Take your pick: Open or closed social network
If you’re on social media, it’s likely that you’re in and have participated in open or closed social networks. Before going into specifics, we have to define what both mean.
An open social network means content on social media is visible publicly by a mass group of users. A public Facebook page, public Twitter profiles, and public Instagram profiles and stories are examples of open social networks.
A closed social network on the other hand means content shared by the individual is restricted to certain users. A closed Facebook group, a direct message to someone or small group of individuals on Facebook Messenger, direct messages on Twitter, and the “Close Friends” list on Instagram are some examples of a closed social network.
There are pros and cons to both social networks which can help us and pose risks at the same time. Here’s a closer look at both.
An open social network tries to reach as many individuals as possible. This can help society by informing us on the services and updates about a particular brand or interest to many people around the world. Therefore, reach is its measure of success.
An example of an open social network I participate in is Wendy’s Facebook page which has 8 million followers and likes from all over the world. This page informs me, and the 8 million other fans deals, upcoming menu changes, and occasional jokes to give the page a personality. The brand is trying to ensure us that we are up to date with whatever is happening.
However, the drawback to these posts are the lack of personal engagement. Plus, the posts are flooded with tons of comments. This can be a potential risk with an open social network because the brand won’t be able to see every single feedback. Direct feedback from fans to brands is imperative.
With an open social network, a user could also connect with other individuals with the same ideas which could lead to networking or friendships. At the same time, individuals might read or see something they may disagree with. This could deter the user from visiting the open social network again. Facebook recently ran into a similar problem. The social app had to crack down thousands of groups on the app and Instagram promoting the QAnon conspiracy theory, according to CNN Business. This is where closed social networks try to fix.
The important aspect of a closed social network is engagement. The quality of the engagement is the most important metric for it.
A closed social network can serve as an escape for individuals who want to find other like-minded individuals with similar interests in a smaller, intimate setting. For example, wine lovers living in the northwest neighborhoods of Los Angeles County can connect with other individuals with the same passion in those neighborhoods in a smaller, personal setting in a private Facebook group created for it. These individuals can post, create polls, share photos, form meetups and do other forms of engagement such as therapy within the Facebook group. However, not anyone or everyone can join this group. Only individuals who meet the credentials set by the moderator can be approved into the group.
Closed social network can create a sense of a close-knit community. This can lead to a sort of belonging for participants, friendships, and other meaningful connections.
However, some risks can come with closed social networks. Such risks include information that can be one-sided and a broken community because members are not liking the content they’re seeing. Also in closed networks, we tend to believe most misinformation friends, family, and communities send us. According to Politico, Europe experience such instance with WhatsApp regarding misinformation about COVID-19. This mishap led the app to limit how many messages a user can forward to others at a time.
To mitigate the risk of such instance, users would need to be open as possible with other points of views. As the moderator for any closed social network, moderate. Lay down the rules, encourage constructive social media dialogue, and boot out the rule breakers. Last, simply do the research. I’ve come across many trending articles, tweets, and Instagram posts that seem authentic because of the thousands of likes and shares. But those posts tend to prove to be false after the research has done.
The future of social media will rely on both open and closed social networks. As a journalist, I prefer to use open social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to promote stories I write or from my colleagues. For Instagram, I enjoy sharing the world my personal side outside of my professional live. However, I prefer a closed social network to communicate with family around the world via Facebook Messenger, and talk to interview sources and other journalists on direct messages on Twitter when the in-person or phone call options are not available. The balance is needed. Social media users need the option to join public and private groups to share whatever they want privately or publicly.
So, do you prefer one than the other?
