Social media: the good, the bad and Sowambe - 7 Mar 2011

Social media is a nasty distraction; I have to literally close Facebook if I am to get any work done because if the site is left open on my browser, there's a more than likely chance I'm going to keep up with my "friends'" every move. Twitter is a whole other beast - I'd say it's almost an addiction; to constantly be in the know and to be on top of things, from general politics to NASA's latest trip into outer space, is very satisfying - it allows you to form an opinion on just about everything.

Social media may have its bad points, but if you're a business owner, celeb, politician etc. it's one of the greatest tools to promote yourself. Nigeria-based new media company Sowambe aims to recognise those in Africa who have used social media to its full potential by launching the continent-wide Sowambe Awards. Nominations open this week, so feel free to put your name / business out there. It's a young initiative, but I think it's bound to grow in the coming years with the constant rise in the use of social media across Africa.