the MBUOSM check-up

I've discovered a handy way of running a quick health-check on Western civilisation. Simply google the phrase 'make better use of social media' to receive an instant check-list of which of our beloved institutions are feeling a bit under the weather. High on the list, one discovers:

- governments

- government departments and the public sector

- journalists

- sporting organisations

- small businesses

- charities

- more government

I came across an article last week (which I now can't find) on how scientists can help Britain's economy return to growth. Recommendations included: be more innovative, spin-out more businesses and MBUOSM (as I shall now insist it's called). That's science sorted. Please send in the Catholic Church.

Comments

[IanC]

There are 3 stages with any new technology that appears to be ready to sweep the world and have enormous impacts.

First, military and security applications, in parallel with criminal ones.
Close second, pornographic ones.
Third, governments and policymakers everywhere panic that they are failing to 'harness the power' of new technology x.
In the case of social media, there seems to be an assumption that because 'everyone' is using social media for gossip, abuse, dating, self-promotion etc that people will like, use and trust government/business/NGO information more if it also available on Twitter etc. It doesn't follow.