The other night, when I was standing in line for a comedy show, the guy behind me glanced up from staring at his phone and said, “So many people these days are making a living off of social media.”

“Oh? Is that right?” I played dumb, hoping he would elaborate.

Social Media Guy continued to explain the “possibilities” for financial success on SnapChat, Vine, and YouTube.

“Hmmm. Very interesting,” I replied.

Since I was off the clock, I refrained from giving him a lesson about digital sharecropping and how the real beneficiaries of these social media “possibilities” are the companies who build social media …read more