Social Networking Sites Are Mightier Than The Sword

The CBC radio had a segment this morning on cyber bullying and the use of social networks. They focused in particular on this story of a ThornHill student who was suspended due to his comments on a Facebook site..

There were some things that bugged me in the interview (not the least of which was the attitude of this dad who was more pissed that his kid can't go on a trip to Montreal than his sons actual bad behaviour). But the thing I was the most curious about….

The school had been monitoring the Facebook site in question. They clearly understood that there was room and potential for inappropriate comments to be made. Rather than proactively educating these kids and talking to them about the public dangers when you choose to put your life and opinions online (or even sending out a warning newsletter about acceptable behaviour), they chose to lurk and waited until something bad happened.

That just seems wrong to me.

The teacher in question could a real beef in my opinion with school officials who prefer to “catch” the kids in the act of doing something wrong versus what I consider in part their job, helping kids figure out what’s right in the first place.

In the end, everyone loses. The kid, the school and ultimately the teacher all with the lesson, social networking sites are mightier than the sword.

What Would Tim Berners-Lee Say Now?

In 1996, Tim Berners-Lee said,

"what you actually see when you look at the Web is pretty much a corporate broadcast medium. The largest use of the Web is the Corporation making a broadcast message to the consumer."

Well, check this out - TorStar has launched a new site called ourfavs.com. It says its in Beta, it feels like a start-up but it is wholly owned and operated by TorStar (they neglect to mention this in the about us section - you have to go to the terms of use).

Looks like Web 2.0 is going the way of a corporate social media medium (say that 10X fast).

I dunno, maybe it's because I am an entrepreneur, but I like the idea of small companies starting and having users decide what is going to survive before it gets onto Yahoo or the TorStar website.

Having Corporations start their own start-ups? Something just doesn't feel right about that.

Sleeping On The Job Is A Good Thing....

From webworkerdaily via Mr. Petrovic (VP Engineering extraordinaire), a new study that confirms what those of us who work in innovation and creative fields already knew:

"when you’re faced with complex and novel problems, especially ones that require you to fit together new ideas, sleeping on it might turn out to be the smartest thing you can do."

Personally I am also a long walk or shower kinda problem solver, but sleep when I get some, works too.

Maybe Facebook Is Worth More Than A Billion Bucks

Ok, so you know when I get three emails in one weekend, from three totally unrelated people all over the age of 40, that something has crossed the chasm (or been in the bowling alley - or the tornado - you get what i'm saying..)

What am I talking about? Facebook. "Hi, so and so has invited you to join their Facebook network."

Hum.....Maybe Zukerberg was right not to sell for JUST less a Billion?

The Big Little Principle

I believe that it’s not only important to understand the success of social networks from the perspective of people wanting greater connection as I often read about, but as well to try and figure out the why’s of it.

There is the human condition. We always want to feel more and more connected to those around us. Trends since 9/11 have shown that we crave it even more than ever as we attempt to create a trusted cocoon around our network and ourselves.

As well though is something Peter and I like to call the ‘Big Little Principle’. It goes something like this: as things get bigger and bigger, we as human beings strive to find ways of chunking it into bite sized manageable pieces. In the environmental world it is the “Think Global, Act Local” banner.

In terms of social networks, as our ability to create networks that connect us to hundreds of people grows, so to does our desire to manage those networks. How can we remember who everyone is? How can we know what everyone is doing? How can we stay in touch beyond just simple presence? How can we make our networks more meaningful?

Maybe this explains in part tools such as twitter or anything that helps us feel more connected but without burdening us with having to take a slice of time out of our busy days.

As things get bigger, we desire to find ways to make it feel smaller.

Putting The Drive To The Web In Reverse

When I go into actual physical locations to talk to sales people about their products, they keep sending me away and tell me to go to their website.

I mean, here I am, in their store (and in one case dealership) and rather than making a sale, they give me a card with a url, send me OUT THEIR DOOR and tell me to go home, get on my computer to go and get information that they apparently don't have to give me on the spot. You know information that might make the sale. They are sales people after all.

Back in the day it used to be all about having the Advertising drive to the Web in order to get them interested enough to eventually go to the stores. I had heard the phrase "get bums in seats" so many times from my automotive clients that I wanted a 'i get it - you want bums in seats’ tattooed on my forehead.

But now, advertising gets me the Web, I do my research, I go to the stores and then what happens? They drive me back to the Web.

I just don't get it. Am I missing something here?

Earth Day Advertising

Found via Think In Pictures blog, a great ad from World Wide Life Fund. Have to say, still have a warm spot for WWF having worked for them back in my environmental planner days. Very smart advertising.