Business
Facebook states its mission as connecting people the world over. But while social networks are capable of overcoming the technological barriers to achieving this, there are still mountains to climb when it comes to cultural and societal challenges. In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast I talk to Michael Marquardt, a global business advisor who has spent 25 years living and working throughout Europe, Asia and America. Michael serves on several boards for organisations around the world, advising not just on business practice but also on the cultural differences between different countries. We discuss the world from a digital standpoint, looking at how different cultures view the internet and social media, and what the future of social networks around the world might be. Here's what is discussed in this episode: How the internet has developed in different regions of the world How different cultures think about social media Why a global view of social media can be a huge business advantage How sharing of personal information online has been influenced by global history Why local knowledge is so advantageous What the challenges of fragmented social media around the world are How WeChat differs from western social networks and reflects local society Why social networks are culture-led not technology-led How data privacy issues have not touched some Asian countries yet Why technological innovation in Asia can be attributed to lack of privacy concerns Whether there is such a thing as global social media What the future of social networks around the world might be What to do Next Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!