Social Media’s Boom: New Digital Communication Platforms

Social Media Platforms: Respecting New Ways of Communication

[0:00] – Introducing this week’s podcast: FOMO vs. Luddites and why some older generations have disdain for newer social media platforms. 

• TikTok is a social sharing network that's primarily short little video clips. The platform is extremely popular with younger generations, as social media marketers have been quick to notice.
• The social engineering that is being done on us by the creators of these networks is phenomenal and terrifying in a lot of ways, but we have to understand it.
  
  

[7:10] – The history of social networking, and a walk down memory lane.

• Back in the early days of the interconnected world, bulletin boards and message boards that allowed file sharing and enabled users to have conversations were all the rage. However, it had many limitations, and was essentially, completely, a “log on, post and log off” kind of deal. 
• The dawn of IRC or internet Relay Chat signaled the coming of synchronous conversations. Multiple people could log onto a board, go into rooms, and have conversations with people. The number of people using it was minuscule compared to people on the web today. For many people, this was the first social-type network.
• As AOL, Microsoft, and Yahoo released their own messenger platforms, instant messaging became a huge and prominent step forward in digital communications: having instant access to each other, real-time access for conversations, the decreasing importance of email and phone (even though both are still relevant today), and so one.
• While there is value in familiarizing oneself with these platforms, especially as soon as they emerge, learning the ropes and jumping from one new product to another becomes exhausting.
  
  

[12:27] – How some people reject new technologies, and why communication will always be a crucial aspect of human life. 

[19:15] – The one thing that we as human beings do from cradle to grave.

• Human beings are exceptionally adept at communicating, even with just fingertips. 
• For one generation, to say that the way that a different generation communicates is not real or not as valuable is simply generational arrogance. 
• If we look at any technology and dismiss it because it's different from what we are used to, we are essentially denying one of the core features of the human condition. 
• While you don’t have to automatically embrace every new platform that comes along, it’s important to respect each of them and the benefits they bring to modern society, as well as the people who find them useful.
  
  

[20:56] – Respecting these different technologies, even the ones that we don't necessarily want to use.

• We can be critical of the social engineering that happens, of the lack of responsibility or leadership of these companies. However, what we need to respect is the relevance of the users and how much these platforms impact their lives.
• You are going to be overwhelmed with all of these networks coming down, especially if you are just in your early stages of stepping into social marketing and understanding all of the social space. No matter what kind of frustration or overwhelm you feel, though, maintain your curiosity, and at least try to learn about them. Keep an open mind. 
• If we want people to respect the technology that we use, the way we communicate, and what's important to us, then we have to respect their technologies, the ones that are important to them, as well.
  
  

Resources

• Free Evernote Quick Start Guide  
• The Grey Zone Facebook Group