Social Media
These three forms of social interaction – personal, organisational, and consumer/civic –correspond to a thematic structure which we believe helps to identify the different ways in which social networking at the Web 2.0 phenomenon impacts us all. This framework is called “ISP” – identity, status, and power.
The reason we parsed the framework out in this way is that social interaction is largely concerned with questions related to our personal identity, our place within organisational structures is determined by notions of status, and our behaviour as consumers and citizens are dominated by issues related to power.
In the example of social media and power, many people in the corporate world feel threatened because they have been in gatekeeper positions controlling information. They don’t like open communication. But harnessing the benefits of ‘collective intelligence’ can, when managed well, boost morale, increase productivity, stimulate innovation, and even enhance financial performance. In fact, there is an excellent ‘ROI’ (return on investment) case to be made for Web 2.0 tools if they are leveraged intelligently. In spite of all this, however, we still often see a powerful resistance within organisations because people with entrenched power are feeling threatened.
On the other side, an example of how social networking may be liberating us all at present comes from the financial crisis. Suddenly, a lot of people are anxious about their career situations – and they are rushing onto social networking sites such as LinkedIn to reinvigorate their social capital. LinkedIn has reported soaring membership levels since the economic downturn. In the ‘old days,’ people ‘activated’ their network to job search by making calls and taking people out to lunch. Now, even recruiters and headhunters are actively using Web 2.0 platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn. This is the impact of the “strength of weak ties” which social networking and the Web 2.0 phenomenon embodies.
With these examples in mind, how would you say that social networking is impacting and transforming your professional, civic and/or private life?
Tanuj Mathew said:
Social networking is the in thing now, (gone are the days of the SMS). Social networking sites like facebook, twitter, etc are allowing people to be connected in a cheaper and faster, and more stylised manner. People are now writng down every moment of their life down (much like a diary or an autobiography)
Your opinion, advise or rethoric can be reached to a million in a few seconds. I read in the paper that some guy had connected his pregnant wifes tummy to the computer, so everytime his baby kicked it would be registered in twitter as “I kicked my mother at 00:00Pm” etc. Amazing, ain’t it. I also read about how people are using this to gather support to fight against some social cause or the other. Through these sites, they are able to reach audiences on the other side of the globe as well. now that I think is 2 thumbs up for social networking.
There are so many sites out there that one could ask which one do I join?? This last week, I was invited to join at least 3 socal networking sites. All new, all different, just because one of my friends joined and invites everyone in his frinds list. Just select the right options and all your contacts are invited. And these mail are worst then spam, they just keep coming evry 2-3 days. For now, I am going to stlle to one. Which one, I dont know……
Sriharsha said:
While the intended purpose of social platforms was to bring people together to share their personal moments and experiences, Social Networks are increasingly being leveraged as powerful tools to bring about changes in the society and environment in ways one would not have imagined a decade ago. Obama’s campaign leveraged the power of millions of online followers to not only finance his campaign, but to build a database of supporters who could be mobilized into foot soldiers; the result – the change the world wanted to see. Microsoft (Microsoft – Hohm) is using social media applications to provide a platform for users to use each other’s ideas and cut home energy consumption. Twitter updates following the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai and the resultant mobilization saw the sacking of inefficient politicians and public officials. Praja.in is establishing an Internet driven community to help make the connection at local levels and wants to be a networking platform for active and concerned citizens. The Ushahidi Engine is another example of a platform that allows anyone to gather distributed data via SMS, email or web and visualize it on a map or timeline. Their simple goal is to create the simplest way of aggregating information from the public for use in crisis response. Numerous such examples can be cited to illustrate how social networks are impacting our personal and civic lives. Social platforms are here to stay and would probably make our world a lot better.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Samraat Kakkar said:
@ Sriharsha
You are bang on target. Digital Media & Social Platforms are here to stay.
Certain quarters still consider social media to be another euphoria that may soon fade away. Social Media needs to be looked at as convergence between technology & an opportunity to communicate. Going ahead technology will advance with functional improvements thus further penetrating social media into our lives. It is becoming an ecosystem. It cant’ be considered as another tech trend or a tactical initiative.
Zain Imran Said said:
In a time deprived culture social networking is quite simply allowing us acquire, build and foster both new and old relationships that could quite easily be neglected.
The social networking affect is normalized much in the same way email normalized, or SMS or MMS before and is becomeing de facto in our lives (almost is) then we
Social networking crossed the chasm about twelve to fourteen months ago, its growth has been so rapid that its quite possible that most of the early majority of available online users have accounts with one or more Social Networking platform. This has been fueled not just by the ‘it’ factor alone but the exponential growth in the ability to connect to the cloud both in terms of cost but the number/types of devices that allow us access.
Our newly acquired virtual worlds are becoming increasing important to us as individuals Whether we want to find an answer on Google, catch up with friends on Facebook, or work with our customers/colleagues on Salesforce.com or check our online bank balances…..every aspect of our life is affected…period. Social networking is everywhere from travel sites to facebook to this blog.
Does the ISP framework differ to our behavioral off line? I am not so sure…however our instinct to be stand out from the crowd may perhaps explain our need to increase our need to stand out from the crowd and build our social capital,
Raman Venugopalan said:
I look at social networking as following
In Professional life –
a) get connected to new people and share the ideas, solutions
b) generate an opinion for yourself among the professional circle – which can help business / career
c) get more details on new technologies, concept and important happenings around you
In Private life -
a) use social networking as one way to beat the stress – when you interact with your friends you obiviously get relaxed
and ofcourse most of it is coming free of cost (except for your broadband bill)