I think Jeffrey Beall has got this wrong. He claims that altmetrics are an “Ill-conceived and Meretricious Idea.”
On the other hand, I think Euan Adie has got this right. Here is his measured response (sorry, couldn’t resist) to Beall.
So, I come down on the meritorious side. Of course, none of this is to say that altmetrics are without flaws. But one thing they are decidedly good for is connecting academic researchers to those who read their research. That’s what scholarly communication is all about, in my book (sorry again).
jbrittholbrook 
Hi, Brit! Say, could you fix the spelling of my surname so that my impact can be properly measured? Thanksand kind regards,
Jeffrey Beall
Sorry, Jeffrey — my mistake. I actually had to pry the ‘E’ key off my computer a second ago, since it was sticking on me! That’s a true story.
Pingback: Two views on Altmetrics – Shameless ploy or Room for Different Approaches? | Copyright Roundup