Pleading for the Elimination of Social Media from our Dictionary.
September 28, 2011 4 Comments
Social Media is a hot topic nowadays. Maybe it’s even too hot. Every single one is talking about it: from marketer over IT manager to adolescents. And yes, sometimes people ask me: “what do you think about social media?”. As from today, I will reply those people by saying something like: “well, actually, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Social Media is not in my dictionary. I can say a thing or two about social. Or even about media. But I don’t speak about social media.” Below is why.
Social Media as a term is framing the whole thing in a false matter.
Toffler, Third Wave, 1980.
Looking at the very concept from this media-centric perspective results in a very narrow view on the nature of what we are experiencing. Social media are a lot more than a bunch of media. It’s a profound change in society. The drastic impact is brilliantly envisioned by a guy named Alvin Toffler. And he already forecasted this back in 1980. Waw!
Toffler, Third Wave, 1980.
As Toffler’s quotes made clear: Social isn’t just an innovative medium that continues along the lines of previous “old” ones. When Toffler speaks about an altered info-sphere and a “Source” organizing people around shared interests in communities, one instantly thinks about the so-called social media we know today.
My Twitter account is a very good example of this altered info-sphere. It’s constructed as the best-in-class virtual professor. It’s build for personal development. It’s constructed to learn. It also acts as a networking platform but that’s beyond the scope of this article.
Structural Change on Multiple Levels
Social brings along structural change on several levels of society: personal, business, Ngo’s, governments, etc. all are to transform into something social. The position of the (social) media (platforms) is just to ease this change. It’s not about technology. It’s more about change and (re-)integrate social into the world.
How and where is “social change”? And what are its main challenges for “adoption”?
Social Media is Change. Change has a challenge.
Keen on C 
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Wet van Gossen toegepast op veranderd mediagebruik (wegens nieuwe techno en de zich hiervan uitbreidende mogelijkheden -door inzicht, ervaring, experiment en ontwikkeling). De balans is nog zoekend naar evenwicht, maar overslagpunt wordt mogelijk nooit bereikt. Conventies moeten logischerwijs ook mee veranderen -privacy, recht op nieuwsgaring, democratie en nationale veiligheid, etc. A long journey ahead!
Hi Bram, thanks for your input. I’ll reply in English so the other readers can enjoy your additions too.
What you mention here, the need for a social driver, is exactly my point.
However, in my view, it’s not about media usage. It’s about the manner in which mankind is going back to its social roots. Evolution of Society altered us from our social nature.
Nowadays, we have the ability to go back to that hard-wired state. That’s why social is so appealing. That’s why it’s change. That’s why it brings along challenges.
Those individuals and or organizations (bunch of individuals) who are able to deal with those challenges shall experience a great journey. One that brings results and makes them happy. In the end, being happy is the ultimate goal of life, no?
To close, the following quote from Darwin might frame the discussion: “It is not the strongest nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptive to change.”