The Social Networking eco-system

How much do I participate and contribute to my online social profile? In the age of ‘always on’, how much of what I contribute determines the general makeup of what I consume and believe?

Social networking might be a phenomenon, but its methodology is based on age old principles that as a collective we want to be involved in achieving greater collaboration. One that allows the masses to interact, but where personal gain is almost always guaranteed. I signup on Facebook, I connect with long lost friends, and soon enough I receive personalized gratification on my own wall. I’m relieved and fulfilled by the digital pokes. But really how emotionally gratifying is it? I’ve had email for years. You send me something, I reply.

We all have to work. If you are living in the first world, then you perhaps have mortgages and car payments to make. If you are living in the second world, then you are perhaps working hard to sponsor a family member or a friend to go to school in a foreign place. And if you are in the third world, then we offer the greatest welcome of all. Because you deserve to enjoy the liberation that the Internet was designed for in the first place. I think Kiva is excellent example of capturing first world abundance and using the internet to connect with third world indignation.

Digital societies are indoctrinated based on size, location and power. Imagine our digital life influenced by social networking. Log on and your internet experience is decided for you, based on who you are and where you live. Your accessibility is determined by the collective attitudes of people you share a geo-political relationship with. Try www.google.com right now. If you’re in Australia, the UK or Germany you get a regional version of Google. What am I missing out on by being regionalized? They know we’re you live, what you buy, and what you like. It’s all about personalization.

Informing strangers of what you like, what your preference is, when you’re likely to buy, where you live, how much you make, what you like to do in your spare time, your favorite brand, your favorite food, where you would like to vacation, and how often you exercise is fundamental in creating a personalized and socially aware eco-system.

CentricMinds develops Web Content Management Systems for the enterprise.