ArtBizVoice: Social Isolation, On Social Media?

Dear Mr. Trump,

I have been on Social Media since the autumn of 2008. I’ve noticed that every time Facebook rolls out a new change it isolates people more and keeps them hooked into a very narrow number of  topics.  The method behind this seems to be the gathering of more and more information about each person and what they like, buy, topics they discuss and the type of food and entertainment they are likely to spend money on.  Then target market to them via paid promotions and advertisement.

There is a flaw in the idea. The Flaw basically is that by manipulating the population on the social media they actually skew the marketing data they are collecting.   Unless we have a huge number of boringly excessive compulsives out there in cyber, land I do not think that this is an accurate measure of what potential consumers like.  I also do not think it accurately represents the buying or the web use of people.   It’s tainted and it actually forces people into a sort of controlled boredom. 

Most people don’t want to be force fed information or social interaction. Yet these days that is exactly what Facebook is doing, they force feed or completely deny feed and limit interaction between friends, associates and potential clients. My solution is to look more to twitter for my information source. I both share there and look for current information.  For searches "Google" and "Ask" are my top choices; however, I have noticed that Google is leaning to the “isolation” business model so I haven’t decided how that will work for me.

I think that the saving grace has been the group structure. Both Google+ and Facebook have this. Google+, with its circles and Facebook with its closed and open group options.  Even though the groups are more narrow in topic and opportunity, they do generate leads and repeat business if you stick to offering services with in the scope of the topic. Even if someone doesn't interact with you for moths at a time, if they are in the group they will still see the group activity in the live feed. That is about the only place where your activity is not limited. And when the groups are open to non- members to view their is more potential to be seen.

I have to admit that it is always a good day to learn something new. It does make it more difficult if you are a small business trying to grow  to work hard at making the best product you can only to have it be hidden from the world.  

Have a prosperous day,
~L