The New Digital Divide – Why You Should Be Adding Pictures and Videos to FaceBook

I am getting increasingly obsessed with the Digital Divide occurring in the online social world. I think we are seeing the split on two levels. First is the amount of “friends” and willingness to connect to people. Second is the amount of media added to social networks. Although, the issues are related, I am thinking about media this morning. Recently, I have been asking all of the young people I meet about their content on FaceBook and looking at my friends on FaceBook to see how they have filled out their profile and what kind of content they add. It is increasingly clear that photos is a key “fulcrum.”

The Kids have described their FaceBook presence in two ways. They either are “not really into FaceBook” and have five to six hundred friends, or they “like FaceBook” and have twelve to fifteen hundred friends. Old people like me (mid 30s) tend to have the same descriptions but the number of friends change from thirty five to one hundred and fifty friends on the low side to three hundred to seven hundred friends. Are we older people less social? In theory, we know a lot more people. Especially someone like me who went to a high school with 2,500 kids (Bronx Science) and a college with 30,000 (Michigan) and 15 years working in multiple jobs in multiple states. So why do I have less “friends” than the “loser” kids?

I am convinced the answer is very simple. Pictures. Looking at the kids online they have 800 – 1,500 pictures posted and tagged. They are taking pictures all of the time, out with friends or at practice or on vacation. The end result is they are easier to find in their exteded network. Simply being associated with more people in more locations makes them easier to find and connect with.

What am I doing to change this? As you can see in the picture I am starting to take pictures everywhere. From getting a haircut to dinner with friends to events that I attend. If I am in a “group” with people I will share the pictures by adding them to the “group.” I am using my iPhone heavily which results in so so pictures and making a habit of bringing the nice digital camera with me. I have also dug into storage and pulled out an old photo album that I will start scanning and adding photos from the old days. Especially all of those group photos from trips and adventures. Tagging the photos and adding captions is key to creating interaction. I think of this as “finishing.”

What can you do? Start by setting up a process that works for you. Get your process down so you do not have to think about it. It is great to have a mobile solution for adding photos. FaceBook makes this easy with FaceBook Mobile. At the least, get comfortable exporting your photos from the software you manage your photos on your computer and adding to FaceBook. If you have a scanner, bring on the past. If not, think about taking a bunch of pictures into your local photo shop or get a friend to help you.Whatever you do, document your life.

If you are adding pictures by the dozen, think about adding videos. Keep them short unless you are the next Steven Spielberg. Whatever you do, add more media and tag it.

Look at your settings in FaceBook, decide what you are comfortable with. I leave my pictures so that Friends of Friends can view them. This is a great way to find more friends, that you should be connected with. When you see your friends in pictures, tag them. Think of tagging people as a public service. This is a great opportunity to lead by example. As you take a few minutes here and there to tag people, you will encourage others to tag. Like stars in the sky, there are over 10 billion photos on FaceBook. Remember, on FaceBook you are the Star, Shine Bright.