The Networked Self

Photo Credit : Cathy O’Connor

The Networked Self screams the word INTERACTION to me.

The World Wide Web has created various platforms on which we are able to communicate with others; whether they are near to us or far from us; –  whether they are family or acquaintances.

As Carrie Grosvenor said in her Definition of Online Social Networking , networks are growing and changing constantly and while many of the websites encourage everyone to join, others are geared towards users with particular needs and interests.

There is a variety of networks such as Facebook and LinkedIn which allow users to increase their networks, share notes and different types of media, as well as connect on several levels.

Photo Credit : Marketing Land

Looking closer into Facebook and how diverse it is, this social media platform gives us an opportunity to begin online communication with people from all over the world, with differing backgrounds.

I find that personally, I made a lot of friendships through this platform, be it people I met only through a Facebook request, or becoming closer to those I knew in real life already.

My social media profiles portray the real me, I don’t try to hide any flaws or personal opinions. I allow a certain amount of personal information to be seen by Facebook Users such as my birthday and where I am from.

Photo Credit : Succinct Research

LinkedIn is a great example of how networking works. This platform is a lot more ‘formal’ than Facebook or Instagram would be.

This platform allows you to build a professional profile, where you show your best self and your academic/work background. You are able to connect with people from a huge variety of disciplines whom might present you with life changing opportunities.

As the saying goes :

It’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know

A lot of the time, great opportunities come to people due to their connections, which is why networking is so important.

As Denis Waitley said :

If you’re not networking, you’re not working