--- title: "The Onion on Social Media: All Smoke and Mirrors" id: "14569" type: "post" slug: "the-onion-on-social-media-all-smoke-and-mirrors" published_at: "2012-11-26T22:09:34+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T19:21:23+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/11/26/the-onion-on-social-media-all-smoke-and-mirrors/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/11/26/the-onion-on-social-media-all-smoke-and-mirrors.md" excerpt: "Ever feel like social media is a lot of huff and puff? This parody by The Onion is for you. Also: Evidence Facebook’s marketing clout is fading fast." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Marketing" - "parody" - "Social Media" - "Technology" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "C-Level" - "Director" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » The Onion on Social Media: All Smoke and Mirrors Ever feel like the so-called experts are full of it? They get the plaudits and the praise and are held up as paradigms for the industry, but when it comes down to it, they don’t know any more than you do. *The Onion* feels your pain. A spot-on parody, and more, in today’s Social Media Roundup: ### Social Media, Mocked > The Social Media Economy? [@TheOnion (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/TheOnion?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > ‘s awesome parody on social media marketing [http://t.co/xUVH02hY (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/xUVH02hY) > > — lou (@dubois) [November 25, 2012 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/dubois/status/272706203975548928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **So fake, it’s true:** In the first seconds of this parody on social media marketing by *The Onion*, pseudo-expert Cameron Hughes says the words “social media.” And people start clapping. That’s the point you know you’re in store for something amazing. Watch below: The parody, done in the style of TED talks, is a nice punch in the gut to social media experts who focus on the tools a little too much rather than pitching fresh ideas. *(ht [@lou_dubois (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/lou_dubois/status/272706203975548928) )* ### Mark Cuban Was Right > Knew it had changed; didn’t know how much. RT [@JustinPGH (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/JustinPGH?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > : Brands’ Facebook reach dropped 38% aftr algorithm change [http://t.co/UIP4lJMn (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/UIP4lJMn) > > — YourMembership (@yourmembership) [November 26, 2012 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/yourmembership/status/273124912229662720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Here’s your proof, marketers:** For months, people have expressed frustration over Facebook’s apparent declining value as a marketing tool, but most of the reports were anecdotal rather than statistical. One of those marketing groups, Group M, commissioned a study on the matter and found that there was a 38 percent decline in organic posts seen by end users for a brand they “like” on Facebook. However, there is some good news: While reach is down significantly, engagement is up—with those active with the brand twice as likely to engage with the brand than they were before the change. Is the tradeoff worth it? *(ht [@yourmembership (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/yourmembership/status/273124912229662720) )* Find yourself calling this stuff baloney a little too much? Let us know how you feel in the comments. [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Marketing](https://associationsnow.com/tag/marketing/) [#parody](https://associationsnow.com/tag/parody/) [#Social Media](https://associationsnow.com/tag/social-media/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoDaily Recap: Day 1 from the 2025 ASAE MMC+Tech ConferenceMay 13, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/05/13/daily-recap-day-1-from-the-2025-asae-mmctech-conference/) - [VideoThe Future is Yours to Create. 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