It always surprises me when people talk about social technologies as ‘the latest fad.’ Yes, social media and social networking are relatively new, but what makes the technologies popular and engaging is not.
People crave relationships. Social tools are a way to fulfill that need. People want to be heard and valued by companies, peers, family, and friends. The social web provides that sense of belonging and value. Its tendrils reach beyond the internet into our lives on the go. For many, the only time we’re not ‘with our friends’ is when we’re sleeping. The rest of the day, we carry them with us on our computers and our phones. Our online relationships intermingle with our real lives and our real life relationships transcend our time spent online.
Friendships, conversing, being deeply engaged in relationships aren’t a fad. The way we relate may evolve; our social technologies will change. However, the basic need for companionship is part of who we are. Now that we’ve found a way to be in touch and feel closeness much of the time, do you think that’s going to go away so easily? I don’t.
Thursday, December 9th, 2010, 10:40 pm | 
geekery | 
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