One of the recurring subjects mentioned on the Trendwatch is the parallelism between sociological and historical themes applied to the online – such as the Invisible Hand for example. But the fact is that we’ve never tried to explain why we do it. Why is it important for marketers and online managers to understand what makes the internet, and most importantly, what makes the internet audience tick?
It’s quite simple – we know that the Internet is a Media tool like the Television or the Press but the fact is that it goes far beyond it. The Internet is a society by itself where people are free to express their free will and practically live a life disassociated from their real self. Yes, nothing new there. The reason why we keep analyzing the impact of the Internet, Web 2.0 and Internet Audiences is because the Internet is undergoing evolutions quite similar to our society – from the dawn of time to the classical age. Continue reading ‘The Evolution of the Internet Society’

Social tools’ usage and potential are far from have been completely explored. This is a fact. Besides their original use – Social Networking for friend aggregation or Social Bookmarking for common bookmarks shared on a webpage – there are subsequent effects and results that have derived from the constant use and reinterpretation of social tools. One specifically comes as a result of peer pressure, generation Y and the Youniverse theory – the rise of a civic and social conscience on the Web.

Surely you’ve come across P. Diddy’s campaign “Vote or Die”. A political service group, Diddy’s group Citizen Change aimed at getting young people to vote. Exercising civic duties is a lost art on younger generations who grew under the influence of disappointed, entertainment driven parents whose disbelief in politicians and economical system influenced the younger people to just not care. Following the words of Bart and Lisa Simpson – “We’re the MTV Generation. We feel neither highs nor lows.” Well, they couldn’t be farther from the truth – this generation simply lacked the necessary tools and influential peer to actually push towards a more civic mind.. Continue reading ‘For a better World… The Social Tools’ True Purpose’

Every movement has a counter movement. It has been true for political, cultural or sociological movements throughout time. It is normal for it to happen as it is as innate to human nature – we can only see black because white exists. In movements this happens naturally – it’s a natural evolution. And, as in every other aspect of society, this applies to the Internet.

The clash that the engagement on the Internet causes in various factions is noticeable. People who defend the web, who are against it, who are indifferent, and who simply don’t have an opinion. The fact is that the Web has given birth to a whole new level of interaction between users, as it has evolved from a mere channel to the stature of an era changing tool – the engine of digital philosophy (more on this coming in a future article). But, to focus on the main point of the article, one of the most important tools that appeared on the web is the Social Networking Websites. I will not rant into the importance or characteristics of SNW, as each of their aspects deserve an article on their own. I’m going to focus on a more sui generis subject – the counter movements of social networking. Continue reading ‘Social Network Profiling – Another Side, Another Story’