Digital Socializing?
This is one term I have
not been able to understand, despite having read about it, having discussed
with colleagues and being enlightened by the Gurus (read it as, “who practice
it day-in day out”) of this philosophy. No, it is not because I do not want to
understand, or I can’t appreciate the understanding given by these individuals
(or shall I say “proponents of this belief”). Rather, I’m unable to understand
the excessive need of this, and the value creation of organizations providing
these services.
Of course, if you look
at the dictionary meaning of “Socialize”, one may argue, it is another form of
socializing. As ultimately, it means and fulfill the need of “to associate” /
“fraternize” / “go out” / “hobnob” / “mingle” / “mix”. Everything is fine;
however, doing that over internet is something that I find a little hard to
understand. I keep asking one question, “What
is the need that this medium satisfies”?
Is it medium to communicate?
Is it for people to share their happiness / sorrow? Is it a medium to express
oneself? Is it a forum to make new friends? Well, established users of this
forum will answer in affirmative to all. May be, they are right; however, it is
from their perspective, i.e. end users perspective. But, is it same for the
people who own these “mediums”?
Isn’t this ironic, when
we see some new face through eyepiece of our home door, we start having doubts
in our mind. We will be very cautious over providing information, or providing
access to our home, unless we scrutinize the information on that person to our
satisfaction. However, we share our personal information, photographs, our
fights, social calls, achievements…virtually everything without giving a second
thought. Since, when either us or governments across the globe had been so
confident about security of data shared over these sites that we do not feel
any hesitance in sharing all of this information?
Every single day, we
have news on misuse of this data, or medium, by anti-social elements to make
victim of unsuspecting member(s). Still we share our personal data, our day’s
happenings…why?
Is it truly socializing?
We are sharing information, right? Is sharing information is equivalent to
socializing? If not, then why do we term these mediums / internet sites as
“Social Media” sites?
This list of arguments
and questions keeps coming, and that is why I have doubts on the efficacy of
this medium as means to socialize.
I am a little perplexed
because I want to understand the true need for this from end user as well
supplier perspective. Being, in business, I believe even the providers of these
services want to make money. Nothing wrong with it, as you need finances to
host huge data center, keep staff to maintain the site…so, they have to have a
commercially sound business model to support their “service”; in essence, to be
in business. Well, they are not providing a utility service, where they charge
their customers, either through “pay per use” or by any other model. Then, how
do they keep their finances up?
Well, of course,
advertising is one. But do you get so much of funds through advertising alone?
When TBs of data get added every passed hour, worldwide, what is the scale of
data centers they require world over, as it does not stop with persisting data
alone; rather, involves, scale, performance, redundancy etc. The “Premium”
accounts are more towards being “less restrictive” on usage of site (of course,
may be with higher storage space); however, again, there does not seem to be
any other utility driven service. What is the catch?
Let’s develop it
further, if the sources of income are “advertising” and “premium” account
subscriptions only, then what do they do with the stored data? It is just being
kept there, so that when you want to access it, it can be pulled on your
request? Well, the answer lies in promotions that you get as per your habits,
pings that you get from vendors as per your shared “tastes”, search results
that you get as per your “liking”…the list goes on. What it essentially means
that your data is getting analyzed and patterns / categories are being formed
to classify your information. What it also means, the more you share the more
refined results you get. WoW! Interesting, isn’t it?
Hell, No! What it means
that your information is in public domain, and have the potential of being used
somewhere else, where you least expected. Please note, “potentially”, as now
the information is no longer privy to you. Is that what you signed up for?
On the flip side, if
suppliers do not do these analytics, the relevance of their search, promotions,
and sell would be least effective, resulting in poor customer experience, and
potential retrenchment. What an irony.
Now, let’s focus on end
user. They just want to share information, right? Well, for what? Why am I so
interested in showcasing my new card, wardrobe addition, hobby, pains, joys,
sorrows, achievements, frustrations, promotion…all of my emotions and information
that in normal circumstances would like to share with my near and dear ones; is
getting spilled on public domain. Of course, supplier ensure that information
is accessible as per “security” model enforced on that site; however, the fact
is it is getting stored on some server somewhere on this planet.
We term it socializing! In
reality, it is Me, My and Myself. Others, have a limited choice to “react” to
your display for emotions, that too, as an “information post” and not in a
continuing dialogue form. It is non obtrusive, agree; however, would you go to
this extent, to remove that obtrusiveness? In my view, it is void of emotions,
rather it is a selective display of self that you want to portray to other at
any given point in time. However, either because of paucity of time, or lack of
interest (or simply because of lethargy) you want to let it display over an
“electronic board” for people to read and react to it. It is a simple game of
seeking attention, by letting world know what you think.
But is it truly socializing?
Just by “like” or responding to comments / pictures of someone else, are you
serving any cause? It may help you in sharing the information with like mindset
people; however, making it a movement, is something that cannot be achieved
through this. Spending hours together on socializing through picture sharing,
posting messages, or PDA; however, without seeing them for days / months /
years together! Have all kind of ailments in the process; neck pain, lower back
pain, stiff neck muscles, wrist pain etc. At least I’m unable to understand
this kind of socialization where people feel near to each other and yet they
find themselves miles apart from reality, OR “in touch with convenience and as
per their liking but from comforts of their couch”.
How long will it last?
More than that what do we achieve out of this and at what cost? To me, we still
do not meet people and either get or provide the warmth of touch and joy of
being there when someone need you the most. We want to share the information on
materialistic gains, provide our thoughts to people (with a hope that they
would read), vote our liking for a cause but without participating in it or
toiling for it, and may be the biggest dichotomy, socializing without actually
socializing.
May be I’m getting old,
or belong to dinosaur’s era. So, let me leave you with some thoughts:
1) Why is that after spending hours on social sites,
every day, you still feel the need to “connect”?
2) Why is that you feel possessive about your belongings
and information; however, are so eager to share over the net, knowing that it
is getting stored in public domain?
3) Why are we have more and more instances of identity
theft?
4) Why do we need this forum?
