Trends Shmends

No one can predict the future, but suffice to say that technology will be a safe bet.

In my opinion, the next big thing will be sharing. Not toys on the playground, but rather Wireless internet connections. Sites like Whisher have already begun working on wifi sharing software. Further described here. Let's face it, it was only going to be a matter of time until all metropolitan areas went wireless (thanks, Starbucks). In the meantime, technology such as this will allow wifi connections all over the place, without the physical installation. With cell phones, PDAs, music players....and everything else that we carry with us enabled for internet use, Whisher and similar projects will be the next big thing.

As for this article, the standout prediction for me was the rise of the product placement. As mentioned in the article, Gossip Girl has recently been hawking Victoria Secret and phones. I can't even count the number of times that I've seen Apple products used or Coke products consumed in the movies these days. This is a trend that is definitely on the rise.

As an advertising/ marketing student, I am all for this. What better [subliminal] message could we give consumers? BUT, ...(and that's a big but and I cannot lie), as a consumer, I feel very conflicted about this emerging trend. How much is too much? As far as I know, there are no regulations in place to limit product placements. I fear the day when creative endeavors are completely controlled around the placements. As a media planner, I would definitely keep the consumers in mind. It would be a bad move to over-do the placement to the point where consumers really notice. An uprise is not the goal. Instead of trying to monopolize the all hottest movies, TV shows, and video games, I would think that it would be a good move for media planners to go for the less-mainstream projects that could be desperate for some funding. A cult-type following for smaller projects would be more beneficial than saturated mainstream markets.

...And now I must go contemplate Facebook suicide.