I think the era of close, warm online connections with others is over—if they ever existed, for that matter. Perhaps the enthusiasm and ease with which we threw ourselves into online communities just a few years ago was largely a result of our own open-mindedness and the allure of the new. We simply have a strong tendency to want to "belong."
I think this is the source of the Facebooker's and Instagrammer's gloom: you're a member of various online communities, and everyone makes themselves heard and seen all day long, but what do those people really mean to you? Would you recognize them if you met them on the street? And vice versa? And would they take you to the pub for a drink? Those photos show friendship and conviviality – so you weren't there, you weren't invited. Apparently, you're only nice enough to 'like' the photo.
Now that we're seeing people leaving social media en masse—as telegram data part of a social gathering, not as passive readers—I wonder: where are they going next? And how can you, as a communications professional, respond to this?
Online communities and offline meetings
I think an online community is still especially valuable if it maintains existing, physical relationships between people. Anyone who can meet their community members in person once a year, every six months, or perhaps even more often can bridge the gap online. Social media is ideal for this. Ideally, online is an extension of an offline community.
Trends indicate that offline meetings are growing strongly in popularity again. One example is the rebirth of the town hall meeting , where people gather in a small room, either locally or around a specific interest. People want to see faces to the story again, they want to exchange information, and seek support. They want to look each other in the eye again. To literally "bump into" each other. People don't come for you; they come for each other. You are the reason, the facilitator.
Example: Tegenlicht Meet Ups
Something similar is happening with the VPRO Tegenlicht documentaries, which address a social issue. These are now always followed by a Meet Up , a local gathering of like-minded individuals who want to continue exploring the theme within their own circles. The Tegenlicht Meet Ups are a success and have given the program a second life. Instead of being a "transmitter," Tegenlicht became an active player, a "facilitator." This transition from "I" to "we." This is the movement that underlies every successful community.