From AOL’s prominence in You’ve Got Mail to T-Mobile’s stronghold on MTV’s Real World/Road Rules Challenge franchise, product placements are hard to miss. They’ve run the gamut from subtly integrated to awkwardly implanted, generated buzz, and, prompted viewers to reevaluate their perceptions of endorsement. But what’s next?
Could SM come to occupy a similar role in movies and television programs? Is it reasonable to think we could see a day where reality show contestants are live tweeting? Could Facebook updates replace some of the face-to-face interaction? Not to mention how the speed at which messages move in the SM sphere seems ideal for helping the contestants on reality dating shows to spread their trash talk and drama effectively. Continue reading