Even the Dictionary Recognizes the Power of Facebook
Posted by Molly DiBianca On November 18, 2009 In: Social Media in the Workplace
"Unfriend," according to the New Oxford American Dictionary, is the word of the year. According to CNN.com:
"Unfriend" beat out a tech-heavy field that included "netbook," "hashtag" and "sexting" to take the annual honor.
"It has both currency and potential longevity," said Christine Lindberg, a language researcher for Oxford's U.S. dictionary program. "In the online social networking context, its meaning is understood, so its adoption as a modern verb form makes this an interesting choice for Word of the Year."
Oxford defines "unfriend," a verb, thusly: "To remove someone as a 'friend' on a social networking site such as Facebook."
If this doesn't solidify the place of social media in modern culture, I don't know what would. It's just one more reason why employers are best advised to stop running and face the social-media-music.
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