Facebook is the obvious example of a very successful social network. Still, there is more social than a like and a poke. Social is the glue that ties us all together, and the only reason why it is suddenly so popular is that, with computers, these previously hidden or translucent ties are now becoming visible. And once they are visible, they can be acted upon and used. So let’s look beyond Facebook, likes and pokes, and see what else social can mean for us.
Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten (Amsterdam) has founded TheNextWeb.com, a worldwide top-10 blog focused on new technology, where he frequently writes about entrepreneurship, social media and technology. He was named Technology Trend Watcher of the Year, and has founded and sold several internet companies like PressDoc.com, TwitterCounter.com and
Spread.us.
Social glue
Rather a few good friends than 300 acquaintances
Right now a lot of people are very busy with social networking. We spend time accepting connection requests on LinkedIn and reaching out to long-lost friends on Facebook. Although that is all fine and enjoyable, it is also rather one-dimensional. We network with the benefit of networking, but without a motive beyond expanding our own network. Having a large network, with a lot of “friends”, seems cool. But we all agree that having two or three really good friends is much more rewarding than having 300 acquaintances. There must be a goal to social networking beyond, well, social networking.
On some networks it’s ok to have 300 friends; it’s less private what you share, and you are aware of that. Still, you want to be prudent in which friend requests you accept; for example, in Foursquare, your friends are the people who will be notified of your every move.
Boris:“So let’s look beyond Facebook, likes and pokes, and see what else social can mean for us. ”
Social Tools
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Cardcloud
Many business travelers run into a problem every once in a while: they run out of their business cards, and they have no time to order a new set on such short notice. Meeting many people in different places brings with it a second issue: people forget who they met, when, or where. Paper is elegant and simple, but it doesn’t meet today’s demands for quick followups and instant digitalization.It’s available for free on the iTunes app store, and will be joined with an Android counterpart shortly. It’s the only business card you’ll ever need.
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Empire Avenues
The social stock market where you can earn money for your social activities. Depending on what you share, where you share it and how big your network and online influence is, your shares increase or decrease in value. It’s an addictive game that gives you some inside information about what’s important and what’s not. -
Klout
Want to know what sort of social media sharer you are, and how the people you read your posts appreciate you? What you are influential about? Whether it’s your blog, Twitter or Facebook behavior, Instagram or Flickr photo uploads, or your LinkedIn business network, Klout tracks everything you do!
A social layer
But with social networking as young and promising as it is today, it will take a few more years before the dust settles down and we can start to focus on applying that social layer to other services. Right now the magic of adding social to any service, and possibly seeing it skyrocket, is too blindingly attractive.
Boris:“There must be a goal to social networking beyond, well, social networking.”
Boris:“Don’t think globally, but universally”
Social eye
Social networking is a great discovery, and has been responsible for some phenomenal growth these past few years. It is also a tool for which we are still finding new uses. It isn’t the answer to all our problems, and we won’t generate more users than there are people on the planet. But it does seem like an extremely powerful and interesting phenomenon that you should be aware of. Keep an eye on what’s happening, dare to look forward and think of the social uses you’re missing. What is the future of social going to be? A social layer, social isn’t only about online or mobile. It’s in your car, your grocery store, at the drycleaner’s. All the processes that have been made automated can have a social layer.
