I’ve been tagged against my will by Jane and Jason in one of the latest memes: do you respect media snackers?
Well first, what the heck is a media snacker? Watch this short video to see:
Here’s the transcript for the video-phobes:
Media Snackers. What’s it all about? Well, you see the world has changed and it’s not turning back. Media snackers are young people. No longer is there a set menu of mass media delivered at specific times and to the masses. Print, radio, [and] television is now “push the red button and go interactive,” “text in your request,” or “let us tell you a story.” The internet and technology ownership has changed everything: digital TV, mobile phones, iPods, weblogs, instant messaging, [and] social networking. The media landscape has shifted from the linear to one of many layers consumed by creative and empowered individuals. Young people of the new WWW generation snuck in whenever, wherever, and on whatever they like. Crucially, their expectations have changed. Everything is multi: multi-screens, multi-channeled, multi-conversations, and multitasking. Totally connected groups are average sharers, creating as much as they can consume and using free sites to display it all. Whereas before when computers were only found in banks and offices, media snackers have access at home, in school, or in libraries — all for free. Remember visiting arcade centers to play games? Media snackers play at home and against the world. How about taping your favorite tunes off the radio? Media snackers simply download them from the web and carry their whole music collection with them. Previously, to have a mobile phone, you needed a large bank account. Media snackers just have pockets. Media snackers are young people.
The chain, sparked by Jeremiah Owyang, talks about the evolution of technology and how people need to pick and choose their media, which can be consumed easily.
Do I respect media snackers? Of course I do. I snack on media all day long. 
Whether it’s Flickr, StumbleUpon, Digg, del.icio.us, Twitter, Facebook, Sphinn, LinkedIn, blogs, blogs, more blogs, and even more blogs, you can find me looking for the most pertinent content that aligns with my interests.
Is it hard to snack on so much media at once? I would say that you need to find out what works for you. The attention economy is playing tug of war with our minds and we need to figure out what we want, when we want it, and how we want it. But before I engaged in so many social media spheres, I certainly wasn’t as well-rounded as I was prior to my participation. Now, it’s a matter of sifting through the necessary and weeding out the unnecessary. As the landscape changes, so does the content.
I respect media snackers very much and find myself having some of the most interesting discussions with them. I find them blogging about the coolest innovations or discoveries. All in all, media snacking has opened the floodgates of information, but fortunately, at the end of the day, we’re in control of what we want to read and how we’re going to digest the information.
I’m actually going to deviate from the norm and tag people for this one, since I’d love to hear from Barry, Maki, Ben, Lyndon, Andy, and Eric. My friends, do you respect media snackers?
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Tamar Weinberg is a social media enthusiast with a passion for all things tech and productivity. She provides consulting in internet marketing and manages Community Support & Advertising at Mashable. Tamar is also the author of 
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See, doing things against your will can be fun! I always was the kid who got everyone in trouble. Kudos for diving in with us!
Thanks so much for participating! I’m not a meme-girl myself, either, but the viewpoints have been so interesting! And you have completely turned me around in terms of the social media news sites, so it’s great to hear your opinion.
BTW – I’ve really been interacting with the Digg community more and more. It really is about being a part of the community.
Hi Tamar
I will respond but I still have to finish a positive post about PayPerPost and Blogrush for you to snack on
– I know you will appreciate the differing point of view.
I hate memes too.
I would call myself a media gypsy than a media snacker. The toobs of the web are littered with accounts I have started, had a mooch around and then left. Distracted like a child on seeing Cadburys chocolate buttons within chomping distance.
Respect isn’t the word I would use, sympathise is what comes to mind. But also the acknowledgement that we are blessed with such wealth of information, of course the problem is sorting it into useful, graded, boxes.
Even wasting time is useful.
OK, this is sparking off a few things I can use, I am going to continue these thoughts back at my blog, with a backlink of course
You might be interested in some of the latest Forrester research that shows the skyrocketing adaptation by seniors to technology. Media snackers may be young people (I disagree!) but it would be a mistake to stop designing or marketing to older people.
I hear you, Kim!
I love how people always say they have been tagged against their will but then tag others! I guess I shouldn’t be surprised though, misery loves company right?
Seriously though, I’ll participate. I was looking for an idea for tomorrow anyway. Cheers!
I almost didn’t tag anyone, Ben, but then I realized I should keep some of you lazy people busy.
” we are blessed with such wealth of information, of course the problem is sorting it into useful, graded, boxes.
Even wasting time is useful.”
Thought semantic web would help for information organization, but, in the meantime, it’s so against human nature to do ‘things’ – put bits into ‘boxes’, contraction we’re made of…
The comments are all refreshing…
Love the “media gypsy” reference by one of your commenters…
Just adding your voice to the many:
http://tinyurl.com/39ohf5
DK
MediaSnackers Founder
Hey! I’m a media snacker and I’m not young. That video is a bit ageist don’t you think?
Agreed, Tomboys. I think that’s the only problem most people have with that video.
I wouldn’t take it personally Tomboys – check our post where we explain our focus on young people
Peace
DK
MediaSnackers Founder
I suspect we have always been media snackers. Consider billboards. They can send out strong visual and text messages in a few seconds similar to what web sites do now.
Even TV and radio listeners are media snackers. Just because a TV or radio is turned on doesn’t mean anyone is listening.
My 16 year old son can play an online game, listen to music on his iPod, watch television, eat and read a novel all at the same time.
His focus on various contents can multiplex at an amazing rate. His friends are just the same. It scares me.