66. People Expect Online Interactions to Follow Social Rules

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What does the term social media mean?

We consider social media a "social" software or application we can use to brand and market our business or other professional entities effectively online. Have you considered that ALL online interactions are social interactions? The very act of logging onto a website is social interaction.

Pause here a moment and let's look at rules for social interaction person to person...

Rules for Social Interaction

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The same rules of social interaction that we just saw, can apply to our online interactions.

Online Social Interaction

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How to apply this to design?

"When you’re designing a product think, about the interactions that the person will have with it. Do the interactions follow the rules of a person-to-person interaction?"

"Many usability design guidelines for products are actually guidelines that connect to social expectations for interactions. Follow basic usability guidelines and you’ll be more assured of meeting interactive expectations."

Weinschenk, S., PH.D. (2011). 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People [Kindle]. pg. 153