Experience project is a social networking website created by Armen Berjikly, focused on connecting people through shared experiences. Originally a support community for multiple sclerosis patients, it has evolved and become a powerful social network allowing everyone to communicate experiences, knowledge, to connect and share with others interests and things that matter to them. Now with over 31 million users and 24 experience categories, it has become an opportunity and a market place for multinational corporations and advertising as digital technology is changing way we advertise, manufacture and supply products (The Economist, 2012).
Observing the network, I believe the site has shifted from what it was set up to do and that was for individuals to share experiences within a virtual community. However advertising and marketing seems to have taken over the site from EBay to clothing labels. Specifically advertisers have focused some products and markets in relation to the 24 experience categories.
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| http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/topics/health |
An example of this is the category of Health, where pharmaceutical, healthy eating, health care and dating advertising are focusing their attention to the possible consumers. As Kuttainen (2013) explains with the Natural rules of Economics, at number one is the Rule of Demand, "the more people want something, the more its price goes up and vice versa"(Kuttainen, 2013).
These outside influences of advertising impacts the authenticity of the site and disempowers individuals in this virtual community as the company has shifted its priorities from connecting people to global markets and profit. Despite the positive intentions of the network it seems the site is just another online shopping network where the power of globalisation and profit has taken precedence over individuals, where there will always will be winners and loser (Dicken, 2007, p. 439)
References
world economy (p. 437-453). London, England: Sage.
[PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.edu.au
The Economist. (2012). The third industrial revolution. Retrieved from
Image Reference
Experience project (2013). Health experiences [Image]. Retrieved from:
Hi Nicholas,
ReplyDeleteA great post :)
The changes in the geo-economy have had major impacts and changes in the production, distribution and consumption of goods on a global scale (Dicken,2007 p.437). I feel that this would have been the beginning of the changes that you have observed on your social network, wether it be for better or worse. Perhaps that later in your case, as you seem to have identified that the site has lost its authenticity somewhere along the way? Now it seems that Experience Project are taking advantage of all opportunities to increase their financial gain, instead of bring people together for support and friendship.
Unfortunately these days everything seems to be driven by how much profit one can make, and how successful one can be in the given economy.
Dicken, P. (2007). Winning and Losing: An introduction. In P. Dicken, 5th Edition Global Shift (p. 437). London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
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