Is the internet good for society? For those of us who work to build up a particular place, should we be online or on the streets? Owosso has a new online social network designed to specifically strengthen community, and it seems off to a promising start.
Social Capital. Owosso, like most small towns, works as a community because of the many personal connections and relationships that underlie almost any business, governmental, or nonprofit endeavor. Things happen because people trust one another, or at least they know one another, and thus they know who to call on when they want to get something done. This basic aspect of community has been called "social capital." And just as a place can be evaluated by its economic capital (i.e. monetary wealth) and physical capital (i.e. buildings and infrastructure), we can measure the health of a community by the number and strength of personal connections that exist.
Historically, Owosso's social capital was built almost exclusively on personal encounters that occurred in coffee shops, on downtown sidewalks, and across backyard fences. Read Thomas Mallon's excellent novel "Dewey Defeats Truman," set in Owosso in 1948, to get a feel for how the casual gatherings in peoples homes, face-to-face business transactions, and political rallies in front of City Hall all helped citizens make new connections or deepen existing relationships. Today, we still run into one another in the supermarket parking lot, but people seem so busy and self-absorbed that sometimes weeks go by before I run into certain colleagues or friends.
Electronic Media: Good or Bad? Is the celphone, email, and the World Wide Web to blame for us being isolated from one another? Robert Putnam wrote a book called "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community" that noted the decline in social capital. The title comes from the odd statistical fact that the number of people who go bowling has increased over the last several decades, but the number of people who bowl in leagues has declined. His book recounts how the number of, and participation in, service clubs, organized social functions, and civic events have decreased. Our social capital seems to be eroding.
Among several causes he identifies, one is the rise in electronic communication avenues. He writes, "No sector of American society will have more influence on the future state of our social capital than the electronic mass media and especially the internet." He is not alone in decrying the potential isolating forces of the personal computer. We have a vision of the reclusive geek surfing, alone, through the waves of information and images provided by the internet. Of course, it does put limitless knowledge and worldwide connections on our desktop and now on our smartphones. But, as we participate in chat rooms about our favorite TV shows (or whatever), or conduct business in Asia (or wherever), are we losing connection with our neighbors? Do we know more about what is going on with Grammy Awards (the #1 trending issue on Twitter as I write) than we do with our own community?
CommonPlace. A new effort to use the internet to help people in a place-based community connect with one another has been started by some socially-minded entrepreneurs. Called CommonPlace (you can find our local version at www.ourcommonplace.com/OwossoCorunna), this initiative is now underway in several communities in the US to provide an internet tool for local residents and organizations to share information. Interactions include postings about lost dogs, parade announcements, new business openings, and formation of a community flute choir. Participants have used the service to find someone to practice sign language with, get rid of old equipment, and raise donations for a food pantry.
The idea is to replicate online the social sharing that occurs person-to-person in a community where people see one another regularly. "CommonPlace is designed to encourage users to engage with their neighbors," says organizer Heather Rivard, an Owosso native who returned home after graduating from college and took on the job of initiating this service. CommonPlace financially supported her work along with that of another community organizer. They have in 10 weeks worked signed up more than 900 participants.
Avoiding the Flames. CommonPlace is not unlike other social networks such as Facebook, the comment section of the online newspaper, or email services in that it provides a forum for sharing of information and events. However, it has avoided the negative comments, personal attacks, and rumor-mongering that sometimes dominates online systems. A positive tone has been maintained due to monitoring of posts, the clear delineation of the various forums on CommonPlace, and by limiting users to actual residents of Owosso and Corunna. One is required to provide a street address to sign up, although it is never listed online. This not only diminishes spam and other internet junk, it helps neighborhood posts to be targeted to geographically defined areas.
Social Media and Civic Life. CommonPlace serves primarily to connect neighbors to neighbors, using electronic rather than face-to-face communication. As a City Council representative, I have used it as another platform to provide information to constituents. For more than two years I have been providing a bi-weekly email to several hundred people with news from every Council meeting (if you would like to receive these updates you can sign up here). I have started to post a copy of this update on CommonPlace as a way to further dialogue. It is unclear yet whether this is reaching a new audience or otherwise facilitating the civic life in Owosso.
The City of Owosso, like other local governments, is trying to use the internet and social media as a way to engage citizens. With a limited budget, the City has yet to re-design its official website, but it still provides a static way to disseminate information. Recently, the City established a Facebook presence, something our neighbor Corunna has successfully promoted. In addition, Owosso has made use of online survey tools to garner citizen opinion on street light designs, park improvements, and the updating of its Master Plan. Still, a recent broad survey using both online and hard-copy options discovered that most residents still prefer something they can touch and write on as a way to exchange information and opinions.
Social Media, Social Capital. CommonPlace seems to be an interesting and positive step forward in building social capital in our community. If you have not joined, I would urge you to do so. If you do belong, then you need to not only read the daily updates that are sent out, but also post news, ask questions, or otherwise create opportunities for interaction. The internet is a tool, and it can be used for good or ill, but if it is not used to build community connections it will isolate us further. "Using social media without changing how we think about social change will create only more noise," says Allison Fine in her book "Momentum: Igniting Social Change in the Connected Age." Interestingly, this 2005 book does not mention Facebook, a sign that the electronic landscape changes rapidly around us.
Recommendations for using social media to build social capital:
1. Get online, but use the tools that work for you. CommonPlace is intriguing, but you may find Facebook, Twitter, or other tools a great way to get connected. Don't feel it necessary to use them all, but try something out.
2. Use social media to reinforce, not replace personal interactions. It's extremely efficient to share information online, but take advantage of the tool to say thank you for the coffee just shared, or to post photos from a community gathering, or to organize another face-to-face meeting.
3. Be nice, be responsible. It seems that the disembodied voice a keyboard provides encourages people to say/write/post some mean things. Likewise, sometimes we are quick to read into someone else's 140 character a bad intention that may not be there. Don't type out anything you wouldn't say in person to someone, and seek to clarify what others say before you react. Realize whatever you write online can show up somewhere other than you may have intended. Be transparent.
4. Invite others to join in. A frequent criticism of small towns is that while friendly at first, they are not always open to those who didn't grow up in the place. Social media can be a good way to reach out and create groups and gatherings that are welcoming to newcomers.
Books Mentioned:
Thomas Mallon, "Dewey Defeats Truman"
Robert Putnam, "Bowling Alone"
Allison Fine "Momentum"
