Authored By:Subramanian KS:
In the recently released, 'The Social Network', Eduardo Saverin makes a statement about genius programmer and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg's creation, Facebook: "In a world where social structure was everything, that was THE thing." He refers to the very idea of of Facebook: Using an innocuous website to break into social barriers that inhibit people from getting to know each other. How does one take a seemingly simple idea, and use it to aid (or transform?) the evolution of social order? An idea that cuts across class, race, religion, mindset, the very DNA of society. The answer: 'Exclusivity'. A socially inept, self-confessed geek, Mark Zuckerberg was a revered programmer at Harvard.
But despite his programming super-powers, he struggled to make many friends. He had no social life. What really pinched him was that no matter how hard he tried, he was never admitted into exclusive Harvard Clubs, like the 'Phoenix'. So he took this very idea of exclusivity and incorporated it into his creation. Unlike a dating site, which requires you to shell out money to get in, you 'got into' Facebook only if you knew people: Acquaintances, colleagues at work, long-lost roommates, ex-bosses, potential employers, high-school crushes, and so on. But the difference between clubs like the Phoenix and Facebook was that you did not have to go through rigorous selection processes to become a member. The only accept-reject criterion was based on who you wanted to be friends with, and who wanted to be friends with you. You formed your very own 'exclusive' circle of friends.
You decided who would be in this circle and who wouldn't. These very people, who you became 'Friends' with, willingly shared all kinds of valuable information about their lives: pictures, relationship and employment statuses, even their 'thoughts' became public information. In a nutshell, (almost) everything that you needed to know about a person was proudly displayed by that very same person, online. And you, as a fellow Facebook user, reciprocated in equal terms, creating a public profile that defined you as a person. It might sound simple to most of us, but in a world garbled with too much information, separating the wheat from the chaff is perhaps what really matters. And that is exactly what Mark Zuckerberg did. He zoomed in on the most problematic issues facing society (specifically the youth in college), and came up with simple, yet practical solutions to break through the 'soft' social barriers. The world is getting smaller, and social order is being re-defined by innovators like Zuckerberg. Make no mistake: Facebook, and other such networking media like Twitter, are valuable inventions of our times. Some of the most powerful and influential people of the world, including big businesses, use these sites to get into the psyche of humanity and 'position' themselves in their respective 'segments'. The smarter ones know what will work and what will not. You may choose to sit out this fad, but this ain't no fad bro, it is the future of fashion. Ignore it at your own risk.
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riju
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... In my view some times these type of social sites help to come across variety of thoughts and and solutions to many of your stray thoughts.It depends on you how you take it.Very well written .Congrats.Keep writing All the best...  |
Jenny
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... I really enjoyed reading your posts. They are all well written and informative. Congratulations on you achievement. |
Naveen K R
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... Nice article. The movie is one of a kind, and you've spoken through it in simple terms. Glad i dropped in to see this! |
