I never thought social networking would catch on. I’m happy to admit that I got it wrong.
Some years ago I was discussing with a colleague the merits of social networking and was struggling to understand what it was all about. As he tried to explain to me the intricacies of the still to emerge technology, I poo pooed it, by stating that people just wouldn’t share what was in their heads. After all knowledge was power right?
Why would anyone share their knowledge and skills with anyone else for free? And why on earth would anybody decide to tell the on-line world what they were doing or thinking whenever they felt like it? “Nonsense”, I shouted, as I went off back into my shell. “Never work” I cried.
But of course, time has proved me wrong. Facebook and mySpace took the world by storm, swiftly followed by Twitter, plus numerous other social media outlets. Crikey now we’ve all got accounts and blogs (well except the bloke who sits opposite me at work and I have to tell him about parties that he’s about to miss out on, because he doesn’t use anything other than the phone, text and email) and a number of other ways of keeping in touch with others virtually. And we can share it instantaneously with whoever wishes to read/view/listen by pressing a button.
It’s also bought us access to loads of stuff we wouldn’t have thought possible a few years ago. As I write this I’m listening to an album that I know I’ve got on LP, but can’t be bothered to go and dig out of my (John Peel like) library, so I’ve tuned into Spotify, and there it is in all its glory. Be Bop Deluxe “Sunburst Finish” since you ask. Great band. Great cover. You can find it at………….oh you know where.
Social media has made the world smaller. Mostly for the good, but sometimes not so good. That’s why we need governance. But we only need a small amount of governance. It’s pretty straightforward as far as I’m concerned; outline the rules, communicate the rules and then let people adhere to them. Most people want to be good corporate citizens, and those that don’t, well deal with them in the approriate manner. Don’t penalise everyone because some idiots decide they’re different and fancy chancing their arms.
So I’ve gone from nay sayer to “Yes, I’m having some of this.”
As we decide what social networking widgets we introduce into the forthcoming new BBC intranet homepage, and make available across the estate, we have a challenge. Do we provide all the new “cool” stuff or do we keep it simple and merely allow personalisation so BBC folk can decide for themselves?
I think it will be a combo of mandatory information, customisation based on what we know about them and letting users do what they want. So long as they adhere to the rules of course.
No point in having it any other way is there?
Note; This post contains personal views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated.
