Hug the World! - Web 2.0 Success

[David Delgado]

One of the best examples of successful use of Web 2.0 technologies. A HUGE success worldwide in less than 10 months. See the FACTS involving video broadcasting, social networking, YouTube, MySpace, Facebook and much more at http://eduspaces.net/davidds/weblog/185320.html

What do you think about it?

[Dominic Atkinson]

Hi David

For me, this shows how the world is speeding up....

Five years ago, a guy put in an ad in a newspaper (remember those.... :-) ) asking people to join him. That was all, nothing else.

Eventually, he ended up with joinees from all around the world who performed random acts of kindness every week..... see more here....

http://www.join-me.co.uk/news/five-years-of-join-me.html

Really similar to "Free Hugs" but the speed of uptake for Free Hugs has been incredibly quick in comparison...was this because of the changes we've seen in technology to connect people, globally?

Maybe....

[David Delgado]

I did not know the "Join Me" movement, but it was aslo a big movement created by the idea of a single person. It is very interesting. Juan Mann really started the "Free Hug" movement in 2004, and since then, he goes to the street every Thursday in Sidney to offer Free Hugs for everybody. The big point here is how Web 2.0 technologies make the difference in the spread of an idea, or a social movement, or any kind of social networks: thinks happen really fast.

It was just posting a video at YouTube the thing that started the international movement 2 years later, the web page and the forums helped to communicate and create local groups, then it spreaded also throught the most important social networks on the Internet: MySpace and Facebook. You can also follow news from the blogs at Technorati and links in del.icio.us. The very main website of the Sick Puppies, the group who gave the song to the movement is in the same social networking platform we are using right now: Ning, and they are also supporting the movement there.

The aggregation of all those succesful Web 2.0 technologies is what makes it spread like fire. That's why I see it as an example of successful use of Web 2.0. When you go to the "Join Me" website, they still ask you to send a passport photo by post mail to join the movement. There is a BIG difference in that.

[Ignatia]

thanks David
Very inspiring on an warm level and indeed a social web success story.
Trying to hug the world here, starting with every colleague, team member, cats and dogs on the street, the sans-papier who is in desperate need of a hug... and of course you: >>hug<<

[David Delgado]

Thank you, Ignatia. I also think it is a great idea for a movement, it has been spread by technology, but it is purely human: just hug people, remember we all need a hug, to feel the phisical presence of others. A big hug for you too. :-)