‘Systems Thinking’ and the trend toward ‘Social Networking’

The frame is in place but the picture is blurry…

For some, social networking is an arbitrary outlet for texting-addicted teenagers, pampered socialites, and uber-professionals. For others, it has been an interesting but fleeting source of entertainment. Finally, for millions and millions world wide, social networking has become a regularly used tool—for everything from ‘conducting business’ to ‘none of your business’.

The social networks are all there and we all fall somewhere along a continuum that runs from ‘fatally allergic to them’ to ‘can’t live without them’. Yet, most of us do not really understand why Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and all the many other social networking sites are so widely used. More importantly, we do not see how they can serve a positive function in our lives.

Yet, by focusing on some essential themes the picture suddenly becomes a little clearer...

Seen from the right vantage point, this new communication medium holds tons of potential. It is truly more than the sum of its parts, and social networking can make our lives easier and more successful…maybe even more fun!

Social Networking is a new technological phenomenon. It combines the eminently vast reach of cyberspace with the seemingly innate need for humans to connect with like-minded humans. At times, this esoteric combination of ‘human invention’ and ‘human nature’ make social networking seem unapproachable and even unnecessary for many people. However, it is important to consider that although social networking is new, it is actually rooted in two ancient themes that most humans can appreciate—and a third that we all can benefit from.

The first theme expressed in Social Networking is ‘Freedom’. As is the case with the Internet in general, social networking allows for people to break through communication restrictions imposed by space and time. It provides access to vast stores of information and innovation that were otherwise unattainable. In this age of global capitalism, it also expands the power of individuals, providing a forum for a 2-way conversation between consumers and companies and employers and potential employees. By offering more choices and more resources for communication we are given a chance to see a broader picture of the world around us. Perhaps more importantly, social networking allows us the freedom to present to the world the story of ourselves as we want it told. We are free to be who we want to be.

Related to this first theme, social networking also offers amplified access to ‘Community’. We are no longer confined to relationships of proximity. With social networking, we now have the ability to connect with groups of like-minded individuals and access otherwise unattainable information. Our community is made instantly more personal (made up of people we actually share things in common with) while at the same time giving us the potential for a globally diverse audience. Community becomes our network and our network is our community. Wall posts, clubs, forums, tweets, chat rooms and blogs bring us face to face with ideas, assumptions, personalities and perspectives that we choose. Far from isolating people behind keyboards, this sort of access allows for us to bond with like-minded individuals and feel a part of something greater than ourselves. The world is speeding forward and technology sometimes seems to outpace our imagination (and usefulness). Yet, in social networking we are given the opportunity to cling to the ancient human social need for ‘community’.

With these two concepts in mind, there is a third aspect that must also be considered if we are to see the full value of social networking. Probably the newest and least understood principal driving the social networking revolution is ‘systems thinking’—the ability to see how things interact and influence each other within a whole. Consequently, it is not the tools themselves in as much as the ability to see and interact with ‘systems’ that drives us to create and use current social networking sites. These tools were born out of this concept (unilaterally with the concepts of ‘freedom’ and ‘community’) and conversely they help to influence and foster systems thinking in those who use them. By using social networking we become more adept ‘systems thinkers’ and as that ability improves we actually use these tools more effectively. We flex a muscle that is becoming more and more important in the complicated world around us. (Ironically, the more we do to help ourselves learn and develop our ability to be ‘systems thinkers’ the less complicated the world becomes.)

Therefore, when we take into account that social networking actually helps foster traditional notions of ‘freedom’ and ‘community’ along with newer trends toward ‘systems thinking’ the picture becomes clearer. Social networking is more than a ‘fad’. and social networking sites are more than ‘toys’. Used correctly, social networking can be used as a tool for making our lives a little easier and helping us deal with the pressures of a globalizing world.

(Of course, a good hike in the woods works too…:-)