Filters and Magnets
Posted Wednesday, January 9, 2:01PMNo, I'm not talking about a new way to make a cup of coffee. I think that everyone at this conference is aware of the impact of social media and the liberating effect it can have on individual expression, and its ability to accelerate the process of finding and growing a community of shared perspective. We've probably all experienced where it can also empower an individual to put people out in droves, and even at times seriously piss some off with equal (if not greater) speed. This is what I refer to as magnets and filters. Like a magnet, our ideas attract fans, friends, and co-conspirators, and at the same time the same expressions act as a filter, deterring those who are uninterested or passively disagree with a point of view. But sometimes the filter fails and becomes a negative magnet for unwanted participation. Disagreement erupts into rancor and sometimes hooliganism.
As social media trickles deeper into our <strikethrough>professional</strikethrough> lives, does it raise the stakes on the repercussions of our magnets and filters? Should we just have faith that the positive pole of the magnet will see us through?
David,
Thank you for the great question.
Yes, participation in social media does raise the stakes. In web 1.0 a creator of a website promoting some racist, deviant or other wise socially unacceptable cause ran little risk of their online activity being discovered by a coworker or potential employer. But now if that same person participates in social media they create an online footprint that is difficult to hide from and even harder to erase. Similarly, if one just happens to pontificate in an obnoxious manner, they too run the risk of negative consequences. Big brother may be watching, and so too may be your neighbor, child, and potential employer. Google your own name if you have not already.
The good news is that what is happening is that the world is just becoming smaller again. Was there any privacy in Mayberry? No. How about the neighborhood your grandparents grew up in? No. People did "reference checks" at their place of worship, or likely it was all together redundant, like when you end up hiring someone with whom you previously worked. People used to live in row houses with window open...before that, grass huts.....caves. We really knew "every bodies business"
The really good news is that if you are not a jerk, and actually use social media for adding value to the world, be it through promoting civic causes, exploring constructive hobbies, being an online mentor, or simply entertaining yourself and others, then that to is there for all to see. When you next employer Googles your name they may discover something that gives them the idea that you are more that the eleventh resume in their stack of 40.