How one exaggeration deserves another on Twitter (retraction)



Contributing Writer
Photo: Penguins on a Boat Credit: Nick Egglington


A few people have written (particularly on Twitter) to say that my headline for my article criticizing a Reuters Poll was misleading.    The headline reads: “Facebook usage is down 34%,” and should read “34% of Facebook users say they login less” (or something like that).  The specifics of the number in question are cited in the first sentence of the piece, but I agree that if you clicked the article to understand how a third of Facebook’s engagement evaporated and were met with a critique of a poll that didn’t intimate that it sucks.  And I’m truly sorry – In retrospect I would have written a better headline.

That said, one critical tweet was so rich with irony that I thought it was worth a share:

“That’s the most misleading data led headline i have seen in a long time! 34% ppl using it less, not 34% less use!”

While he was right to question the relevance of the heading to the piece, I don’t even think that my headline was the most misleading about that particular poll.  Consider these headlines about the exact same data that I referenced:

Poll Shows Users Are Bored of Facebook

Facebook Boring?  1 in 3 Users Tuning it Out.

Facebook Engagement Down 34%

Facebook Users Smoke Pot and Don’t Buy Anything

So to my esteemed Twitter critic – I concede that I inadvertently ran an exaggerated headline, but in an ironic twist I hope you understand that your assessment of it as “most misleading” is a little exaggerated too (it’s pretty easy to do wouldn’t you say?).

But if you still insist that my headline is the most egregious exaggeration you’ve read,  I offer my sincere apology and well wishes for your pot-addled, disengaged, boring day of non-consumption (assuming you use Facebook)!  Cheers!

Photo Credit

Jim Dougherty

Jim Dougherty

Writer and chief of miscellany at leaderswest.com

I aspire to give people something to think about rather than tell them what to do. My favorite Google Alert is “social media research,” I am increasingly compelled by Gen Z, and I appreciate good writers agnostic of where they write. At one time I was Kred’s 12th most influential social media blogger and Klout’s most influential person on the topic of David Hasselhoff. Transplant from Seattle living in Cincinnati. Haven’t entirely adopted the local sports teams yet.

Jim Dougherty

@jimdougherty

Writer about social media and tech at Leaders West, I also tweet as @leaderswest.

Altimeter Joined H&R Block And Expion To Chat Employees and Amplification http://t.co/bjsGf9xoQP via @ShellyKramer – 15 hours ago

Jim Dougherty

Jim Dougherty

Related posts

  • http://www.thinknewmedia.com Joe

    WTF! The most misleading title ever…really. This is why I like you Jim. Even when you don’t have too, you step up and make things ..cough cough right. Keep keeping on brother. I personally don’t think the title was that bad. I prefer a little exaggeration to boredom. Just my two cents…

  • http://leaderswest.com Jim Dougherty

    Thanks, Joe for reading and commenting. I’m pretty critical of studies that people publish so I think it’s a fair criticism for this post, just a tad over the top! :) Cheers!

  • http://just-ask-kim.com Kimberly Castleberry

    I have to admit that when I first saw the headline from Perform Insider (prior) that I hovered over the link, expecting it to be a post from theOnion.com. While your headline was off, semantic issues happen to all of us!

  • http://leaderswest.com Jim Dougherty

    Thanks for reading and commenting, Kimberly! I feel like I write for The Onion from time to time but never intend my content to be taken tongue-in-cheek!

  • http://carouselsalesblog.blogspot.com Cara Celli

    You could have titled it “Facebook is the most boring website ever.” That would’ve been true…:D I don’t think anyone could dispute it either! Okay, I know I’m being a bit harsh, but the only reason I’m on FB is because it seems like that’s where my whole family is. Most of the time, it IS incredibly BORING! It is! Why do you think I love Twitter so much? Because it’s not FB. Cheers!~CC

  • http://leaderswest.com Jim Dougherty

    I think someone might dispute that! I always wonder if Facebook is much more meaningful to many people than I value it or if it’s just the place where you can reliably find everyone. As patient as people have been with some pretty radical changes – I suspect you’re on to something! Thanks for reading and commenting!

Top