Full Circle Associates

Stowe Boyd, on Operating Manual for Social Tools comments on a comment Randy Moss left for Stowe (how is that for a convoluted explanation. More chocolate!) Randy suggested that the goals of public social networks are important in different ways than business networks.

I agree with the business and economic motivations of corporate driven social networks, but I feel that there is a middle ground between the Enterprise and Individual supported networks. This middle ground is populated by non-profits.

Non-profit social networks aim to influence behavior but it may not always be for financial gain. Health related networks may look to raise awareness of disease, or influence behaviors to improve health. These activities are fulfilling the goals of the organization but it is a far cry from corporate sales, and profit margins.

This is often true in the international development world where social networks are increasingly seen as an effect medium for change because the NGO doesn't own them. The NGO taps in, but the network itself determines the outcome. This creates possibility for sustainability, change and development that reflects the users of what is being developed. It is more than participatory development. It is network owned development.

The barriers to these sorts of networks are still often forms of government controls, either of resources, communications channels (no VOIP in X country), or policy that makes the desired change illegal.