Social Media provides the tools and motivation necessary to create dynamic and nontraditional groups and enhance their communication. I personally experienced the power this dynamic organization and live communication this week with the unrest and revolution in Kyrgyzstan. In 2008, I participated in a Habitat for Humanity Build in Bishkek, the capital, and became fast friends with several of the people there. We also became Facebook friends at that time. This week, one of these friends posted information about the violence and revolution occurring there. It was the first time I had a personal connection to a global story literally half way around the world.
This example illustrates several of the implications of social media. However, the range of impact of these technologies spans more than news and political information. It includes education as discussed this week by Will Richardson with his description of the formation of “learning spaces online.” He ties Web 2.0 in education to the formation of learners with similar interests into self-forming groups. This theme is expanded by Clay Shirky in Here Comes Everybody.
Humans have always formed groups for a variety of reasons ranging from basic survival to religion to personal interests. As global population has increased and the ability for much of this population to communicate and meet electronically through the Internet, it has become possible to form much more specialized groups with specific interest or goals.
- Fellow hunter gatherers
- Farming communities
- Cities and commercial centers
- School classroom connections
- Co-workers at a company
- Micro causes (wolf protection in the Northern Rockies)
- Major event followers (Kyrgyzstan, Thailand)
- Students studying a subject (not necessarily in the same class or even the same school)
- Professional networks such as LinkedIn
The final and perhaps most interesting aspect of self group creation in political media is the connection of groups to humanitarian causes, educational endeavors, and political initiatives. This activity might have significant impacts in places like Kyrgyzstan when unrest develops and previously unorganized and disenfranchised peoples can connect and communicate. The impact of self-organizing groups and social media communication can be far reaching. Imagine what might be have been different if Anne Frank could have written a Blog instead of a diary.
Shirky, C. (2008). Here comes everybody: The power of organizing without organizations. New York, NY: The Penguin Press.
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