Few of us will notice just how much social media and the internet have become central to our lives. It meets a lot of our needs as humans on multiple levels. Not only basic needs, but needs found almost at all levels! Thanks to Maslow we know that the most basic needs of humans are firstly basic living needs, followed by feelings around safety (second level), being loved by family and friends (third level), feelings of accomplishment (fourth level) and feelings of self-realization (top level).
John Antonios published how Maslow's Hierarchy of needs are met through social media. How does social media meet our needs on almost all levels?
Antonios makes the case that social media not only helps us to create feelings of security and safety (for example through LinkedIn), but also allows us to share friendships and build relationships. Facebook and Google+ are examples. Source: John Antonio's Social Media Hierarchy of Needs
Twitter help us satisfy our need for self esteem, but ultimately blogs satisfies our need for self actualisation.
Social media has the benefit of being free and available to all. Everyone can have their needs met in these ways. Some levels are used by more people more extensively than others. Professionals who are employed full-time have limited time to use all the tools mentioned, but it is still attainable. It is now possible for any professional to build a personal brand and profile, and satisfy their high order needs by using social media and the internet.
The power of the internet is changing how we think, interact, purchase items and indeed satisfy needs even on the highest level. In the end, these tools help us to connect with others in ways that were not available in the past. We should embrace this as a big opportunity.
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