive: New Facebook Tool Helps Organ Donors ‘Share Life’ via ABC News
Is Social Media The New News Source?
Schools.com has posted an excellent infographic about social media serving as a source of news. They go on to point out some of the extremely newsworthy stories that first broke via social media. Among their findings:
- 50% of people have learned of breaking news via social media, rather than an “official” news source
- 46% of people get their news online at least three times per week
- Since 2009, traffic to news sites from social media has increased 57%
It’s clear that social media is a growing source for news and breaking news. The immediacy of the platforms is a big plus. However, another glaring statistic notes that 49% of people have heard of breaking news via social media that turned out to be false. One issue news coverage through social media runs into is that that it is immediate, and many people rush to be first, rather than correct or well-informed. It’s still an evolving space, and a very valuable one. The question is though, “is social media the new news source, or simply another news source?”
5 Things You Shouldn’t Have Missed This Week
Ikea’s Smallest Store in the World via The Next Web (see video)
How The Tuscaloosa News’ post-tornado tweeting helped bring home a Pulitzer Prizevia Poynter
Wikipedia: Survey Shows 60 Percent of Entries Have Errors, and Public Relations People Can’t Correct Them via ABC News
Hulu Changes Deal For Advertisers: Now They Only Pay When Viewers Watch The Whole Advia TechCrunch
Secret Service scores an A- in scandal response via PR Breakfast Club

