I think it’s fair to say that social media and the Interweb have drastically changed the way we communicate. In real-time, I can find out what my friends are doing whether they live down the block or around the world. By following my friends’ status updates, tweets and ‘check-ins’ I have the ability to be more connected than anytime in history.
The balance of power has also shifted dramatically. No longer do you need money to have a voice. Individuals (and groups) now have the ability to engage with and influence thousands (even millions) of people around them. It’s the biggest change in communications technology since the invention of the printing press.
Yet, there are still naysayers. Everyday I hear people say, “Twitter is just a fad.” or “Facebook is just a waste of time.” The answer to some is to ignore the technology. They turn their back. They dream of moving to the cabin in the woods. They think of ‘the good old days’.
And who can blame them?
Instead of using these new tools to change the world (pick a cause: poverty, hunger, peace etc) or connect deeper with our friends, we choose to brag and share crap with each other.
“Hey check out my trip to Mexico!”
“I just bought new shoes.”
“I just sent you a link to a puking dog…check it out!”
Instead of having meaningful conversations with people, we ‘like’ and post quick snippets on our friends pages – as if this will somehow make us closer(?). Instead of going out for coffee or flying to visit, we poke each other.
*stepping up on my really tall soapbox* Really? Is that the best we can do with our new printing press?
The way we communicate may have changed, but human nature has not.
Social media will no doubt evolve. Will we?
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Like the post Mike. It is interesting how communication has evolved. I know that in my day to day operations, we've gone from speaking in whole conversations to text speak via office communicator and e-mail. The entirety of business formal communication has changed with so many means to dissiminate information that informal has become the new formal. I know our CEO does not address us in a memorandum format but in a very personal address. As we become more reliant on highlights, so too does the speed at which we “tweet” or update our profiles or something simple as texting a confirmation.