I give hundreds of speeches a year to CEOs, Business Owners, and other top executives on Social Media and how it is changing their world right in front of them. Many see the signs and reluctantly agree they need to do something about it. Others still don’t and hope it will go away or flame out as the next fad. Let me share something with you that should definitely change your mind…from the mouths of our kids.
TEDx is a great video channel if you haven’t discovered it – shares some of the most interesting content anywhere in the world in my opinion. As the story goes, social media is changing everyone’s life – either directly or indirectly. It is where people are landing and connecting and talking and sharing – and it is only going to increase. Companies are trying to keep their employees from using it (good luck with that one) and government agencies are blocking it and a host of other factors are in play. They think it is unproductive and a waste of time (which it certainly can be when used improperly). But there is another side to this story…
Our kids are growing up with facebook and blogs and Google as their “primary” means of communication and interaction – many don’t know any better or know the more archaic ways really exist (such as e-mail and direct mail). This is their “new platform” to speak, listen, share, and learn. They are using iPads in classes rather than chalk boards and they are already so far ahead of most of our teachers that they basically ignore what they say about technology. This is our new world. This is your new (and future) employee. This is the new normal. But to really illustrate this point, you have to watch this short video. In a nutshell, it is a 6th grader talking at TEDx in Manhattan Beach, CA about how he is now developing “Apps” for the iphone and other devices. Why? Not to make money, but because his friends wanted them and it was relatively easy to do. They just do it because they don’t know any different. How cool is this…
