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# Social networks are the new TV
- URL: https://onemanandhisblog.com/2016/09/social-networks-new-tv/
- Published: 2016-09-26T22:49:43.000Z
- Updated: 2016-09-26T23:01:50.000Z
- Author: Adam Tinworth
- Tags: disney, social networks, TV, X (Twitter), Video

[Silvia Killingsworth on Instagram ads](https://theawl.com/instagram-is-the-new-tv-ce13e3dcbceb?ref=onemanandhisblog.com#.3dkk2efpk):

> Today I was fed a full commercial from Karlie Kloss, which was amazing because it was just a fully produced video ad like the ones you used to see on television when you used to watch live television.

And it is:

> \[Thanks for sending your @ebay apartment suggestions! 🛋 So… what's missing? Follow @eBay on Twitter for more 😋 #eBayUnboxed #ad\](https://www.instagram.com/p/BKqbzJagbdP/) 
> 
> A post shared by [ Karlie Kloss](https://www.instagram.com/karliekloss/?ref=onemanandhisblog.com) (@karliekloss) on Sep 22, 2016 at 8:21am PDT

Yup, that’s a full-on TV advert. And it’s been commissioned and shot for play on *Instagram*.

It seems that social networks are becoming the new TV. And in that light the [latest “Twitter for sale” rumour](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-26/disney-said-to-be-working-with-adviser-on-potential-twitter-bid?ref=onemanandhisblog.com) makes sense:

> Walt Disney Co. is working with a financial adviser to evaluate a possible bid for Twitter Inc., according to people familiar with the matter.

## Now streaming on Twitter

Why? Because Twitter is quietly becoming a *video* company. [Mathew Ingram](http://fortune.com/2016/09/26/disney-twitter-bid/?ref=onemanandhisblog.com):

> With its resources, Disney would be able to help Twitter improve its video streaming and possibly strike new deals with other content providers. As a result of a recent acquisition, Disney owns a stake in BAMTech, the digital arm of Major League Baseball, which runs streaming services for ESPN and others, including Twitter.

As [John Gruber put it](http://daringfireball.net/linked/2016/09/26/disney-twitter-bloomberg?ref=onemanandhisblog.com):

> Twitter is a media company and a publishing service, not a social network.

Increasingly I wonder exactly what *is* a social network in 2016\. Snapchat and WhatsApp are less social networks than communication tools. Instagram is a picture sharing service with comms element. Twitter is a publishing platform. Does that just leave Facebook?

Not everyone is certain about [Disney making a good partner for Twitter](http://www.recode.net/2016/9/26/13062276/disney-won-t-buy-twitter?ref=onemanandhisblog.com), though:

> But if you’re going to spend $18 billion, $20 billion, $30 billion on something, you need a little bit more than “I like the dude who runs the company.”

Bear in mind that Disney acquired Marvel AND Lucasfilm AND Pixar, for $15 billion. Is Twitter really worth as much to it as those three properties put together?