Social Hallucinations

Social(istic) Media or The Rise of the New Capitalism?

From now and then, there are voices talking about the digital media and the possibilities they bring - the driving force behind the new socialism era. But the question is whether the possibilities created by the digital media make socialism possible, or whether what we see is the rise of the new capitalism.

Image via Wikipedia

Socialism (latin societas - community) is the ambiguous term, referring to attempts to reduce social inequality and the spread of social services, treatment or management of social control through state institutions, local government, corporation or cooperative). What's common for various types of socialism is partial or total rejection of  the idea of capitalist free market, the restriction of private property and promotion of the idea of social justice. The aim was to build a socialistic society without poverty, where market forces are not the primary mechanism for distribution of wealth and where the functioning of society is based on common ownership, mutual cooperation and altruism. Beautiful idea but never proved to work (or fail - as it is not compatible with human nature). We are herd animals, but every herd needs the leader and clearly defined roles to ensure the proper functioning and survival of the group.

The whole problem with socialism is that the idea of socialism looks good on paper:

You have two cows. The government takes them and puts in the cowshed with other cows. You have to look after all the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.

Image by publicenergy via Flickr

Then you have the real socialism (which I experienced and would never recommend to anyone as one of the most humiliating systems to an individual and humanity):

You have two cows. The government takes them and puts in the cowshed with other cows that is taken care of by a former poultry farmer. You have to deal with the chickens, which the government took away from the farmers who are in charge of cowsheds. The government gives you as much milk and eggs as law allows, not as much as you need.

Third option is the national socialism - total exploitation, mean capitalism in disguise:

You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to care for them and sells you the milk with the flag state.

Sharing, cooperation and collaboration that are characteristic for the social media aren't quite working in the socialism, because there are always institutions watching and controlling the sharing or collaboration and trying to regulate those with laws. Maybe not a bad idea, but where regulations and power are involved, the inequalities usually emerge.
Of course there are also some positive sides in socialism, because it focuses on the common good but I can't see its chances to thrive in the world where people value their privacy and right to property. We are too independent and focused on our own success and own profits, driven by our needs. The value is YOU. Youniverse & Meritocracy are what drives the digital media evolution.

What we observe today is the rise of the new networked capitalism with intellect as the form of social capital that increases with use and the new digital opportunities are facilitators that drive the intellect growth. The value of the corporations in the new capitalism era - cognitive capitalism - comes from their ability to create new communication tools (Google), connect people (Facebook, Twitter), etc. Personal drivers as taste, creativity plays a huge role in the production process (Nike ID, Aston Martin). The property rights in relation to intellectual property also dramatically change (Napster).

In the industrial capitalism machines sucked workers in, depersonalized and automatized work, today computers / software sucked our knowledge, mashed it up and customized it getting it available and usable / reusable at every click. The question is not longer how much you produce but how much you manage to seed. The more you seed the more growth you create. What justify the existence and enhances the power of our ideas are their ability to spread and inseminate other minds (self-promotion happens to be quite effective insemination technique when used right) - twitter, blogs etc. being the tools helping on the way. It means social media has nothing to do with socialism except first 6 letters, they are the new capitalistic means of production and seeding. The question whether they contribute to the common wealth or satisfy egoistic needs and ambitions, I will leave open for now...

Image by diankarl*www.diankarlina.com* via Flickr

Sources:

Capitalisme cognitif (Le):nouvelle grande transformation, Moulier Boutang Yann

The New Socialism: Global Collectivist Society Is Coming Online, Wired

Is Web 2.0 Fragmented?

We all remeber the picture that showed how fragmented Web 2.0 we are living in. Plenty of start-ups, companies, tools, applications, communities - all designed for people. The picture gave many headache, how on earth one could deal and reach to people through so many channels, how to decide which is better and which will survive as the hippest and most popular platform users decided to choose.

3 years passed and the picture changed. Some companies suffered from the natural death, some were aquired and died. Suddenly the world of Web 2.0 doesn't seem so complex as Web 2.0 is like everything else the subject of the laws of nature.

A pink cross means that the company is dead now.

Green circles mark companies that got acquired.

A cross and circle mark companies that were acquired but still closed shop.

