The social media revolution and evolution is being called the new “Digital Darwinism.” It’s an important idea and movement for all of us to heed.
Esteemed marketer Brian Solis says:
“Digital Darwinism is upon us, 'the evolution of consumer behavior when society and technology evolve faster than our ability to adapt. Disruptive technology is the bearer of tremendous opportunity and equally a harbinger of obsolescence.”
I’ll take opportunity over obsolescence any day, but I do wonder why way too many business people are still so resistant when the up side is so exciting and rewarding?
Gathering together in tribes, communities and networks is the most natural thing that humans do as a species. It is why we have survived and evolved. We populate, learn, help and support each other because we need to socialize. WE need each other. I personally am fascinated by this and have always been a very social person and love lots of stimulation from people. As Appliedsoc.org explains:
“Humans are the most complex creatures on the planet. We think in a whole other way than the other animals that inhabit the world with us which makes our interactions that much more interesting from a scientific point of view, if nothing else. Like some other animals, we group together to form societies of all different sizes in additional to the individual.”
This very idea is at the core of the answer a psychologist gave on an NPR story segment about why the popularity of social networks has exploded in such a short time. We need to socialize and social media networks gives us the mediums to do that now more than ever. This can only be a good thing for us. Dolphins, one of the smartest mammals on earth, show the longevity of their evolution is because they are highly social and one of the happiest of all animals.
In an article in Psychology Today titled “The Psychology of Social Networking,” Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, AP of Psychology at the University of London, talks about the psychology of social networking:
“In this study, we are trying to assess to what extent three traits affect physical and virtual social networking and how (if) they overlap. Extraversion, Emotional Intelligence and Machiavellianism all positively predict social networking.”
In lay terms, your DNA personality drives why and how you socialize.
“Relationships are
not a function or derivative of technology. Pursuing the
3F's of Friends, Fans, and Followers does not directly equate to value. Customers follow an elliptical pattern where their next steps are inspired by the insights of others, and their experiences are, in turn, fed back into the cycle to inform the decisions of others.”
WE, is why social media networking works so well and has exploded so fast. It will continue to socially revolutionize us.
We Are All About Immediacy And Real Time Now.
We want it all and we want it now – instant gratification. The advantage of getting information immediately gives us the ability to act on it faster.
The Pure Sociology And Psychology Of It All Makes Sense.
We are naturally drawn to socially interactive platforms, centers of influence for news and information, hubs for sharing content. Facebook, Mashable, CNN, Technorati all epicenters for gathering now as well as parks, town squares, streets and town halls.
Tribes, Communities, Families And Networks Have Always Built Commonality.
We find each other by what we are passionate, interested and knowledgeable about and what we may need at any given time. From the arts, music and entertainment to business, culture, faith and fun. Facebook offers family pages, hobby pages, thought communities. LinkedIn offers business groups and company pages. Blogs attract everything from how to, why not, best deals and leading thought leaders to exotic locations, crazy inventions and new products, ideas and services.
Our Need To Mentor, Help, Grow And Lead Each Other Is Greatly Enhanced By Social Media.
Our social networks are a perfect ecosystem of nurturing and helping each other from youth to age. No matter whats going on, social networks give us a way to gather, share and support each other.
We Now Have A Way To Leave A Legacy Personally And Virtually.
What do you want to be known for? What do you want people to remember you for and by? Social networking is now a way to leave a living legacy through content and video. Stop worrying about how to do it and why and just do it. You are missing out on an amazing way to meet, engage and connect with not only people you know, but people you are destined to meet.
As we continue to blend and balance our in person relationships with our online and social relationships, it will only enrich and expand our human connections and potential.
Meet up with some cool people face to face and on social networks everyday. It will make you feel more connected, happier and a part of what we now know is a new revolution and evolution: “Digital Darwinism.”
How do you do the “WE” in your social ME-dia world?
Community Photo via Shutterstock
From Small Business Trends
The WE In Your Social ME-dia
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