However, another revolution has been simultaneously underway. It is slightly more invisible, but no less disruptive and powerful. This revolution is human. It is social, personal, and is changing not only the way we use the web; it is changing the web itself.
As the web evolves, it has become increasing more social. This socialization has affected everything from how we buy books to how we pick a restaurant for dinner. And now, this social ecosystem has extended to the way we search, find, and filter information.
Major search engines like Google, have recently confirmed the integration of social sites and platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Quora into the search results. The new search algorithm is an effort by Google (and others) to improve the relevance of search results by using recommendations, links, and suggestions from your friends and social networks and provide you with a more personal, customized and relevant search result.
We can assume there are going to be, as always, winners and losers from all of this. Each and every change over the years has helped some, while hurting others.
Our job, as educators, leaders, and citizens is to help one another prepare for this future reality. Social has always mattered, and it will continue to matter even more.
To ignore the “social” and continue to focus on and attend to the media-only, we do so at our own peril.
The following presentation and resources have been created to help you as you explore this amazing intersection.
Understanding OUR Brand: Crafting Our Digital Profile
