Group Three.

Networks have always been a part of humanity.  Extended family networks were probably the first networks created, followed by trade networks.   Because I studied biological anthropology as an undergrad, I automatically begin to think of all the reasons humans have the tendency and ability to create social networks and all the reasons human begins exist as they do now because of the fact they have networks.  Human beings have small, helpless infants (unlike fish that are born knowing how to swim or horses that can run within minutes of birth) and these offspring would not be able to survive without a tight, close-knit network of support (usually in the form of extended family or very strict gender roles) ready to offer extensive care and education.  Without networks, humans would not have evolved the way they did.

It has been proven in Chimpanzees that the more charismatic the individual, the greater survival chances by making "friends" and acquaintances within the group.  Basically, the more pleasant and friendly you are, the more others wish to assist you or push you ahead in a group.  This is very true with humans today.  Some individuals are naturally endearing and have an innate ability to be charismatic.  These personality qualities can be seen as positive evolutionary characteristics, the more connections you make, the larger your support network.  And in an animal whose survival is often based on a strong, active network, these characteristics can be life-savings.


Today, the stronger your networks, the greater power, influence and opportunities you wield.  Networks take time and time is a very precious commodity in the modern world.  I wonder if people today spend too much time extending their social networks and not enough time cultivating the "nodes" within them.  With Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, SoundCloud, Netflix etc. etc. people spend greater amounts of time refining, expanding, displaying and creating who they are.  But, is all this time worth it?  What is the ratio of time spent organizing and updating your social networks vs. the benefits received from it?  I think today the question is not whether or how to join a social network, but which ones will serve your goals and desires best and delve in more deeply.