Fried Logic

AP Style Guide Releases New Social Media Guidelines

The Associated Press Stylebook got a recent update to keep up with the ever-changing world of social media.

Mashable reviewed the 42 new guidelines for social media and Adam Ostrow, editor in chief at Mashable, shared his thoughts on the “more interesting” changes to the stylebook:

• Smart phone is now separated into two words.
• E-reader is now hyphenated.
• The terms fan, friend and follow can now be used as either nouns or verbs.

While these changes are interesting, another set of changes also caught my eye. Fairly new to AP style, I was surprised to find that acronyms for texting and instant messaging are included. This really shows how texting and instant messaging have become integrated into our daily lives.

For more information on the impact of social media, check out these blog posts:

The future of social web, according to Forrester, via Groundswell.

5 Ways Traditional Media is Going Social, via Mashable.

25 Mind Blowing Social Media Infographics, via WebDoctus.

For a full list of the social media guidelines and suggestions, check out the new updates.