How Facebook might be used for Good

From system focused consumers to locally focused citizens.

I know the idea of Facebook being valuable makes many cringe but bare with me. While Facebook does trap many people in filter bubbles keeping them angry and ready for war it is also the only online platform which gives local businesses, artists and ideas the ability to reach local audiences. On Facebook we all use our real names and our networks consists mostly of people in the physical spaces around us (our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, etc). While our views on different subjects may differ with our Facebook friends they are all to a certain extent local and have an interest in local things.

This is a the main feature of Facebook that I feel could be leveraged to accomplish some good in the world.

Over time we as individuals and communities have traded our sovereignty for the security and comfort sold by different systems. The more systems took over the responsibilities we once shared as social and communal beings the less happy we as individuals seemed to become. Sure some of this unhappiness is caused from the frustration we have with the systems and leaders we depend on (expectations) for the most part however I think this way of living is just not natural.

With hard work and dispersed accountability I feel our local communities are capable of providing everything we need to be happy and the work itself is an important ingredient. In many local communities we can work together to have our basic needs for food shelter and security met. This builds relationships and connections. Once here we naturally want to share our gifts, passions and talents with others moving us up lazlo’s hierarchy of needs to Esteem and self actualization.

To get back to a more natural dependency / focus on communities rather than leaders and systems I feel a connective platform local facebook is needed.

Content. Content is what captures our attention online. It is what gets engagement and inspires action. When it comes to local content I feel it’s just not sexy or popular enough. Most local photographers, video producers​ and ​writers have developed their skills following online mentors who travel the world, throwing money around and talking about how happy they are. Inspired by this first wave of successful digital content creators most inspiring creatives take a similar path and sometimes end up serving the same online communities as their mentors.

It seems like everyone is a content creator today and more people than ever are interested in making a living from it.​​ I think it​’​s only a matter of time before creators start focusing on serving local communities. My theory is that you will start to see a few creatives​​ gain local influence and opportunities from their work. From there more content creators will follow and away we go.

When I look at the internet, past the polarizing content all I see are communities united by interests. These communities consists of everyone from hobbyists​ and professionals​ to providers of products and services ​all ​connected by content.

While these are massive online communities what works for the marco will work on the micro. Whether united by a geological location or a common local interest content ​will eventually connect and strengthen our local communities. That said Facebook is currently the only platform that can ​effectively ​deliver this content to the right audience which is why it might actually be used for good some day.

Media is a much needed connective tissue within any and all communities in today’s age. I hope to see a time when it is used to strengthen local communities and perhaps inspire us to live more natural, fulfilling and sustainable lives within them.

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