Are we on the verge of societal change, yet again?
Technology impacts economy our behavior, and finally it creates greater societal change.
Today, I find it hard to imagine how my grandparents waited for the newspaper to arrive, or for the news hour on TV for the latest news.
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I don’t read newspapers nor watch TV news; I read news stories online, listen and watch people talk about it – as they break. I get news headlines via Viigo on my phone, which I choose to read or ignore.
I’ve been an avid follower and embracer of new technologies all my life. At age 33, I’ve seen more things change around me more than my grandfather and his father has ever seen. From the looks of it, I’ve only yet seen the tip of the iceberg. I wonder if this is how people felt during the European Renaissance, and the Industrial Revolution?
The biggest change in history will have occurred (thus far) during our time. Making you, and I, an intricate part of the new information revolution. What part would you play in it?
Would you play the part of the person who resists change, or would you be the one to embrace change and contribute to it? As for me, I choose to embrace change. There is a growing social media movement that is enabled by the very technologies that enabled me to write this post, and the very technologies that enable you to read my contribution to the social web.
As a web developer, I’ve used early versions of the social web such as online forums in the past, but then there were a handful of such interactive forms of communication. Ease of use and the sheer ease of deployment have enabled the masses to contribute, share and discuss just about everything instantaneously.
We now satisfy our social urges online. Share our stories, photos, videos, thoughts and even our day to day tasks. Just like the internet provided business with a global audience when it first emerged, it has now given you and I, a global audience to socialize with.
I believe that this “social web” component will cause the most impactful positive societal changes in our life time. We are on the verge of societal change, of a different form, impacting everything in our lives. Be open, embrace, and contribute. And most importantly – don’t forget to listen.
Very insightful. I wonder how you feel about the negative aspects of social media? I realize that I am playing devil’s advocate, but how will social media affect our children when they use technology to socialize with strangers who perhaps have malicious intentions? Any thoughts on how we can protect our children? Is it not impossible to monitor?
Your question is one that arises for any online interaction that involves minors. Often unmonitored, anything goes type interactions are a challenge and a disturbing phenomenon for both parents, guardians and social workers such as yourself.
The growth of internet as a medium, and the growth of social interactions online are directly correlated to the fact that there is no censoring or monitoring authority online.
I feel the best way to protect our children is by exposing them to online interactions, and by educating them about the dangers that they might encounter online.
Often children are going to be ahead of some parents when technology is involved; but if parents spend time with their children, educate them, monitor their activities and communicate with their children effectively, online interactions become an asset to our children.
I feel that the addition of social factor to technology ensures that children can socialize, while they do things they like, such as playing games etc… I’d love to hear your thoughts on my comment.
Thanks for my very first comment.