having spent a part of my professional life working in branding and social media, i’ve lived a life that my fellow “digital natives”, can relate to. it’s a always-on, ultra-connected, and admittedly, it can be crazily addictive.
i often worked long hours, days spilling into nights, trying to decode the algorithmic enigma that was the constant game of social media engagement and brand visibility. the process is much like playing an endless chess game with a mysterious opponent, striving to anticipate their moves, staying ahead, all while being aware that the game’s rules could change any minute.
and this week reading expose me to virality in a totally different game:
Thus, a viral information event creates a temporally bound, self-organized, interest network in which membership is based on an interest in the information content or in belonging to the interest network of others. So the reach that we are discussing refers to everyone with an interest in the content who can be connected to the interest network, not the potential reach, which is difficult to determine.
(Hemsley & Mason, 2013)
This understanding of the reach of viral events means that people may be randomly exposed to ideas, information, and other content that otherwise might never have reached them.
nonetheless, something disturbed me. as much as i love the concepts of “knowledge management” and “epistemology” on social media, the other rationale part of me on how algorithms is influencing the content distribution, and eventually, take control of the learning network growth drag me away. or did i miss anything?
and then the challenge was two-fold. firstly, there was the daunting task of recalling and making sense of my spontaneous and instinctive actions on these platforms. secondly, there was the realization that I was lacking the necessary data to fully understand my behavior patterns, making the whole process feel irrational and elusive.
the harsh truth is that social media can act as an echo chamber, reinforcing our existing beliefs rather than challenging them.
confronted with these questions, I am now reassessing my relationship with social media. no, I am not disavowing it – that would be denying a fundamental part of my life. however, I am challenging myself to use these platforms more judiciously, focusing on mindful engagement rather than mindless consumption. (and i was always telling myself that i’m not!)
there’s a long way to go on this journey of introspection and understanding. yet, I believe this critical examination of my digital behaviors will lead to a more enriching online experience, maybe?
Reference:
Jeff Hemsley & Robert M. Mason (2013) Knowledge and Knowledge Management in the Social Media Age, Journal of Organizational Computing and Electronic Commerce, 23:1-2, 138-167, DOI: 10.1080/10919392.2013.748614
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Huong, sometimes Jean's journey with the flaws 