Hardwired to be Social

As Humans, we are hardwired to be social.  When we hear the words ‘social media’ the first thought to come to mind should be ‘social’.  Social media is not about the technology or the media, it is about our human capacity to be social. 

In the world of Web 2.0  technology is often the focus as we wrestle with coming to grips with all the new advances on our mobiles and laptops.  This technology is triggered by our natural capacity and desire to be social.  Gossieaux and Moran emphasise the need to focus on Human 1.0 to understand Web 2.0.

Reciprocity in Communities

Human 1.0 centres on our natural inclination to live in communities.  Evolutionary biologists highlight that  people naturally want to help others and to be helped.  This exchange of services is caused by a reflex called reciprocity.  In modern day online forums and communities that continue to form we see this reciprocity in action.  Just the other day I was struggling to understand an issue with my LinkedIn profile.  I found my way to the Help Forum on the LindedIn site, posted my question and frustration, and within minutes had the answer to solve my issue.  Reciprocity in action.

Platform of Participation

Tim O’Reilly refers to ‘social media’ as a ‘platform of participation’.  Online communities are growing with advances in technology that allow us to connect in mobile ways like never seen before in human history. The social applications that we download and use are allowing us to behave in a way that is in line with who we are as humans.

The technological tools allow us to be human, to be social, are accessible and affordable.  I mentor speakers in Toastmasters and have found that an easy way to assist is through the creation of YouTube videos offering advice and suggestions.  This blog I am writing at the moment is a way for me to transfer reflections from readings.  It allows me to share my thoughts with a wider, potentially global, audience to encourage discussion and collaboration on similar issues.

In summary, the main driver for what is happening today is not the technology but our natural human desire and capacity to be social.  As we become participants in these platforms we are narrowing the gap between when we think and when we communicate.  Knowledge and information is in a state of flow and allows us to assist each other in the communities join and form.  Social Media, spurred by advances in technology, is allowing humans to do what they do be, to be social.

References

Gossieaux, F., & Moran, E. (2010) The Hyper-Social Organization. New York: McGraw Hill.