Hop on the Social Media Bus?

Could it be as simple as it seems?  Joining free virtual networks to share information with people you have something in common with?

A while back I read an article I saw tweeted on Twitter.  10 Ways Social Media Will Change in 2009.  It is an interesting review of what needs to change.

The author, Ravit Lichtenberg, makes a couple of observations:

"Meaning and connection -- two key anchors of all things social media -- are corroding by the day as people's ability to organize their experiences and find the relevance of their networks declines. Social media, in essence, is bumping up against its own ceiling, no longer able to serve the needs of those living within its walls; and for these reasons, social media as we know it is changing course."

"Social media has forever changed the way people use technology to interact with others, but it can no longer satisfy people's needs in its current form and must change course".

We will surely see some interesting changes over the next year as companies and individuals do more than just do it, but implement strategies and truly usable interfaces.

As egocentric as we are, these social networks offer learning opportunities as well. And remember, you don't know what you don't know.  It isn't too late or too early to take a ride. 

Comments

[Deborah Mourey]

Hi Hannah, interesting post. I understand where the author is coming from but I think his final assessment is premature. We didn't see the real impact of the 90's emergence of the internet until several years of using the technology.

I think the technology will, in fact, catch up with the needs of consumers/tribes to hear and learn from each other.

With the help of companies like Rochester's own, Techrigy and Digsby- I think managing the input will get easier with built in metrics that allow us to track progress. http://blog.techrigy.com/
http://www.digsby.com/