Here is a quote I have been preaching in speeches these days, “Content is the new democracy and we the people are insuring that our our voices are heard.” This wisdom is from Brian Solis who is an expert on social media. It is important for all of us to understand that for the first time in history, any person, for free, can communicate with 1.5 billion others over the Internet. Never before – highlight on the word “never” – could a person publish their thoughts to a vast chunk of humanity in an unfiltered and unhindered way. Sure, the president could get television airtime and reach lots of people, and the Superbowl is broadcast worldwide, but I am talking about you and me. In fact, I am talking about this document you are reading right now having the potential to end up in front of anyone, and everyone, with an Internet connection. These words are content and with a push of the button, they will be flung out into the world to create value, or not. I will have no bills to pay, and no control over where it goes from your screen.
This quote is becoming particularly important as we enter a world with many new types of communication forms. The whole Twitter, Yammer, etc. revolution is creating an instant ability to send content and information across the Earth in real time. Add to that sites like Qik and you have the additional ability to send live video as well. Last week was the first time that I have really seen Twitter and Qik be used in a way that was leveraged by the mainstream media. CNN was providing live coverage of the Mumbai drama in India and as the hotel was under siege, guests that were trapped inside were using these online tools to communicate in real time with friends, family and CNN. At one point, the CNN correspondent had to tell them to stop sending detailed information about where they were in the hotel so that the infiltrators would not be able to see on TV where they were hiding. Contrast that to Nazi Germany just 50 some odd years ago where millions of women and children were killed and people in the U.S. were completely unaware. Life is now and forever changed, because never again will news happen that the rest of the world does not get a chance to be aware of, and share. All without the filtering system of the media, or the government. (*** Except in China I suppose.)
These new forms of communication are not just for personal information distribution… New capabilities to share content in real time can be used to tighten customer relationships – such as the CEO of Zappos shoes using Twitter to communicate in real time with thousands of customers that follow him. If you click on that link, notice that there are almost 30,000 people following him now. On a smaller scale, these new tools can help family members stay in close touch with each other even when separated. And on the macro scale, they shine a light into the dark areas where evil used to hide. We have enabled content to be created and to flow so quickly, and inexpensively that information now moves at the speed of thought. This is simply a new dynamic in the world, and one that is quietly changing dynamics that most people just do not recognize at this point.
So back to the statement that that content is the new democracy. When information is able to flow in real time, to people everywhere, for free, it creates a world where the consumers of the content get to judge the value. Anyone can create content, and everyone can judge it for it’s worth by viewing it and possibly passing it on. This is inherently a democratic process because no one is controlling it. For those of us that love the free enterprise concept, and freedom in general, we should be overjoyed that the Internet has liberated content to flow so freely. So the next time someone asks you if you use Twitter, don’t turn your nose up and assume it a tool that only the young generations use. Take a few minutes and actually see the tool for what it is… Yet another weapon in the war on the havoc that lack of information, or misinformation can cause. Then open you mind to the fact that services like Twitter are just a beginning step towards real time information that flows for free to anyone that cares to read it.
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Scott Klososky is a technology and future trends speaker
Read more Scott’s articles on his blog Technology Story
