the internet participation spiral

The Participation spiral

Prepared by Vahid MasrourPresented to Impact Alliance

June 2010

Participation Level 1: Consumer

a.k.a.= Lurker= Silent majority= Observer

You can find them about here

Participation Level 2: Interactor

a.k.a.= Opinionator= Supporter= Commentator

You know where to find them: around here.

Participation Level 3: Producer

a.k.a.= Creator= Writer= Generator

Everybody know they’re here

Participation is a two way street

2. Creating content

1. Consuming content

Consuming, Creating, and in between

Consuming• Reading• Learning• Absorbing

Creating• Writing• Publishing• Sharing

In between, something happens:Confidence + Trust

Emerges and interaction begins

Stairway to Confidence + Trust

Does this community satisfy my needs?

Will my participation be well received?

Yay! Somebody actually replied to my post!

Participation as a lifecycle

1. We are all consumers

2. It’s not that hard to become interactors

3. We are all (potential) creators

Deliver relevant content

Make participation

easy and meaningful

Facilitate content

creation, publishing and

interaction

What’s a (virtual) community to

do?

The community as a network

Everybody is a valued part of the community / network: Everybody is/can become a generator

The generator’s attitude

“I am but a dot, but this dot can help make a difference”

The generator’s key attitudesI have something to say / I can create stuff

that is relevant / I can share stuff that is interesting

Feeling assured that “Someone is bound to look at it”

I am (everyone is) a valued part of the network (mankind)

Questions regarding fostering the community

and its relationships

What needs to be done so that relationships are established

between the parts?

What should the environment provide to nourish relationships?

What can the community do to help each member become a generator?