Post date: Nov 3, 2014 1:41:05 AM
The tools of today have improved communication, effectively reducing the cost of communicating to almost zero. Not only do we communicate faster we also combine our communication with many different mediums like personal video, photography, music, as well as live face to face communications like Skype. Technology has facilitated new social norms of communication, thus changing the face and impact of social action. Clay Shirky in his book Here Comes Everybody discusses the integral part of community in social networking. Written at the time of the emergence of Twitter in 2008 he discusses the small world pattern of social networking and the idea of "six degrees of separation". The power of highly connected individuals in larger networks to hold the overall structure together. Small world networks connect in clusters to the overall larger network through structures akin to the concept of six degrees of separation. These larger groups are connecting when big change and social action is needed.
An interesting idea of facilitating connections among individuals in smaller networks within larger networks is discussed in Shirky's book. Would I like a tool that would connect me to new friends by knowing who my friends are and who their friends are? Facebook? Shirky describes something like this on page 219 called Dodgeball. Not only does this software connect friends of friends (similar to tools like Facebook) but it also connects to a known location one of the individuals using it. Using this tool, I could connect to someone I don't know directly. That person and I would have a friend in common, making it easier to start a conversation. And since Friends are usually like minded individuals it would be easier to connect and remain friends. Convenient but are we ready for it? I am intrigued at the concept and also concerned about institutions and individuals that could take advantage of this collection of information. I am sure data security experts working are on this already.