Forbes Magazine recently published an article titled, “Are Interest-Based Networks the Way of the Future?” Writer Drew Hendricks explored the idea that people naturally come together and prefer to be with others with whom they have something in common.
“Today, our tribes are often found online. These are the sites where we gather, share information, discuss topics of interest to us, and communicate with each other. Now, interest based networks are becoming increasingly popular. These are topic specific sites where people are able to communicate with a more targeted group of people,” he wrote.
That’s seen regularly in the major social media networks. People join groups, follow pages they like and share information about their likes with their friends.
INTEREST-BASED COMMUNITIES: THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Jay Jamison, writing in Tech Crunch, says social media giant Facebook set the stage for the next evolution of social media. He specifically points to “interest-based” social media. These sites allow people to set what they like first and find like-minded people. Personal relationships come after mutual interests. He wrote, “[T]hese new interest-based social networks enable users to express their interests in new, engaging ways and offer authentic, high value connectivity with new people we don’t already know. The different approaches of these interest-based services are distinct from Facebook, and they are powering the massive growth and engagement we are seeing in these new services.”
This kind of engagement of interest-based communities is not new nor is it rare. One only need look at the sporting world, much older than the Internet and today’s “social media,” to see how people come together. Here are some examples:
• Fantasy league football. Brings people from all social groups together.
• College sports. Alumni and fans rally around their team, regardless if they are rich or poor.
• Hobbies. Rock hounds, bird watchers, sewing circles, fishing and hunting are just a few activities that bring people together. If you can think of something to do, someone has a group for it.
• Patient-based. You may not think medical issues bring strangers together, but these communities are extremely useful and valuable to its collective membership. Communities for individuals or families for hospice support, cancer support, lupus support, kidney transplant support, addiction recovery groups are just a few examples of thousands of patient-based communities that provide peace and connection for millions of people.
COME TOGETHER
Now, it’s easier than ever to bring like-minded people together to share their passions, their interests and their desires. If you have a passion and want to share with others who feel the same way, contact us to find out about creating a = community designed just for you and people who share the same interest.
If you are interested in a fully customized community for your brand or mission-based organization, please contact us at: enterprise@socialengine.com
