First, we social networked through computers, which are fast but not always accessible. More recently, the iPhone has made computers an optional extra in the ability to get on social networking sites, with more and more people updating their statuses through texting.
Now, according to Times Online and TechCrunch blogs, it looks like the mobile phone is going step up another notch. Proximity technology (like mobile phone GPS) + Social networking (like Facebook) = The new generation of social networking.
You walk into a party and can't remember someone's name. No hassle. Just pull out your trusty mobile, which can detect satellites and other mobiles around you, and look the person up, along with other stats.
You walk into a party and don't know anyone. No problem. Pulling out your mobile, bang! you discover you have a mutual friend or a common interest with someone 10m away from you. Conversation sorted.
You walk into a party and are hoping to meet someone single. Not a worry. Pull out your mobile and look it up. It's easy.
This mobile-centric version of social networking definitely seems like the logical step for social networks. But there are definite limitations that I can see. People will want to join to be part of a community, but the community's success depends entirely on having enough people on it to make it worthwhile joining... kind of a vicious cycle. Additionally, privacy is a big issue. Do you really want any random on the street being able to look up your personal details?
And I have to say, Mike Harvey in the Times Online article makes a lot of sense when he suggests:
...in the end, are mobile social networks not just a nerdy replacement for people simply talking to each other? As one blogger put it: “I am pretty sure that an actual conversation will do the same thing. Is this the evolution of geek dating?”
Well... what do you guys think? Is this the future of social networking? Anyone heard any other theories?
Gosh, I certainly hope it isn't the future of social networking! I think Mike Harvey is right - this does seem to be a case of the ol' geek dating. Part of the ironic quality of social networking is while it "connects" people it also puts up barriers which wouldn't happen with physical interaction. I am a fan of Facebook and the likes but at the end of the day nothing beats simple face to face conversation when it comes to meeting people.
ReplyDeleteI think the flip side though that is worth thinking about (which I talked about in a recent post http://damdau.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/email-forwards-may-help-build-productive-relationships/) is that face-to-face interaction requires good knowledge of social cues and non-verbals which means in cases it can be less effective. These things are usually considered what's left out of digital communication and is given as the reason why face-to-face trumps computer-to-computer, but it's worth thinking of them as a hurdle as well.
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