One problem we’re currently facing is global warming. Since this is the result of everyone’s actions, this problem is impossible to solve without group collaboration. There are already several Facebook and online applications which allow you to monitor your carbon footprint and give suggestions for ways to decrease your impact on the environment.
Vieweg et al. have proven that social networking sites such as Facebook are highly effective means for problem-solving. Therefore, I believe that if everyone displayed a measure of their carbon footprint on their SNS page, they would be motivated to compete to lower their environmental impact. As long users take this system seriously, I think this badge would be a good reputation system and would be very effective way to use technology to solve this problem.
If this system included a bulletin board or forum feature, users could share their tips and techniques for reducing environmental impact. It would be easy to verify that poster’s advice is valid – a quick check of their carbon footprint would allow you to easily decide whether to follow this persons advice or not. This would solve issues of trust.
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This is something I am very interested in and agree that without full group collaboration it would continue to create havoc. I agree that having users compare carbon footprint may work for a good number but it would take a number of persuasive tools ie contests to get many of facebook users to actually compete. What would help would be something to verify that the users are reducing their carbon footprints and to provide links to information that is not too demanding as far as reading is concerned.
ReplyDeleteI think another way that the SNS display would help is that people would be under impression management restraints. No one would want to give the impression that they do not care how large their carbon footprint is for fear of judgment by other users. I wonder what the reaction would be if SNS programs included this as a default setting in user profiles.
ReplyDeleteThis is very a very interesting way to look at the global warming problem. I think having people come together and attempting to come up with a solution could bring in many different viewpoints and ideas. Also, I agree that by having people post their carbon footprint they will become aware of what they are doing. People tend to follow the behaviors of the people they are surrounded with. By all collaborating via the same online group, they can potentially come together, influence others and make significant changes. Great post!
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