I found this extremely interesting, eye-opening chart on Mark Oestreicher’s blog that shows the growth of FACEBOOK.COM, which is a social networking website:
I believe this chart tells more about the culture we live in today than it does about facebook.
Obviously, we live in world today where we embrace technology faster. My question is why? Is it because of the massive availability of technology? Is it a fundamental shift in how we think about technology?
As a youth pastor, I see the current teenage generation’s fingerprints all over this trend. I see the power and influence that the younger generation has over our world, culture, technology, and economy. Oestreicher hit the nail right on the head when he said, “One of the things I notice is that the fuel for the fast rise of the most recent technologies has come from youth (whereas the older technologies were forced to go through the slower progress of adult acceptance first), which says something about the leading role of youth culture in the world today.”
Thoughts? What is your reaction to these technology growth trends? Why is the world today embracing technology faster?
_______________
Out of curiosity, how many of you are one of 150 million facebook users?
I am one of the 150 million.
I’m all over facebook…
For so many people today – their lives revolve around technology. It really is quite interesting. Things that we once viewed as luxury are now considered mandatory. I am trying to give people new blackberries and some of them won’t let me do it because they would have to be without one for 4 hours. They are sitting at their desk with a computer. It’s insane how attached some of us have become to these digital leashes…
Marketing firms have figured it all out though – sell the kids on it and whatever it is – it will skyrocket… The world has changed…
I wonder – aside from the technology thing – what does this say – if anything – about parents. Are they just giving their kids whatever they want. And I wonder how many parents know what online social networks their kids are a part of… something to think about…
jpd
So into facebook! I have been reconnecting with old friends at a very steady pace for about three months now, and I love it!
The issue with the texting/Myface/Facebook life is the insistance of being hateful. The whole “If you can’t say something nice..” theory goes out the window when someone isn’t sitting right in front of you. Have you seen some of the comments on some of these kids’ Myspace? And the language that some of them use makes even me uncomfortable!
I’m one of the 150 million….and proud of it. It’s fun and a great way to keep in touch with others.
i use facebook, i think it’s a great way to communicate.
About the technology, i think that teenagers like me see a new phone, and want it because it’s like a competition to see who can have the best phone. Probably about 95% of the eighth grade has a cell phone if not higher. I’m not sure if it’s just the parents giving us whatever we want, but that the parents start to think that we need them, because we get involved with so many things and that is the easiest and fastest way to communicate with us.
I am one of the 150 mill. It’s great for keeping in the loop on people’s lives when you live far away from so many of them.
Social networks are becoming a huge tool in the business/marketing world. It’s crazy that this is your post for today. In a marketing meeting today, we discussed how we can use facebook for visibility and communicating with customers. Twitter is another one that is becoming highly used for creating buzz around a conference, product or company.
JP – Look at a company like Apple. Who are they going after? Adults? Parents? Rich CEOs? No, they are targeting teenagers (iPods) and college students (Macs). Having white ear phones in your ears has become the cultural norm. Why? Because if they get them at that age, they’ll get them for life.
Sarah – Definitely have seen the unfiltered Internet talk by teenagers. It is much easier for them to be bolder and more brash behind a computer screen. Get the same teens in person and they would NEVER have the guts to talk like that.
Brittany – I agree. Facebook is incredible. Boo to myspace.
Spillin’ – I got my first cell phone when I was a freshman in college. Wow, times have changed!
Heather – Using social networking tools like facebook for business and marketing purposes is incredibly smart and savy. One, it’s free. Two, according to this graphic, 150 million+ people use it all across the world. That seems like a great way to tell more people about a medical software company based out of Sulphur Springs. One last thing, I REFUSE to use twitter/tweet/be a chicken/whatever the term is.
I think these statistics do show that we embrace technology more readily these days, partially because we have seen how much technology has improved our daily lives, or at least the superficial appearance of it, and partially because of how incredibly driven the promotion of the consumerist agenda is. One thing our “free market” economy needs to function is the average American continuously buying products and a great way to do this is to sell the latest, greatest, “coolest” technological tool to youth.
Facebook, though, is a different story, I think. I think Facebook’s rapid popularity is more a commentary on our culture’s insistence of being connected with everyone, but from a distance. Just like how the kids are using language they would never use in person on these sites, Facebook is one of the biggest symbols of the pseudo-relationships we are building with each other. With all the ways technology in the communication and entertainment industries have evolved, we can still talk with a large number of people from the comfortability of our homes. Frankly, I think we are losing the relational aspect of humanity in the process. Unfortunately, I’m helping this along with my Facebook, macbook, iPod, and probably an iPhone before too long. I’m a sucker for Apple!!
Sorry, caught me on a talkative day! haha.
Amening Landon – It’s great to “keep up” with people – but, pseudo-relationships says it all… – it’s definitely a step up from myspace… and I think, in time – will serve to help connect people more and more in ways that matter.
One HUGE benefit – spiritually – is that it’s so much easier to carry people in your heart now.
There are so many venues and reminders of our “otherness” and “socialness”…
Brian you’re right about Apple.
I got my iPhone last February and i’ll never go back to anything else.
then I got my MacBook in June and i’ve fallen in love.
p.s. I am one of the 150 million.