Social media (1/2): Are they hindering diversity?

It is clear that some monopolistic platforms must exist. We just need to make sure that social media function well and don’t cause divisions and hostility amongst us.

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According to an article on the management-issues.com website, certain monopolistic platforms are necessary. Before the digital revolution started, the only available social platform was the government – a monopoly. Competing laws or different interpretations of rights are not possible under the same jurisdiction; otherwise, life would become enormously complicated. For this reason we have just one government.

Without diversity of thought, however, unquestioning faith appears. At this point we start to become intolerant, refusing any differing views or perspectives. Social media algorithms should therefore leverage collaboration and the forming of collective intelligence. We need diverse opinions, local knowledge and independent thinking. The final step is to aggregate all of this. That is the goal tech companies should endeavour to achieve.

Collective intelligence: An example from US federal insurance

There was a joint venture programme among 39 separate companies across the US (delivering a health insurance product for federal employees). To deliver seamless service, an innovative meeting format was introduced, which enabled diversity of opinion and tapping local knowledge.  

Independent thinking was enabled by processing ideas in relatively small groups. That way, ideas put forward were not identified with any single individual. There was also an aggregation mechanism used – dot voting. These workshops made collaboration across all the business units very efficient.


-jk-

Article source Management Issues - British website cntaining practical information, tips and advice to managers
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Social media (1/2): Are they hindering diversity?

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