Story 1.
My eldest daughter (11) has just joined Instagram. She spends her evenings with her nose firmly pressed against the screen of an iPad flicking from one picture to the next.
I decided to find out what Instagram is (after all, she is my eldest daughter, a little parental care would be a good thing). This is what I found out…
- Instagram started 4 years ago
- It is an on-line mobile photo sharing service
- It has over 100 million active users
- A distinctive feature is that it confines photos to a square shape
If that doesn’t explain it, maybe this will help… The top 5 instagram accounts are:
- Kim Kardashian – 3,673,040 followers
- Justin Bieber – 2,784,682 followers
- Kendall Jenner – 2,520,887 followers
- Taylor Swift – 2,476,185 followers
- Kylie Jenner – 2,223,420 followers
All of which begs two questions in my middle-aged mind:
- Who is Kim Kardashian?
- Why would you bother?
I asked my daughter those very same questions. She just looked at me and rolled her eyes. Apparently I’m an old fool who needs get out and learn something new.
Story 2.
If you google “Board of Directors” here are some of the photos you will find:
Can you spot the difference?
The old white guys in dark grey suits from Switzerland have handily put number badges on to help answer my question. That is Teutonic efficiency for you.
And the link between story 1 and story 2?
I’d like to bet that not one of the people in these pictures follows Kim Kardashian on Instagram.
Maybe I’m not the only old fool who needs to get out and learn something new.
If you spend your life talking to people who look just like you and dress just like you and act just like you how on earth do you expect to learn anything new?
I bet the founders of Instagram don’t wear grey suits.
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The idea for this post came from a Tom Peters talk, you can watch it here
James,
Giving your 11 yo an Instagram account has made it really difficult for me to tell my 12yo, who wants an Instagram account (because everyone else has one): so, when your friends jump off a cliff, will you do that, too?
Annette :-)
I am sure Eva would welcome a “friend” from California with open arms. Just as long as he really is 12 and not 21.
Sorry, I am a weak parent
James,
I think the user data here: http://jennstrends.com/instagram-statistics-for-2014/ may explain the disconnect.
Do you think that Board members need to be on these platforms or just know about them? Nothing worse than someone trying to be ‘down with’ the kids.
Adrian
Thanks for the link, I suspect you are right about being “down with the kids” at least judging by the look on my daughter’s face.
But knowledge wouldn’t be a bad thing
I am self employed, so I don’t have a company as such.
I still prefer music from the 60’s to the 80’s, know who Kim Kardassion is (but don’t follow her and don’t know how to spell her name.) I also know who Justin Bieber is… sadly… but there are hundreds of celebrities out there I have no idea who they are.
I went to a meeting recently and I was the only one with a suit, but it makes me more comfortable on a first visit.
When I work with the folk in a company, I dress more casually (or mirror their dress if in suits) but still, I hope, I dress smartly.
I can build a computer from parts, but don’t like folk texting each other during meetings. I still believe in manners…
I have a Twitter account I rarely use: a Facebook account I don’t post to – but do read updates; and I do like using LinkedIn.
The way people dress is not what they are but sadly people do judge folk on their appearance and I wonder how accurate it is?
In the 1970’s we all rebelled and wanted to dress differently – so we did.
We all dressed in jeans, T-shirts and sand shoes and baseball boots: it was, though we would never admit it, “our” uniform. We still wear jeans and T-Shirts today but carry mobiles in our hands – not our pockets – and wear expensive trainers.
Back to the question and not the article…
I think I am still innovative in group meetings or when I see a problem. Most folk I discuss problems with have good suggestions for solutions.
In the right environment, everyone can be innovative, irrespective of their dress.
Innovation can limited to the design department or be promoted as a culture, like lean thinking.
I guess it normally takes a need to prompt change – more old folks advice “necessity is the mother of invention”.
A very good point Steven, should you worry if there is nothing to worry about?