Two greens circles means that the company was acquired twice in the same period.

via Meish

Photo credit Meg Picard& Stabilo Boss

Internet is about experiences

...and banner advertising seems so primitive in the eyes of this website experience
Internet opens the door for the whole new world of the new immersive experiences and all we need is the idea and the right context to create them.

Web Trend Map 2009 - the power of visualization

The new web trend map for 2009 is ready.

333 most influential web domains and 111 the most influential Internet people put onto the Tokyo metro map.

Walled Gardens of Newspapers

"...But people don’t use the Times less than they did a decade ago. They use it more. The difference is that today they don’t have to pay for it. The real problem for newspapers, in other words, isn’t the Internet; it’s us. We want access to everything, we want it now, and we want it for free. That’s a consumer’s dream, but eventually it’s going to collide with reality: if newspapers’ profits vanish, so will their product." James Surowiecki, The New Yorker.

Newspapers should face the truth that they are not in newspaper industry but in information sector. Their job is to inform people and Image via Wikipediamake sure the news find the way to them as they want, not like newspapers want.
For sure there is the need for well paid journalists who can deliver high quality journalism and I am sure there will always be people who are willing to pay for quality content. As Surowiecki points out at the end of his article:

"(...)For a while now, readers have had the best of both worlds: all the benefits of the old, high-profit regime—intensive reporting, experienced editors, and so on—and the low costs of the new one. But that situation can’t last. Soon enough, we’re going to start getting what we pay for, and we may find out just how little that is."

Problem arises when we stick into channel and can't look outside its walls. Paper is just a carrier, there can still be delivered outstanding journalism online. It is content people are looking after and they are willing to pay for unique content that is interesting them. Newspapers tend to think about online in terms of accessibility, but it also has another dimension - exclusivity, where content becomes the socially desired object. Relevancy and quality are the key.
It is incredible to hear from the chief editor of Kristelig Dagblad - Erik Bjerager - that "Online media aren't able to replace newspapers at the moment".
It seems like there is no hope if this the mindset driving that industry. Ignorance? Fear of change? Lack of imagination?
We perceive ourselves as the innovative society, that is ahead of the game, but we are locked in the jail of thinking based on opposites - black vs. white, online vs. offline - industrial way of thinking. The way that makes it easier for us to create predictable routines. Today, we are living in liquid era where things merge, divide, transgress. We need to adapt to stay tuned.

Some say about the need of finding a business model, but the best business model is in first place to understand what drives people behavior and choices and then provide services products that are relevant, in other words - to get things done properly.

Sharing Matters

The world is inhabited by great people with great ideas. By sharing stuff you make possible for those minds to meet and create new connections and ideas.

via SwissMiss

Collaboration Knows No Borders

We, humans wouldn't survive without the ability and possibility to communicate. Communication and collaboration with others is what helps the herd to survive and make progress, develop and create. Collaboration was rather limited by the physical space. Internet added the new feature to our herd experience, it removed borders and enhanced the power of people and power of collaboration. Suddenly, what for 50 years was unthinkable, has become a reality today. 237 people from all over the world, joined the project Age of Conversation: Why don't they get it and created stories. 237 not only shared their thoughts and contributed to the collective mind and understanding of the times we are living in, but also thanks to Drew and Gavin wanted to give back to society and give the money earned on selling the book to charity.
I am happy to be a part of this project. And below you will the list of all contributors.

As of Wednesday, October 29, 8 A.M. (U.S. EST) the Age of Conversation 2 will be available for purchase at Lulu So, don't wait, just go and buy it, either in e-book version or hard copy.

