The difference between social media and IRC / IM / fourms is the pervasiveness into all aspects of our lives. The older style communities were focused around sp

The difference between social media and IRC / IM / fourms is the pervasiveness into all aspects of our lives. The older style communities were focused around specific topics / activites and what was done there didn't spread outside that specific community. Now anything we do is broadcast (& recorded) to anyone and everyone who might take an interest, now or in the future.