DISQUS

kamal · 2 months ago

waw.. fantastic!!

You rock

denispaulvc · 2 months ago

denispaulvc RT @briansolis The Psychology of Twitter with @DrDrew http://bit.ly/MJjD3

greeblemonkey · 2 months ago

I was a psychology minor in college so I totally love this aspect of social media. Kirtsying right now.

briansolis · 2 months ago

:)

KatFrench · 2 months ago

Your "Verizon network" theory has certainly held true for me. In fact, I've taken a number of Myers-Briggs tests, which (among other things) measure your rate of extraversion to introversion. I'm still an introvert, but you can literally see how I've crept more towards the center of the spectrum after years of participating in social media. Aside from that, my friends and family will attest to the fact that I'm a more social person in real life now than I used to be. Part of that may be just becoming a more mature and well-rounded person, which comes with age. But I do think you're on to something. :)

briansolis · 2 months ago

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing...

twitterfools · 2 months ago

What a great thought provoking post. Digital extroverts, micro-celebrities - it all rings true for us.

briansolis · 2 months ago

Thank you!

Juan Aguilar · 2 months ago

Highly insightful. I'd been circling my finger around this concept for some time, but was unable to capture it the way you have.

denispaulvc · 2 months ago

I agree with Dr. Drees, I think that Social Media in general and Twitter in particular, enhances, if not excarbates and sometimes even aggravates, our formerly acquired social behavior. I take it that you experience in the US as w do i Canada the misdemeanours of the "King Child" generation (25 less), raised/spoiled by the Gen X and spoiled by the Boomer Gen, their grandparents. Many of this "King Child" generation are experiencing big problems adapting to the rules of the business world; actually expecting to get whatever they want just like the way they were brought up into this world. In their case, Social Media exacerbates an already unbalanced behavior/belief; that is, I got everything I wanted from my family so now that I'm famous on the Net, I'll get everything I want from/in the world !!! But hopefully, for time to time, as Brian said, it'll provide the initial dose or lack thereof of courage necessary to a better "real" social life.

Rich Harris · 2 months ago

Brian - Thank you for this. I'm so tired of seeing the 'social media' buzz word, having been around web marketing way before it ever happened. People forget that good marketing is based on truly being able to understand (and God forbid passionate about) humans, their emotions, their individual approach to connecting with other humans, etc. Finally a good dissection of what all this is REALLY about. Terrific article.

briansolis · 2 months ago

It's my pleasure...thank you very much for sharing your thoughts! You're right, this is less about "people" per se and more about who people are and what they represent.

Rich Harris · 2 months ago

Yep. I don't think many people approach marketing/pr/sales with the progressive mindset to accomplish their vision. Maybe we're all too busy now to remember to? We all need to focus a tad more on the bigger picture.

glennayrton · 2 months ago

Very insightful post. Thanks

Niall Harbison · 2 months ago

To a large extent I really think it is fueled by self promotion. I would say 70% of people are there to sell or promote something. The problem is that you can get an idea off the groun or traffic to a website instantly and very few other platforms offer that.

Jamie Favreau · 2 months ago

Great post.
I am not sure where I fit on the social graph since I am social at work and I like being surrounded by people so this is an online extension. But at the same time, I still clam up around people who I don't know and if they know me it is still strange. That could just be human nature.

Nick Shin · 2 months ago

I especially agree with this statement, "we are creating a new generation of digital extroverts". in creating these "digital extroverts", it is really opening the minds of those who were comfortable within their own world. I like to think of myself as a good balance between an introvert and extrovert. I know when it's appropriate; however, one problem I have and am improving upon is being the one to reach out as opposed to waiting to be contacted. It's allowing me to really provide useful insight that otherwise might not have happened if I just stood back and waited.

Great post and I have to say, those are some great writing skills.

mmangen · 2 months ago

Brian - great post...Twitter has "changed" me in many ways...I am becoming the "digital extrovert" you describe. I've found that some would argue that social media is by nature a type of isolation - after all you are "hiding" behind your computer or other piece of technology as you Tweet.

In my case though Twitter has actually made me into a more "social" person in real life....precisely because of ..."who gain confidence in online interaction reinforced by every new update, follower, retweet, public @ (acknowledgment), and linkback."

I have my social army behind me and they are a group of amazing individuals!

docspike · 2 months ago

Like this...Thanks!

Autism Hero · 2 months ago

Are people with Aspergers who choose twitter contributing to global empathetic failure?

JEBworks · 2 months ago

That is a theory I have always subscribed to myself. Like the line "acquired narcissism doesn't exist". Exactly. It's just reinforced in today's social media / networking environment.

Shalyn Hockey · 2 months ago

Thoughtful post. I wonder though what the correlation is between digital extroverts and extroverts in real life? Twitter empowers voices that otherwise may not speak up, which has huge social benefit. But the move from being an online voice to being an offline presence seems to be the necessary next step.

Amanda · 2 months ago

Digital extoverts? Yep, how true. I do wonder how how extrovert they are offline. Great insight.

jakerosen · 2 months ago

“After a certain stage of development, our environment does very little for us.”-- This statement has some merit, but the Zimbardo's and Skinners of the world would greatly disagree. Zimbardo's prison studies proved who quick we are to assume a role that is given to us. If we want to become prominent in the social media landscape we are almost forced to assume a role or niche. It's tough to be a jack of all trades and still be widely known.

Skinner argued his theory of operant condition affecting behavior. I find this to be unbelievable true on Twitter. People crave the positive reinforcement of RTs and @replies, while fearing the negative and lack of attention.

tundecockshott · 2 months ago

I agree with elements of this posting, in particular the comment "Dr. Drew advocates a deep understanding of the importance of relationships in the real world in order to foster and cultivate meaningful connections online." This depth of analysis of the real world behaviour, motivation and psychology of users is lacking in the digital space. This is surprising given the wealth of existing evidence based knowledge.

It seems to me that the term social media is symptomatic of the previous lack of relative depth of interaction fostered by previous means of digital collaboration and communication. However in relation to real world social engagement, the limited emotional bandwidth of digital tools, and their lack of the additional dimensions of real world social engagement - physical mirroring, pace, dynamic conversational turn taking, gestures, silences, etc - places them at a real disadvantage. One could argue that for these reasons when one engages via digital social tools one is going through an autistic interpreter. One who does not comprehend any real emotional and basic social interaction channels, and only reports what is said not how it is said.

Twitter contributors seem extrovert in that they put their views or status or thoughts out there, for the world to consume. But this extroversion (if that is a word) is only successful in the minority of cases, ie so many tweets are cast into the digital winds and fly by un-noticed by many or any others. Surely the average Twitter poster is an extrovert vainly seeking an audience.

Michelle Maura · 1 month ago

I thouroughly agree with this part: “Yes, enjoy your Twitter, but live life through a cultural ethos that recognizes the importance of ‘real’ relationships. Ensure that you contribute to healthy families and value systems."
You can use Twitter as an addition to your life, not live to add your life to Twitter.

Arun Prabhu · 1 month ago

a new-found, online 'micro-celebrity' status can gravitate to self-indulgent behavior. And that doesn't help real world social behavior at all. you are a big turn-off in the real world if you let social network hierarchies go to your head.