You can read more about the project, listen to interviews with authors, got to know who they are on the Age of Conversation 2 blog as well as follow updates on AOC2 Twitter

Meet 237 co-authors of The Age of Conversation 2

Adrian Ho, Aki Spicer, Alex Henault, Amy Jussel, Andrew Odom, Andy Nulman, Andy Sernovitz, Andy Whitlock, Angela Maiers, Ann Handley, Anna Farmery, Armando Alves, Arun Rajagopal, Asi Sharabi, Becky Carroll, Becky McCray, Bernie Scheffler, Bill Gammell, Bob LeDrew, Brad Shorr, Brandon Murphy, Branislav Peric, Brent Dixon, Brett Macfarlane, Brian Reich, C.C. Chapman, Cam Beck, Casper Willer, Cathleen Rittereiser, Cathryn Hrudicka, Cedric Giorgi, Charles Sipe, Chris Kieff, Chris Cree, Chris Wilson, Christina Kerley (CK), C.B. Whittemore, Chris Brown, Connie Bensen, Connie Reece, Corentin Monot, Craig Wilson, Daniel Honigman, Dan Schawbel, Dan Sitter, Daria Radota Rasmussen, Darren Herman, Dave Davison, David Armano, David Berkowitz, David Koopmans, David Meerman Scott, David Petherick, David Reich, David Weinfeld, David Zinger, Deanna Gernert, Deborah Brown, Dennis Price, Derrick Kwa, Dino Demopoulos, Doug Haslam, Doug Meacham, Doug Mitchell, Douglas Hanna, Douglas Karr, Drew McLellan, Duane Brown, Dustin Jacobsen, Dylan Viner, Ed Brenegar, Ed Cotton, Efrain Mendicuti, Ellen Weber, Eric Peterson, Eric Nehrlich, Ernie Mosteller, Faris Yakob, Fernanda Romano, Francis Anderson, Gareth Kay, Gary Cohen, Gaurav Mishra, Gavin Heaton, Geert Desager, George Jenkins, G.L. Hoffman, Gianandrea Facchini, Gordon Whitehead, Greg Verdino, Gretel Going & Kathryn Fleming, Hillel Cooperman, Hugh Weber, J. Erik Potter, James Gordon-Macintosh, Jamey Shiels, Jasmin Tragas, Jason Oke, Jay Ehret, Jeanne Dininni, Jeff De Cagna, Jeff Gwynne & Todd Cabral, Jeff Noble, Jeff Wallace, Jennifer Warwick, Jenny Meade, Jeremy Fuksa, Jeremy Heilpern, Jeroen Verkroost, Jessica Hagy, Joanna Young, Joe Pulizzi, John Herrington, John Moore, John Rosen, John Todor, Jon Burg, Jon Swanson, Jonathan Trenn, Jordan Behan, Julie Fleischer, Justin Foster, Karl Turley, Kate Trgovac, Katie Chatfield, Katie Konrath, Kenny Lauer, Keri Willenborg, Kevin Jessop, Kristin Gorski, Lewis Green, Lois Kelly, Lori Magno, Louise Manning, Luc Debaisieux, Mario Vellandi, Mark Blair, Mark Earls, Mark Goren, Mark Hancock, Mark Lewis, Mark McGuinness, Matt Dickman, Matt J. McDonald, Matt Moore, Michael Karnjanaprakorn, Michelle Lamar, Mike Arauz, Mike McAllen, Mike Sansone, Mitch Joel, Neil Perkin, Nettie Hartsock, Nick Rice, Oleksandr Skorokhod, Ozgur Alaz, Paul Chaney, Paul Hebert, Paul Isakson, Paul McEnany, Paul Tedesco, Paul Williams, Pet Campbell, Pete Deutschman, Peter Corbett, Phil Gerbyshak, Phil Lewis, Phil Soden, Piet Wulleman, Rachel Steiner, Sreeraj Menon, Reginald Adkins, Richard Huntington, Rishi Desai, Robert Hruzek, Roberta Rosenberg, Robyn McMaster, Roger von Oech, Rohit Bhargava, Ron Shevlin, Ryan Barrett, Ryan Karpeles, Ryan Rasmussen, Sam Huleatt, Sandy Renshaw, Scott Goodson, Scott Monty, Scott Townsend, Scott White, Sean Howard, Sean Scott, Seni Thomas, Seth Gaffney, Shama Hyder, Sheila Scarborough, Sheryl Steadman, Simon Payn, Sonia Simone, Spike Jones, Stanley Johnson, Stephen Collins, Stephen Landau, Stephen Smith, Steve Bannister, Steve Hardy, Steve Portigal, Steve Roesler, Steven Verbruggen, Steve Woodruff, Sue Edworthy, Susan Bird, Susan Gunelius, Susan Heywood, Tammy Lenski, Terrell Meek, Thomas Clifford, Thomas Knoll, Tim Brunelle, Tim Connor, Tim Jackson, Tim Mannveille, Tim Tyler, Timothy Johnson, Tinu Abayomi-Paul, Toby Bloomberg, Todd Andrlik, Troy Rutter, Troy Worman, Uwe Hook, Valeria Maltoni, Vandana Ahuja, Vanessa DiMauro, Veronique Rabuteau, Wayne Buckhanan, William Azaroff, Yves Van Landeghem

