After reading the first assigned section of The Networked Nonprofit, I find the authors’ recommendations practical and intuitive. In providing nonprofits a “how to” guide for venturing into the world of social media, Kanter and Fine clearly underscore the importance of maintaining a modern presence in this rapidly changing world. As the authors state, “Social media are not a fad or a trend” (p. 5). I agree that these new social outlets are not an ephemeral fad, in which it behooves nonprofits to digitally connect. After all, networking has been a central tenet to management for quite some time. Social media provides yet another venue for connecting, albeit in a very powerful way. Though social media may not be a fad, it may be part of a transformative technological pattern, as detailed by the authors.
Kanter and Fine describe the evolution of the social media revolution (p. 5). In the 1980s, personal computers gained much use, transforming information storage and organization. In the 1990s, the internet began to drastically connect people with others and information in a profound manner. In the 2000s, with the advent of social media, the human-information connection has become that much more intimate, in which traditions and institutions are changing quite intensely. As the authors state,
The rise of social media seemed to happen in an instant. One minute we were marveling at fax machines’ speed, the next minute hundreds of millions of people are connecting with friends and sharing photos and news on Facebook. (p. 11)
Fellow PAFF 551 bloggers from the prior semester may be well aware of my interest in technological advancement. Now that this course emphasizes technologies’ great effect on the nonprofit field (as well as society in general), it may do us all a great service to reflect upon the nature of such developments.
Near the end of last semester’s administration of PAFF 551 (Introduction to Management & Leadership in Nonprofits), students were assigned a Beth Kanter podcast. In the podcast, Kanter suggests non-profits should harness technology and social media to increase impact. In a blog post for last semester’s course, I wrote,
Beth Kanter suggests non-profits should harness technology and social media to increase impact. Though utilizing these strategies is wise and rational, we must question whether we are really harnessing, or controlling these resources. Perhaps the opposite is true: we are controlled, or part of something larger that is beyond our control.
The need for advancement, as exhibited by for-profit organizations’ efforts to produce increasing annual profits, drives innovation and creation, popularizing technologies such as the internet and interactive social media. Though some suggest that we may harness these resources to advance social change, consider the possibility that these outlets themselves, as advancements, are advancing social change as the embodiment of progression. Naturally, individuals will view these resources, including the now ubiquitous internet, as tools to increase capacity. These resources, rather, are forcing social change, as they are the manifestations of advancement. These resources are much more than controllable tools. Perhaps contemporary social change and social entrepreneurship are enormously dependent on such advances, whereas advances are part of an all-encompassing trend.
With a slight bit of effort, we are able to discover a trend of transformative advances that may not be so distant. These advances emanate from the scientific and technical disciplines. We are dependent on common information technologies in a control-like manner. Instead of perceiving advancements as enablers, consider them as fundamental to our existence. We need advancement as our species and society are the product of advancement.
I still agree with myself, but not as to undermine the importance of the Kanter and Fine book. However, with the trend of the personal computer in the 1980s, the internet in the 1990s, and social media in the 2000s, we can only speculate what will come next. What will be the mark of the 2010s? Whatever it may be, will it render the authors’ recommendations obsolete? What will the updated edition of The Networked Nonprofit entail? How relevant will social media be in another decade? Will the nonprofit sector (amid society) have changed that much more? To quote Ozzy Osbourne, “Don’t ask me. I don’t know.” Congratulations to those of you who have reached the end of this post. You are virtuous.
I agree Andrew that all of these advances in modern technology can be beneficial, and illuminate the creativity of the human mind, but is all this technology necessarily a good development?
ReplyDeleteMy mother who is a hospital manager is constantly telling me that our generation, in her view, seriously lacks interpersonal skills to interact with coworkers or patients. Has social media blunted the actual 'face to face' relationships we have with other people? Kanter and Fine say that such relationships are irreplaceable, but I really do not think enough attention is given to this significant drawback of social media.
Also, it does not necessarily follow that great causes or ideas will garner support. As we can see from the current demagoguery that is ubiquitous in our media, rational or logical ideas do not take precedence, especially in hard or turbulent times (E.g. Weimar/Post-depression Germany that became Nazi Germany). So although social media is a powerful tool, there are some drawbacks to it, and I am hoping that Kanter/Fine allocate more than a few sentences in the rest of their book to this end.
Technological advances undoubtedly provide promise and peril. I agree that we can interpret the increased connectedness as both good and bad: the expediency of communicating with practically anyone connected to the network is wonderful, though personal engagement may be dwindling at its expense. Though this allows people to "hide behind their screens," as Kanter and Fine argue, they also posit that the digital forum provides a less overwhelming alternative to those who are shy in person.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to rendering the physical proximity between communicants of less consequence, virtual communication may allow those with verbal and language barriers the ability to participate through the ease of virtual communication. Using tools such as digital, real-time language translation and voice-command programs, communication may become that much more inclusive.
I believe that there is something special in face-to-face encounters. There is also something special in enabling communication on the massive and growing scale which we are experiencing. Perhaps with increased technology, this special physical essence can be more precisely simulated. There are many dedicated specialists and researchers in technical fields who are working on this very task. Consider the merging of social networking with extraordinarily sophisticated virtual reality: is this the direction in which we are heading?
Though we find controversial ideas riddled throughout society and media, we are now empowered to combat ideas with other ideas through utilizing the virtual voices of social media. We can only hope that the power of speech and democracy will result in a more civil and stable world.