What are Social Objects?
February 22, 2009Social objects are the reasons people talk to each other. They bind us together and shape our behavior.
A social object is a shared person, thing, idea, event, or activity that gives people a reason to interact. A project, photo, game, class, or tradition can become the point around which a group forms and talks.
The object is not the goal by itself. Its value comes from the conversation, shared action, and relationships that form around it.
The two essays below explain the theory, then turn it into this practical design method.
Social objects are the reasons people talk to each other. They bind us together and shape our behavior.
Define the objects, name the verbs, network the objects: a framework for designing social networking sites.