Role Model 3.0 – Are You The Latest Generation?
This post was inspired by Colin Walker’s post Life By Social Media Rules.
Role model: “a person whose behavior, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, esp. by younger people.”
In my opinion, one of the most amazing possibilities of social media is the improved or easier ability to interact with authorities and influencers. Some might call them role models. As a result, I think we’ve seen an evolution in the characteristics of the role model.
Role Model 1.0
When a person is quite young or has limited contact with the world, the people that inspire or influence them are the ones in close proximity: friends, family, neighbours, civic leaders, professionals, and so on. Not only are they physically close, but they are approachable and are willing to enter into dialog with you. Let’s think of them as Role Model 1.0.
Role Model 2.0
As our knowledge of the world expands, directly or indirectly through the influence of mass-media or mainstream media, we hear about people who seem larger than life. They say or do amazing things.
They are accomplished. They are often attractive, witty, and charismatic, although these attributes are often faked through the assistance of other people. These people are like ideals, or idols and they are untouchable and unreachable. They are like perfection in a bottle, but you can never open the bottle. In fact, their handlers prevent you from getting near this “bottle”.
Role Model 2.0 is the realm of the pop musician, actor, professional athlete, national politician, and business leader. And, occasionally, the writer.
Role Model 3.0
Social media has given rise to a new idol. The content creator can write and create profound works while engaging their audience in a two way (or multi voice) conversation. Sometimes the conversation is more important than the content. Sometimes the creator leads the conversation. Other times, they are led. You might argue that they are “firestarters”, to borrow from the work of Duncan Watts, at least where the condictions are ripe for ideas to spread.
Role Model 3.0 maintains authority and respect by being accessible (if only in a virtual sense, but with a physical presence when possible.) Many bloggers are examples of Role Model 3.0 – the tools and mindset of the blogger facilitate the interaction and accessibility needed to pull off the role.
A Note of Caution For The Famous
If we agree that Role Model 3.0 is the next step in the evolution of the role model (and we further agree that’s a good thing…)
There’s a long term trap or danger in becoming famous, having lots of subcribers, and growing your readership: the loss of contact, responsiveness, and connection with your readers.
Part of it is understandable: famous people, authorities, and so on, tend to have less time to spend on interaction as they become entangled in the business of being themselves (an odd statement, but one with a lot of truth in it.)
But, if social media got you to where you are today (I’m thinking of the “A list” of bloggers), you run the danger of becoming irrelevant and losing your authority if you pull away from your audience or you introduce barriers to interaction.
I believe that the “A list” bloggers pioneered the concept of Role Model 3.0.
However, I also believe that they are gradually falling back to Role Model 2.0 if they ignore their audiences. However, if they don’t have any appeal outside of social media or the blogosphere… then they cease to be role models at all, unless they have enough of a personal life to qualify as Role Model 1.0.
So why should anyone care about being a role model?
Because people will listen when you speak. Because people will care about your opinion. Because people will talk about you and the things that you have to say.
Think about it.
Edit – Apr. 22/08 – it appears that Darren Rowse (Problogger) is thinking about this as well.
Colin Walker:
Great post and ties in nicely with something else I’m planning. This really gets me thinking…
16 April 2008, 7:59 amspostareduro:
oh my gosh Mark…For once, I don;t know what to say! Remarkable and real. So simple it seems, but so avoided in online conversation. Thanks, I’m Stumbling and Sphinning this for sure.
16 April 2008, 8:33 ambrainadmin:
@SpostareDuro – thanks, I really appreciate that. Colin Walker’s post helped me to dig out this concept.
16 April 2008, 8:38 amWhat In the World Is Role Model 3.0?:
[...] Read more Role Model 3.0 – Inspiring, Accessible, Authoritative | Broadcasting Brain [...]
16 April 2008, 8:49 amreddknight:
Your bottom line sums it up. Expertise has its own merits but I believe it means little unless you do something with it and so what’s the point of having a message if you can’t get it to anyone?
16 April 2008, 9:15 amThe only issue I had with the matrix is that I was expecting 2.0, etc. to relate to the Web 2.0 definition.
brainadmin:
@Reddknight – you are correct, the numbering scheme does not relate to the classic “Web 2.0″ definition. However, the way that I’ve described each of these roles, they don’t cleaning align to generations of Web technology, except that Role Model 3.0 wasn’t really possible until Web 2.0 and related technologies became widely adopted.
16 April 2008, 9:24 amColin Walker » Social influence, or “not preaching to the choir”.:
[...] Comments Role Model 3.0 – Inspiring, Accessible, Authoritative | Broadcasting Brain on Life by social media rules.Matt on Advertising on Twitter, kill or cure?Matt Hanson on [...]
16 April 2008, 9:34 ambrainadmin:
@Colin – missed your first comment, but got it now. anyway, good!
16 April 2008, 9:53 amMark Wisniewski:
Great post indeed.
As someone who has been exploring social media for both professional and philanthropy purposes I think you hit it as far as what I am observing as a sense of disconnect (that I and a few other who I discuss this with feel) in regards to the some leaders of social media moving away from the connections and more towards the promotion.
16 April 2008, 11:24 ambrainadmin:
@Mark W. – thanks for your comment. I totally understand that people feel like they might want to move on to greener pastures, but they do stand to give up something in the process.
