January 2, 2008
Social Objects
Hugh MacLeod welcomes the new year with an essay on Social Objects and why, in our hyper-connected word, they’re so important. He gives seven examples and says that a Social Object is the reason two people are talking to each other, as opposed to talking to somebody else:
Human beings are social animals. We like to socialize. But if think about it, there needs to be a reason for it to happen in the first place. That reason, that “node” in the social network, is what we call the Social Object.
…I could give THOUSANDS [of examples], but there’s no need to. The thing to remember is, Human beings do not socialize in a completely random way. There’s a tangible reason for us being together, that ties us together. Again, that reason is called the Social Object. Social Networks form around Social Objects, not the other way around.
Another thing to remember is the world of Social Objects can have many layers. As with any complex creature, there can be more than one reason for us to be together.
Article Link | 
| Email This | Print This Post |
Leave a Comment