“The biggest part of our digital transformation is changing the way we think.”
– Simeon Preston.
I did not think visualizing my network again would give much more insight. Based on previous analysis (Munro, 2024), I am a visitor to the world of digital networks. Based on this evidence and my goals, I built a plan to enhance my digital identity to change this. What more insights could I need? In my Technology Usage Map post, I quoted Sherlock Holmes, “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.” Well, I made this mistake; I am humbled and surprised!
Although it may be common knowledge that social networks are interconnected, I realized how complex and interwoven every aspect of my life has become. Below is a network diagram showing groups in my network and how they network.
The diagram was created with the app.flourish.studio application
I found that I am at the center of my network, of course, but my network is also connected to the same social media platforms as I am, which is not surprising but weird to visualize.
When I started mapping this out, some “aha!” or “of course!” moments came to mind. My wife will approach me and say, “Hey, did you hear?” or “Look at this!”. Nine times out of ten, I am already aware. This situation also applies in another way. This situation is not unique, as social media trends are often shared, but what is weird is that these subjects are things she is interested in and I am not. However, because we live in the same household, algorithms target us by IP addresses, so we see the same stuff. I must be cautious at Christmas, or she will know what I am buying as ads may target her asking, “Do you want another Kindle reader?”.
Even if I choose to step away from social media, its influence will reach me through my network; there is no escape. Although ominous, it’s also helpful. I know I can’t hide from it, so why not be part of it? It creates ambition and helps me put aside the many concerns I have about social media. I will have to face these issues one way or another.
Another takeaway from this visualization is that my Royal Roads MALAT cohort is disconnected from my network except through social media; this explains why I feel comfortable talking with the group about my challenges, as its a silo in my network where I can be assured of my intended audience, allowing me to be open or vulnerable.
My Social Network …Network
At the onset of this exercise, I misread the instructions and mapped out my social platform networks. The outcomes of this exercise would be interesting to share, as they help solidify the issue of unintended audiences. These platforms are all interconnected; what I write on one platform may be shared with another later, where my comments may be taken out of context.
Below is a diagram I created which shows the interconnection between myself, and social platforms that I use.
The diagram was created with the app.flourish.studio application
My takeaway from this diagram is that there can be zero confidence that what you say on any platform will not be shared and distributed on any other platform. This diagram demonstrates a strong chance that your content may be altered or misrepresented on another platform. To gain further insights, I opted to try a radial diagram. This diagram organizes each of the nodes in a circular manner. My hope is that it would reduce the confusion and perhaps gain additional insights.
The diagram was created with the app.flourish.studio application
My takeaway from this diagram is that there can be zero confidence that what you say on any platform will not be shared and distributed on any other platform. This diagram demonstrates a strong chance that your content may be altered or misrepresented on another platform. To gain further insights, I opted to try a radial diagram. This diagram organizes each of the nodes in a circular manner. My hope is that it would reduce the confusion and perhaps gain additional insights.
References
Munro A. (2024, April 21). Technology Usage Map. https://malat-webspace.royalroads.ca/rru295/technology-usage-map/
OpenAI. (2024). A person looking overwhelmed, surrounded by a tangled web representing the chaotic nature of social media connections]. https://chat.openai.com/
DigitalDefynd. (2024). 100 Inspirational Digital Transformation Quotes. https://digitaldefynd.com/IQ/inspirational-digital-transformation-quotes/
It’s amazing to examine how digitally connected our lives have become. I also thought I had a fairly restrained network. As I look over your graphs, I realize that there are more I could add to my own.
While I aim to find a good balance of personal/professional in a single persona/presence, I’m realizing that I also want to keep my account count in check. Is there a Dunbar’s-number theory specifically for digital accounts? I’m sure I’ve surpassed mine.
I had never heard of Dunbar’s number theory. It was great to read up on this; I love data. There are great tools out there that allow you to write once and publish everywhere. The only issue is that your audience is on different platforms. So, one post may not work everywhere. There are also analytics in each platform that may not be exposed, so you will inevitably need to log in. So even though there are management tools, I belive there is a limit into what you can maintain, atleats the quality will diminish at a certain point.
Perhaps setting a limit is an excellent idea for our plans. We will grow our networks, but sunsetting platforms may be something we all want to consider.