It’s that time of the year again. I’m Googling and consolidating links so you don’t have to.  Here we go:

6 PR and social media predictions for 2013 (Ragan)

10 Social Media Predictions for the Next 12 Months (Matmi’s musings)

14 Experts Predict 2013 Social Media Trends for Small Business (ATT Networking Exchange blog)

25 Inspired Marketing Predictions for 2013 (Convince and Convert)

2013 Digital Marketing Predictions (Social Media Today)

Crazy Baldy’s 2013 Marketing Crystal Ball Predictions! (Vocus blog)

Digital and Media Predictions 2013 (Millward Brown)

Digital Marketing In 2013: Predictions From 86 Industry Luminaries (CMO.com)

Digital strategy 2013: Predictions from the industry gurus (SmartCompany)

The 2013 Marketing Predictions Post: Content Marketing And Social Business (Forbes)

A brief articles roundup:

Newtown Shooting Draws New Voices to Social Media (CNN)

Mass Newtown Shooting Sparks Mass Social Media Action (ABC)

NRA Social Media Blackout Continues Following Newtown Shooting (Web Pro News)

Social Media and Newtown (The Cynical Girl)

Social Media’s Reaction to Shooting in Newtown, Connecticut (New America Media)

Republican candidate for Senate Steve Welch think so, and writes a piece in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer saying flat out:

Facebook is not only responsible for creating unwarranted expectations, it is killing the Republican Party. Facebook pushes combative tones, extreme views, and single-issue agendas to the forefront, while even-tempered discussions about comprehensive reforms are buried and rarely seen at all.

Welch is wrong, and the argument is absurd.

While Facebook is the face of the internet to many people, it  is just one piece of a giant online jigsaw puzzle that includes innumerable blogs, sites, discussion forums, Twitter and so much more.

And that’s only the web-based portion of things: Let’s not forget about what’s happening in cable news and talk radio, not to mention the dynamics of the various factions inside the GOP.

Blaming Facebook for the crumbling GOP is like blaming a single town’s road repair crew for the crumbling national infrastructure. Facebook may be a convenient scapegoat, but someone who blames Facebook for the crumbling GOP needs to step back and look at the larger picture.

Montana Tourism quickly deleted the post …. but they weren’t fast enough, since there’s a screen shot and a story. Adweek reports.

Yep.