We live in a time of radical change. Today, individuals use technology to exchange information in a way never seen before. Internet connectivity has altered the meaning of geographical distance and everything and everyone is knowable thanks to Google.
But perhaps the biggest change is the advent of social media. Social media and mobile technologies have accelerated the rate at which relationships develop, information is shared and influence takes hold. People now use social technology to help shape the world’s events and culture.
From the Arab Spring to the global Occupy movement, citizens of all nations are more empowered than ever before.
Yet despite the potential power that social media has in accelerating change, it hasn’t lived up to its expectations.
Cute cat photos usually go more viral than meaningful content. People’s newsfeeds are cluttered with “selfie” and self-absorbing updates. The majority of social media has become banal and superficial, delivering cheap thrills that are quickly forgotten.
Cats are cute but it’s ideas that will shape our future.
That’s why we’re building Ideapod, a place where conversations happen at the level of ideas. Our aim is to put authentic expression at the forefront of the social conversation, facilitating deeper human connections than are possible on Facebook, Twitter, et al. We believe that people connect best over shared ideas.
How does it work?
Ideas are 1000 characters long, and can include an image or Youtube/Vimeo video. We also have a mobile app being released soon which will allow the sharing of 45 second idea videos.
Content spans a wide range of topics from opinions on technology, wisdom and creativity to ideas on mind and body health. Notable users include Brian Solis, Jason Silva, Amir Dossal and Jeremy Waite.
Today, regardless whether you’re from Mexico, India or Australia, we all have the power of the internet in our hands to share our ideas to better change the world.
We owe a huge debt to Confucius, Aristotle, Plato, Kant, Darwin and Einstein for their contribution to human knowledge. However, idea-making is not only the providence of the intellectual elite. While the opportunities to have your ideas heard didn’t exist 10 years ago, now anyone around the world can share an idea and connect with someone else on the basis of that idea. The people have become empowered and every person’s voice matters.
