We’re already nostalgic for the social web we experienced just a few years ago.
Kary Delaria’s thoughtful post on Spin Sucks echoes some of her sentiments, and many others seem to be lamenting the same thing. There are posts galore and countless status updates waxing nostalgic over the early days of [insert network here].
But social networks are nothing more than a corner of the web, and a malleable one at that. We want people to embrace the mainstream potential of social but in order for that to happen, we also have to accept its dilution, shift, and eventual evolution, whatever that looks like.
That likely means less signal and more noise (I’m sure the early collegiates complained of something similar when the internet went public).
We as individuals will be continually learning to tune our filters, working and reworking our own systems for navigating the web. The get-rich-quickers and hucksters will show up in droves, some of which will stay, and some of which will chase greener pastures.
Some folks *will* separate from the pack and do different things, either more visibly or less. Relationships will emerge, change, break, and reforge. Who we find, follow, and listen to will change, as will the people that discover us. The fabric of our networks will be dynamic not static, both collectively and individually.
These things are all part of the deal. None of which are “right”, and I contend none of which universally “suck”. They’re just different. Each of us has our own wants and needs from the vast Internet we’re part of, and no one place can forever be all things to all people.
This is not just the nature of any one social network, but the nature of networks overall since the dawn of human dynamics. We’ve just plugged a bunch of wires into the equation, shoved a ton of information through them, and removed connection barriers like geography and circumstance.
But the Internet never promised us anything. It is what we make of it or don’t, no more. And how boring it would be – and how much we would complain – if everything stayed the same.
Change is part of the adventure. And that’s something we’ve got to get used to. We want the world to change to see the web and its possibilities through our eyes. To spy the potential for innovation, for progress, for knowledge and for creation. And yet paradoxically, we hope our personal corners of the web never change once we have them where we want them.
Progress doesn’t work that way. For that matter, neither do we unless we’re content to simply be stagnant. It’s just fine to appreciate something we like, even miss it when it changes. But the beauty of the web as it is today is that not only does it shape us, but we shape it all the time.
We still have extraordinary opportunity and ability to create and curate experiences that bring us value, knowledge, and even joy.
Movement is inevitable, but also harbors unknown and nearly limitless potential. We can look back or forward, and either way, our experiences are more than likely to reflect our point of view.
Wonderful thoughts here, Amber. And, thank you.
You said this so eloquently, “we also have to accept its dilution, shift, and eventual evolution, whatever that looks like” and, I couldn’t agree more. Do I think change sucks? Yeah, when it’s happening to something I love. (My daughter turned 2 a few weeks ago and I was a mess.) And, I admit, that’s a personal issue. Am I nostalgic? Hell yes. But, change is inevitable and necessary to growth – I get it.
I’ve learned quite a bit in discussions surrounding this issue. Like, I need to look at myself as much as anyone else in order to adapt to change, regardless of the platform. Moreover, I think it’s important for companies to understand change (or, for agencies to educate them) and with this, the need to act more human and less “brand.”
As much as I might get sore while bending with the winds of change, and as much as I might miss days gone by, I’m going to bend. And, I’ll stay in the trenches and know that it’s not going to break me. That’s the social media world I’ve come to love – good, bad, ugly, beautiful, and…ever changing.
Hi Amber,
Very inspirational. Somewhere I could infer the message that we should not rue about the lost opportunities but instead focus on what is at hand. That means not worrying about uncertainty and other difficulties. Change is the only constant thing and we have to adopt ourselves to it in order to be successful.
It’s true, it is up to us, Amber. But the tragedy of the commons is a tough phenomenon to battle. I think the answer is always leadership, individuals, willing to stand up and move in a direction inspiring an entire tribe to follow. Looking forward to see these leaders emerge (they always do).
I think it’s interesting that change is a surprise to anyone, that we lament with nostalgia the evolution of these tools and capabilities differently than any number of [insert technology here] that came before. It’s just social media’s turn. Twenty years ago, there was barely a PC. Now? Everywhere. Ten years ago it was the e-commerce and the wireless industries’ turn to develop and evolve into capabilities as common as air. Next year publishing might be back on top as the content developers get a handle on these new and ubiquitous pad devices.
It’s ALWAYS been about change, the rise of new leadership, and evolution. Always.
This is such an insightful post, and I agree completely. While I myself am guilty of waxing nostalgic about the good ‘ol days of early Twitter and whatnot, your point that by wanting it to be more mainstream inevitably increases the noise really resonated with me.
What a well-written, thought provoking post. Thank you!
There are no rules – despite some of us “strongly suggesting” to clients their need for some guidelines and policies – but to your point, Amber, I have no right to tell you you’re doing it wrong. I hearken back to my music industry days. This wicked cool indie band came along and we wanted the world to know about them. Then the Arcade Fire wins a Grammy and the early adopters have become naysayers to the sell-out. It’s the nature of networks, it’s the nature of humans.
We always look back on things as if they were better in a by gone era but we also forget all the times that the likes of Twitter was broken or that Facebook had very limited features. Generally we are in a much better place now and there is proper scale and impact there through these networks.
The only one thing I would say is that I met lots more people and built long lasting connections when then social networks were smaller. The noise can be a little deafening now!
Excellent point Amber. It’s always been a human nature to adapt to changes and the changes in the shape of social media is actually also brought about by the changes in the people’s needs, knowledge, and perceptions. In other words, the changes in the Social Media are the proofs of our human nature of adaptation.
It’s funny Amber, because when I read posts (some) from Jay’s blog, I don’t want to respond in these long drawn out ways, because simply saying “amen” will really work. Because I align 100% with what he’s saying.
This is one of those cases. Amen.
Nice Post ..I liked your style of writing the post ..Waiting for New post from you
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The scary thing about the internet is that we form it to whatever we want. Everything were created by us. This is just the begining. Internet is just a child.
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