Sean Watson's Blog

The Social Media Agreement (Extending the Social Contract)

The Players

Creators – People that provide Systems for the public’s use whether free or paid

System – The tool or tools a Creator makes available for Users

Users – Us, the public, the consumers/constituents/clients/friends/people

User Community – A group of Users that form a community interested in a System

Facilitators – Those of us that help System Creators understand the needs of Users, and vice versa

The Agreement

Note: This is a social agreement that is a list of principles, and not a contract, or a list of rules.

1. Creators make Systems that create potential value for Users
2. Users create value for themselves and others using the Creator’s Systems
3. Useful, Fun, and Effective Systems are marketed by Users through viral marketing (evolutionary style, best systems win)
   1. Facilitators work to build a community of Users that feel a sense of ownership of, and responsibility for, the Creator’s system – This ensures that Creators are supported in continuing their work, as well as improving and expanding their System
   2. Facilitators work to support Creators in taking ownership of the welfare of their Users and the User Community that forms around their System
4. Users provide honest feedback to other Users about Systems (good, bad, or otherwise)
5. Users allow Creators a reasonable amount of time to make reasonable adjustments to their Systems
6. If Creators are non-responsive, Users move on to other options (again, market evolution)
7. Users are open (though not required) to allowing Creators to understand and admit their mistakes, and take action to correct them
8. Creators openly admit mistakes and omissions, ask Users for input, and then take corrective actions
9. Users will create value for Creators if they get value from the Creator’s Systems (through trade, money, appreciation, and other means)
10. Loyalty is not based on control, but rather responsiveness to needs and social connections between Creators and Users
    1. Facilitators build and support the connections between Creators and Users
11. Transparency is inherent in the system, because communications are publicly available
12. Users and Creators work together to meet each others needs, mainly to Create, Be Of Value, and Sustain Themselves

What Do You Think?

What do you like about this contract? What’s missing or not working?