Social Media Is Driving the TV Conversation

My D.V.R. currently says it’s at 95 percent capacity and the fall television season has barely begun. My Netflix queue? I don’t even want to think about how many shows are collecting dust, but currently I’m binging on FX’s "The League" and I’m three seasons behind. From "The Walking Dead" to "black-ish." From "The Knick" to "Empire." Television is one of my favorite things, and although there may be a lot to choose from nowadays television is like stock options: Diversification is a good thing.

Last week, we saw Viola Davis make history by becoming the first black woman to win for lead actress in a drama. We also saw Davis competing against Taraji P. Henson, Claire Danes and Robin Wright. In 2015, this category alone gave us an amazing example of just how many choices we have in television and how diverse it has become. I can go from seeing Henson’s Cookie cursing out her ex-husband to watching Wright in the politics of "House of Cards." In society that’s purported to be post-racial, diversity and choices in television viewing options are a welcomed change.

But with so many options, gone are the days of the water cooler conversation. When you have so many shows premiering, and some getting the axe before they can build a following, the only conversation most people can keep track of is what’s trending on social media.

Social media has proven to drive ratings and the conversation around television shows. It’s driving it so much so, that Nielsen started keeping track of it all. If a show isn’t trending on its night, that could be a bad sign for network executives. And if a show is cancelled, and it was popular on social media, you can rest assured a petition to get it back on the air will follow.

Must-see TV has a new meaning nowadays. We must see diversity. We must have options. And we must be able to converse about it with others in real time.

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