World Map of Social Networks

Found at Oxyweb

social media, map, world

Customized Advertising Space

Idea is fantastic! Imagine webpages where you could fill out advertising space with things you are interested in and care for. Bold idea from Papercut in Sweden.

Internet is Disconnected

When you think about is, it is true. Plenty of information that isn't connected and can't be connected in easy way. Mash-ups are not spread as we would believe. But we are on the way to become more connected by ubiquitous mashing-up. See yourself.

Ubiquity for Firefox from Aza Raskin on Vimeo.

internet, mash up, Firefox

Social Hallucinations Goes Mobile

Thanks to Neil I've found a smart service that allows you to create mobile site for your blog for free. It is called MoFuse.

I like applications that a so easy to set up.

Here is link to Social Hallucinations mobile site: http://socialhallucinations.mofuse.mobi/ . There is also a MoFuse badge in the sidebar.

mobile internet, MoFuse

What Monks Has to Do with IT Rage

Put together THIS ..

... with THIS

"Patience is one of the characteristics of monastic life, but even the patience of the brothers was being tested by our slow dial-up internet service," said Father Daniel, the Abbot of Caldey Abbey.

When it comes to IT and gadgets we are all equal and expect reliability and speed. :-)

via Charles Firth and PSFK

IT

Internet is The Most Influential Medium

Digital Influence Index study from PR firm Fleishman-Hillard and research firm Harris Interactive covering the impact of the internet on consumer behavior (UK, France and Germany), suggests that the internet is twice as influential as television and eight times as influential as print media.

The internet is the most important medium in the lives of Europeans, they use it to seek information and product reviews that are to some extent a base for their decisions. In the UK, for example, 66% declared that the internet helps them to make better decisions, only 28% said that they trust the information companies provide on the web. They visit the corporate sites when they are ready to buy or interact with company. Internet behavior is driven by trust to other people that makes this medium so different and more powerful than traditional media. The latter one suffer from the scarcity of trust and authority. This takes us back to people trust people model as the most powerful communication tool.

Internet is definitely the most underinvested media group. Marketers underestimate its power and aren't keen to try the new ways to communication. We stick to what we know. The key fact is the you can influence your audience by creating smart connections with your consumers and by adding value to their life.

The fact of Internet being eight times as influential as print requires at least giving a thought to your budget split and taking a step forward by exploring how Internet can be used within your business. And I am not talking about banner advertising.

You can download the whole report here.

Found at Matt Dickman blog

internet, influence, Fleishman-Hillard, Harris Interactive, media spend, people trust people

The Exact Center of the Internet

Internet is the fascinating universe full of ideas. Have you ever wondered whether this universe has it is center? I've always struggled with those questions. Where universe starts and ends? Does it have a centre? Those questions gives you headache because no one really knows how time and space hangs together. Universe is endless and it is impossible to embrace it. So I was kind of disappointed to find the exact center of the internet. It means Internet has boundaries. It means Internet has the beginning and the end. it kills my idea of Internet as endless universe with endless ideas and never ending stories. Along with having the exact center became Internet just a planet.

... fortunately this is a joke! So my idea can stay alive.

taggalaxy, internet, the exact center of the internet

Submerged in Technology

I've found a fascinating series of photography by Evan Baden called Illuminati in filemagazine. He captured people "enlighten" by the light of technology. Their faces express astonishment, they look hypnotized and totally submerged. It is like they've seen the light and choose to follow it to find the truth, to find the answers. Those pictures are for me the illustration of belief that technology became extension of ours. We are no longer isolated individuals, we are connected via those technological extensions. The technology creates environment itself and place for us to exists, act and self-realize.