The hyperbole of tech media

We see this every time a new toy comes around that happens to grab the attention of a small group of people in the tech and media bubble. A few months ago it was “Yo,” which many of you probably have already forgotten was a way to notify people by push notification with a simple “Yo” message. Breathless think pieces by tech columnists ensue declaring it the future of something which will destroy something else. Rinse, lather, publish, repeat.

Today it seems that it’s now Meerkat which has the attention of the oracles of innovation. These thinkfluencers want you to know that the future of live streaming has just been disrupted. Forget the fact that things like UStream and Livestream and countless other products have been around essentially doing the same thing. No, this time is different.

I actually think Meerkat is cool. It’s simple and easy to start shooting and sharing, (though not as much now that Twitter pulled the plug on a major feature that made this much easier) but I’m not ready to say it’s going to change the future of anything.

It’s ok to just say you think this new thing is kind of interesting, but the breathless predictions just look foolish. So, enjoy these new toys, share your experiences with them, let us know what you like about it.

Just stop trying to play Techstradamus.