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1/ I was showing this to a class recently as part of discussions on conformity and social proof in social psychology literature.
ted.com/talks/derek_si…
ted.com/talks/derek_si…
2/ My absolute favorite part is when Derek says:
"As more people join in, it's less risky. So those that were sitting on the fence before now have no reason not to. They won't stand out, they won't be ridiculed, but they will be part of the in-crowd if they hurry."
"As more people join in, it's less risky. So those that were sitting on the fence before now have no reason not to. They won't stand out, they won't be ridiculed, but they will be part of the in-crowd if they hurry."
3/ And then Derek says:
"So, over the next minute, you'll see all of those that prefer to stick with the crowd because eventually they would be ridiculed for not joining in."
"So, over the next minute, you'll see all of those that prefer to stick with the crowd because eventually they would be ridiculed for not joining in."
4/ And I was always so fascinated with this idea as to how people capitulate very very quickly and how incentives change so quickly from not wanting to do something (deep down) to wanting to do it because of the social pressure that comes from noticing prior conformity of peers.
5/ And I guess many of you saw how quickly this played out in the "chowkidar movement" on Twitter.
Notice how quickly, one after another, people changed their names on Twitter to start with "Chowkidar."
A real-time and extremely fascinating case study in conformity!
Notice how quickly, one after another, people changed their names on Twitter to start with "Chowkidar."
A real-time and extremely fascinating case study in conformity!
6/ Changing one’s name is no small matter. Even if it’s only on Twitter. It should be acknowledged however that this movement would have been far more powerful if people started changing their legal names instead of Twitter handles. Imagine that scenario! 😊
7/ Some questions: Is there any Union Minister who didn’t change his/her name on Twitter as part of the “Chowkidar movement?” Who was first to change? Who was the last? Lag between first and last? These are the sorts of questions we ask when we study cases in conformity...
8/Notice that when you change your name on Twitter in a verified account (blue check mark) then you lose the blue badge. So the people with blue badges who changed their names also acted quickly to get back those badges. Or they got Twitter to not delete those badges.
9/ The whole thing is so fascinating from a social psychology perspective. 😊. End
A friend informs me that you have to change username to lose the blue badge. It’s not lost on other changes so I stand corrected on that point.
10/ The social pressure on the last guy in the cabinet to join the cult was just too much... 
