Are Social Networks Truly Social?
The article discusses a new type of social network: one whose connections are not limited by those you already know. Many social networks today rely on a system of mutual friends, related interests, close proximity, and other features that connect us to those similar to us but limit the variety of people we can meet. By/association, an emerging social media site, breaks these traditions by creating a social network site void of account searching, profile pictures, adding by mutual friends, and other features that would be included in a conventional social network. The aim of By/association is to connect creatives from all career types and interests, unrestrained by prior connections.
In this course, we have been discussing social networks of closely tied individuals, and how they affect/ connect to those near them. It’s practical to learn this because that is how most social connections work in real life: we don’t often connect to those who are distantly connected to us. But maybe that is why By/association’s model could be the new social network of the current information age. We have the ability to connect individuals who may not know each other or know the same people: why not connect them in a social network site? By doing so, we expand from studying how social networks work internally to building and growing social networks externally.