But not how you thought. I expected to see many millions of people being desk and PC bound for the term of their lives, stuck indoors and soaking up sudden attention most never ever dreamed of. But it's more than that. I spoke to a friends Karate tutor a few weeks back and instead of there being a downturn in numbers attending, there was in fact an upswing, and from his research he suggests more folks are contacting through the internet in social media (Facebook, Twitter, blogs etc) and are forming relationships and friendships and burgeoning from there. Where in the past they were scared to face society on a social level, now they are more confident to do so.
In terms of relationships, people are going to extraordinary lenghts to meet other folks, a new direction in their lives. The ability to plan, the need to travel (a biggy for some people) and of course the social interaction when they meet. It's a brave new world.
And the whole thing is practically non judgmental in that there is no offending body odour, not screwed eyes at deformities, no unwillingness to interact. Social networking has very few rules, but what rules there are are pretty much adhered to by all so it is a smooth process in getting to know others.
Let's take Facebook for instance. Now there are three types of socialites involved in that site. The ones that collect friends and never speak to them, the ones that have too many friends but do interact with a few, and lastly family.
I'll start with family. In the past, unless family lived in the same town, there was very little contact with other family members, except maybe the occasional visit (being 20+ years or so). But now you can have family at a touch of a finger (providing they are on the internet). I have been involved with social networking since 1997 and I have seen huge strides in development of interactions. Now for example, I had contact with a long lost uncle, and in the space of a few weeks we are working on several projects to benefit the family. The internet allowed that, but more importantly social networking did it.
As I alluded to above, people are getting out more as a result of social networking. If it wasn't for finding like minds I dare say I would have been bereft of true friends in the city I live in (as I didn't get out much) and that's happening to many thousands, heck maybe millions. People are suddenly willing to share their lives with others online and in 3D and that has to be good for everyone. Sure there are some horror stories, but they would be few and far between as trust on the net these days is earned not given freely.
Where will it go in the future? That's hard to say, but let's say when oil runs out in 50 years time there is going to be a need for even more online involvement and less on local contact (unless you walk or ride a horse or bicycle, lol). Then well see huge advances in the systems we use to interact with others.
Well I must say, social networking sure as hell has provided invaluable services for those such as ACC, who continue to rack in the dosh for being seen to provide services but continue to fail to do so.... it's the social media that are providing them for years, and for free.
ReplyDeleteThat's great for the users of social media but lame for those pious Government departments that get paid the big bucks - and it's all OUR big bucks paid in taxes too!