Join getAbstract to access the summary!

Share This!

Join getAbstract to access the summary!

Share This!

How You Will Change the World with Social Networking

Berrett-Koehler,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Activism has a new home in social media. Don’t be afraid to move in.

  • 0.5×
  • 0.75×
  • 1×
  • 1.25×
  • 1.5×
  • 1.75×
1×

Editorial Rating

6

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Hot Topic

Recommendation

Social activist and media guru Deanna Zandt proclaims, “Don’t let your fear of social networks keep you from joining in the conversation.” She explains that the new ecosystem developing online needs everyone’s voice to be healthy. A diverse group, she believes, must engage online, sharing their stories, experiences and opinions. Zandt’s easy-to-understand, conversational style helps dispel some of the fear surrounding new technologies, as do the resources, tips and tactics she includes in the closing chapters. Zandt makes a good case for joining in, but leaves the details about how activists should use social media to others. getAbstract recommends this book to anyone looking to understand the online fray as well as to those interested in social change.

Summary

Roots of the Revolution

Social networking is revolutionizing the way people disseminate information, fueling change in the communication power structure. Now you can relate your personal experiences to a wider audience than ever before, and muster the power of storytelling. By sharing personal experiences and ideas via social networks, you build trust and empathy – two ingredients that help bring about positive change.

Social networks are not a passing fad. By 2010, Facebook had more than 350 million users and continues to grow. In 2009, Twitter – which still was relatively new – had more than 20 million visitors. Social media emerged with much speed and strength, and an overview of the World Wide Web helps explain why. Initially, military organizations and academics used the Internet. In the early ’90s, server administrators began to seek free ways to share documents. CERN, the company that developed the technology for the World Wide Web, released its code, and Marc Andreessen, founder of Netscape, made the Mosaic web browser available to the public.

Access to the web was rather limited, and people needed to know Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) to participate...

About the Author

Deanna Zandt hosts “TechGrrl Tips” on GRITtv and specializes in issues involving women and technology issues.

Comment on this summary