The Power of Presence and Collective Wisdom: Exploring the Future of Social Media

Kazuki

Hatched by Kazuki

Jun 29, 2023

4 min read

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The Power of Presence and Collective Wisdom: Exploring the Future of Social Media

Introduction:

In today's digital age, the concept of presence plays a crucial role in our online interactions. From social networking sites to virtual reality experiences, users seek a sense of connection and engagement. While virtual reality offers a heightened sense of presence, even existing social media platforms possess elements of presence. This notion was highlighted by LINE's executive, who compared the significance of the "read" feature on their platform to the footprint feature on mixi. As technology advances, we are witnessing a trend of consolidating various applications into a single access point. However, presence alone may not be sufficient in the realm of social media. This article explores the potential of gaming as a platform that surpasses traditional social media, drawing insights from the wisdom of the crowd.

The Rise of Gaming as a Social Platform:

Gaming has transformed into a highly immersive form of entertainment that fosters shared experiences. The founders of Houseparty expressed concerns about social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, which prioritize performative behaviors and approval-seeking through staged photos. These platforms deviate from the essence of genuine social interactions. According to Evan, the co-founder of Houseparty, authentic social connections should be private and personal rather than public and performative. This perspective presents an opportunity for gaming to emerge as a dominant social platform, surpassing existing social media networks.

The Wisdom of the Crowd Phenomenon:

The wisdom of the crowd refers to the collective opinion of a group of individuals, often surpassing the expertise of a single individual. Miller and Steyvers studied this phenomenon and concluded that diverse knowledge among participants contributes to the wisdom of the crowd. Participants integrate their own knowledge with that of previous participants, resulting in an augmented collective wisdom. This concept extends beyond human interactions, as exemplified by the efficiency of a group of Golden Shiners in finding shady areas in a body of water compared to a single fish. Aristotle recognized the potential of collective wisdom, stating that a group, even if individually not exceptional, can collectively outperform individuals.

Harnessing Collective Wisdom in Social Media:

Scientists at MIT's Sloan Neuroeconomics Lab and Princeton University developed a technique called the "surprisingly popular" method to tap into collective wisdom. Participants are asked to provide two responses: their individual answer and their prediction of popular opinion. The difference between these two responses often indicates the correct answer. For the wisdom of the crowd to manifest, the crowd must be independent and diversified, allowing a range of answers. This diversity cancels out extreme responses, leading to a more accurate collective judgment.

The Limitations and Potential of Collective Wisdom:

While collective wisdom has its merits, it is not without limitations. Individual cognition may be affected by stochastic noise, resulting in inconsistent answers. However, asking oneself multiple times does not necessarily improve accuracy. In fact, repeating the same question to oneself may even reduce accuracy. The average of a large number of judgments from different individuals tends to be more reliable than the average of multiple judgments from the same person. Averaging eliminates random errors but does not compensate for systematic biases that affect the entire crowd. Therefore, the wisdom of the crowd technique cannot fully overcome cognitive biases.

Actionable Advice:

  • 1. Embrace Gaming as a Social Platform: Recognize the potential of gaming to provide a more authentic and engaging social experience. Explore gaming communities and platforms that prioritize shared experiences over performative behaviors.
  • 2. Foster Diversity in Social Media: Encourage diverse perspectives and opinions in online interactions. Seek out platforms that value independent thinking and provide space for a variety of voices to contribute.
  • 3. Be Mindful of Cognitive Biases: Understand the limitations of collective wisdom and be aware of your own cognitive biases. Take a critical approach to information and seek multiple perspectives to make more informed decisions.

Conclusion:

As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of social media, the concepts of presence and collective wisdom hold immense potential. Gaming, with its immersive nature and emphasis on shared experiences, may surpass traditional social media platforms in providing genuine connections. By harnessing the wisdom of the crowd, we can tap into the collective knowledge of diverse individuals. However, it is crucial to remain mindful of the limitations and biases that can influence collective wisdom. By embracing gaming as a social platform, fostering diversity, and being aware of cognitive biases, we can shape the future of social media into a more meaningful and authentic space.

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