Voices of the Young(er than me)

From our new guest blogger, Terry McKenzie, at Sun Microsystems...

Last night, our son and two of his friends joined us for dinner. Over corn-on-the-cob and barbecued chicken, we talked about the worst jobs we'd ever had (I think the prize went to our son's friend, Bill, who dresses up in black and goes out in the wee hours to post signs on freeway entrances/exits advertising slightly sleazy web sites - although we agreed that the worst job on earth might be standing at major interesections in the hot sun, waving a big sign for open houses or whatever.) and other items that bridged generations.

But I was especially taken by the lively discussion amongst the three of them (ages 23, 23 and 25) about Facebook, MySpace and text messaging.  So here I am, sitting with those whom many web creators consider a target demographic, and here's what they had to say:

• Myspace - still the best site.  Best functionality. Most friends on it
• Facebook - use it for sharing photography.  But just plain irritating features such as "Poke" seem to be pointless - why poke someone?  Why not just do something more social...like text message them?
• Text messaging - air and water.
• Twitter - huh? 
• E-mail - e-what?
• Friend lists - is there some sort of contest for having the longest list?  Why do people I haven't seen in years want me to be their friends?  Don't get it.
• Purpose of social networking - to figure out where to meet, what's going on, swap the latest news.
• E-communication versus letter-writing - why do people assume that just because you like to write letters or communicate in more than three words that you don't get it?
• Future of e-communication - sadly, we'll probably get to the point where we'll be hardwired so that you know everything everyone is doing.  And that will be the end of thinking and creativity, because we'll be so overwhelmed finding out what everyone is doing right this second.

So communicators, take heed.  Social networking is for ... social networking.  We need to really think about the purpose of communication at our companies, and about the social aspect of work to make this an effective tool.  And meanwhile, don't go "poking" me! I gather it's just not done...

Comments

[Alex Manchester]

Interesting post Terry, and further evidence that discussions on social networks are dominating conversation of all ages and situations. I've lost count of the chats about Facebook, MySpace, what's it for, who uses it etc. It seems to be a universal topic at the moment.

I'd also agree with the verdict on Super Pokes and the like. So far the Facebook Friend Wheel app is the most useful I've found - mainly because it makes a social network analysis lots of nice pretty colours ;-)

[Annie Waite]

What did they think of Second Life? There was an article in The Independent over the weekend detailing how a real estate broker (I think) had managed to notch up a fairly tasty looking profit from doing business via Second Life.

And a press release popped up in my inbox today about how New Business Horizons (NBH - www.nbhorizons.com), a Second Life (SL) full service developer, is launching an art gallery - Art on the Horizon - in its SL business park, Blue Horizons, featuring real work by a real artist, Theresa Jones (www.neworleansjazz.org/theresa.html).

[Terry McKenzie]

Interesting. In fact, they were fascinated by it - not so much to be participants as much as the idea of making a living in virtual space. On the other hand, my son has stayed away from 2nd Life because he knows from past experience with video games that he can end up "addicted" and do nothing but stare at a screen for hours on end. In fact

[Victoria Mellor]

I love Facebook, but am having a hard time convincing some of my aged friends that it would be a great way of keeping in touch between changing nappies and supervising homework. I also have to check myself not to “gush” too much about social media with friends and family and run the risk of “trying too hard”.

Back to work though. Terry, I think your point about communicators stepping back and thinking about the social aspects of work is important. At the risk of repeating myself, I see too many communicators trying to implement social media in organisations that just aren’t culturally ready. As always it’s about stepping back from the technology and thinking how these tools will better communication at work.