Social Scoring and Peer Influence
In today’s online world social scoring systems like the new Klout matter, unfortunately. For example, some jobs are tied to scores now.
Scoring systems encourage people to build wide networks to foster reach and create the perception of influence.
The highest scoring “influencers” like to think they deliver widespread impact with their followings. Every single book I’ve read by a blogger on influence claims this.
In actuality, that influence lies closer to home.
When real researchers parse influence we get a different story than the blogger myth propagated by social scoring. Instead, we see that true influence comes from those who are closest to us in our on and offline social networks, our peers.
As the old adage goes, “You are who you hang out with.”