Social media continues to evolve. As there is really no way to know how this will affect the future, we present our whimsical take on how social media may change life as we know it in 2010.

1. 2010 will be the Year of Privacy; No one likes it when parents crash the party

As backlash from Facebook’s privacy policy rewrite dies down, their users will be left with a growing sense of unease. Until now, the trend has been towards increased trust when it comes to publicly available information. We believe this trend will soon reverse. Especially now that the public is aware of the government “listening” to them online. As users retreat from the Facebook version of social networking that appears more and more to be pushing for an “open book” expression of their profiles, online communities will become segregated to specific niche purposes. One central interface will emerge that will allow easy manageability of the various communities.

2. College athletes will become removed from social media

The NCAA will ban its players from using any form of social media while they are under scholarship at a University. Some coaches, such as Texas Tech’s Mike Leach, have already banned their players from using Twitter. We predict that the NCAA will implement a larger ban for all college athletes.

3. Mobile will become a social media lifeline

As a larger portion of mainstream society stays connected 24/7, they will find that their Smartphones have become another appendage. Stemming from this, we predict the first widely publicized marriage via tweets. All parties (the priest/pastor, bride and groom) will pronounce their words and vows via @ replies live for the web to see.

4. Facebook University will open

What started as a watering hole for co-eds to connect outside of the classroom will go back to its roots by hiring a full staff of online professors who will host classes on their various profile pages.

5. Twitter to become the new talk show

For decades, studio audiences and radio callers have interacted with celebrities who shine the spotlight on societal hot topics. Whether it’s the fans of Rush Limbaugh, a man who gives voice to millions of discontent Americans, or Jerry Springer, who provided a platform to mock/cheer on caricatures of ourselves, their voices are quieted in comparison to what online media equivalents are capable of. As Oprah Winfrey’s show comes closer to a final good-bye, she is herself transitioning to Twitter as a medium. The celebrity re-tweet will be the new call-in, the @ the new audience feedback.

6. Twitter will decide on a revenue stream

That’s right, they will partner with Collective Intellect and sell insights to companies looking to understand and reach out to/target their key demographics.

7. Mobile ordering will take off

iPhone apps will generate as much, if not more, sales for companies compared to traditional walk in purchases. Chipotle and Pizza Hut will be forever viewed as pioneers in the field.

8. Tweets will close the gap between the famous and the norm

A celebrity tweeter will meet and fall in love with an “Average Joe” over the internet. Hollywood will make a movie about it.

9. Boutiques will find a home on Twitter

A store will open online that exists only on Twitter. One-of-a-kind items will be “put up for tweet.” The first reply is the lucky buyer.

10. Twitter goes public

Late in 2010, Twitter’s IPO will be delayed as attorneys and technologists wrangle with the SEC over strategies for honoring the “quiet period” when every employee tweets.