16 April 2008, 11:41 amEmma Ferns:
Great post indeed. I just had a family member today (who recently joined skype) asking me what on earth blogging and social media/networking was – this post is an excellent place for me to start with her, so thanks!!
16 April 2008, 1:49 pmbrainadmin:
@Emma – I do have other posts that talk about blogging and social media. This post specifically talks about role models, so it might not be the best place to start. But thanks.
16 April 2008, 2:08 pmDan Thornton:
Really interesting post, and something I hadn’t seen considered.
The only major point I’d stress is that 2.0 and 3.0 don’t replace 1.0. It’s an ‘AND’ process, rather than an ‘OR’ process. I still admire my father, and I still admire an actor like Harrison Ford (to pick a random example), but I might also admire and contact and chat with someone like Hugh McLeod (to pick another random example).
And role models can crossover. My dad could star in a film, or be a prominent blogger. Will Wheaton (the ex Star Trek actor), has a popular blog and Twitter following. And I’m sure an A list blogger will pop up in a film at some point.
What’s difficult with 3.0 is to maintain the same level of intimacy and contact with 3000 people as you did with 50. Either you clone yourself, delegate, or focus on the people you feel closest too. But finding the right balance is tricky…
16 April 2008, 5:01 pmbrainadmin:
@Dan – yes, exactly: you can be 1.0 and 3.0 OR 1.0 and 2.0. I don’t think you can really be 2.0 and 3.0 at the same time.
Roles can vary by situation, yes.
There’s no question that more voices, questions, and comments take time. But to ignore them altogether would be a mistake, in my opinion.
16 April 2008, 5:36 pmRemarkablogger:
Right on with this, Mark. Love the similarities between 1.0 and 3.0. Markets, as Cluetrain told us long ago, are indeed conversations. The problem with fame is that as a single person, when you get famous you don’t “scale.”
16 April 2008, 10:04 pmbrainadmin:
@Remarkablogger – thanks. I think the “scaling” thing is a bigger problem than the table acknowledges and I may write a follow up article that looks at this from a different perspective.
16 April 2008, 10:11 pmWinExtra » From the Pipeline - 4.16.08:
[...] Role Model 3.0 – Are You The Latest Generation? :: Broadcasting Brain – a very interesting concept of the web, social media, bloggers and role models. [...]
16 April 2008, 11:31 pmML2 daily 04/17/2008:
[...] Role Model 3.0 – Inspiring, Accessible, Authoritative | Broadcasting Brain – Annotated [...]
17 April 2008, 5:31 amThe potential downsides of Role Model 3.0 | Broadcasting Brain:
[...] Yesterday’s post and diagram: [...]
17 April 2008, 7:17 amStop Selling and Start Giving:
[...] Role Model 3.0 – Are You the Latest Generation? by Mark Dykeman [...]
17 April 2008, 8:48 amColin Walker » What makes a good social media role model?:
[...] Social influence, or “not preaching to the choir”. on Life by social media rules.Role Model 3.0 – Inspiring, Accessible, Authoritative | Broadcasting Brain on Life by social media [...]
17 April 2008, 4:19 pmMichael Beck:
Loren Feldman would be the anti-Role Model 3.0 for sure then.
He’s starting the new movement: Web 3.0: F@$* you. It’s all for me.
18 April 2008, 8:17 amHow Not To Write:
I think you should add more significant digits. Considering the number of subscribers to my feed, I’m definitely a high Role Model 0.03
18 April 2008, 8:32 ambrainadmin:
@Michael – welcome! I haven’t seen any of Loren’s stuff, but I hear he doesn’t pull any punches.
@How Not To Write – the big flaw of Role Model 3.0, of course, is that I’m mixing in star power and reputation with being a model of good conduct. Sometimes the best role models are overlooked or unknown. And horribly unappreciated.
18 April 2008, 8:42 amBenjamin Wittorf:
That was an interesting read. I just don’t agree with the term “role model”, as this is what you can be (for others), but not what you do. Name it what it is: an “opinion leader“.
18 April 2008, 9:17 ambrainadmin:
@Benjamin – welcome! Now you’ve added a whole extra dimension to this… more tweaking…
18 April 2008, 9:36 amThe microcelebrity mix-up or Role Model 3.0 revisited | Broadcasting Brain:
[...] One year ago today I wrote a little blog post about something that I called Role Model 3.0. [...]
16 April 2009, 6:01 amWhat makes a good social media role model? » Walker Media:
[...] on from his previous post Mark Dykeman takes a look from a contrary point of view and says that being a Role Model 3.0 may [...]
20 June 2009, 2:40 amSocial influence, or "not preaching to the choir". » Walker Media:
[...] Mark Dykeman of the Broadcasting Brain followed up on my post “Life by social media rules” and went on to discuss the nature of role models and the part they play. Role models are perfect examples of influencers in action; kids will always emulate their favourite sports star, dress like a pop star and buy products advertised by film stars – it’s all part of the learning experience and the road to becoming your own person. The twist with mark’s post, however, is that he argues the existence of different types of role model based on the method of exposure and sphere of influence. [...]
20 June 2009, 2:42 am