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November 30, 2003
Social Software - it's the network stupid!
The events of the past few days and the great responses I have received, brought back some thoughts I've had about the social impact of the Internet for a while now. Ok, so now the hype is to give the baby a name and call it "Social Software" - a software (or platform) that is capable of connecting people, basically. But step back for a moment.
The first time I realized that the Internet was a social network was back in 1996. Long before LinkedIn or Friendster. In June of that year my daughter was born and in order to allow my parents (who were living in the UK at the time) to see their granddaughter, I rushed out and bought a black-and-white hand-scanner and stuck the photos onto my homepage. 5 days later my father passed away - but thanks to the Internet he was able to see his granddaughter at least. The Internet allowed us to socially interconnect - even then.
Since then I have been fortunate enough to meet and become friends with many people around the globe - thanks to the Internet. Be it through email, irc or weblogs. So, when my mother was hospitalized earlier this year I knew I could contact Andrew and in the case that I would need someone close I could count on him. In just the same way Scott emailed me and offered to help out with things in Hamburg. All through the social power of the net. People from the US and Canada emailed me and people from France or Switzerland left comments. Friends.
So, it's not the software or the platform that gives the Internet it's social characteristic - it's the network itself - and the way we use it. So use it!.
Posted by Matthew at November 30, 2003 09:33 PM