The Odds Against our Voice Being Heard

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Super Savvy Business posted this graphic on Google+ today.  The following is the exchange between us:

"Say what they're thinking," absolutely. "Have their voice be heard," maybe. 

+Ron Villejo why maybe? I think they can make their voice be heard by lots and lots of people... You just need to tap into the right resources (i.e. strategic alliances, online communities, etc.). After all, we're doing the same here on G+, right? :)

+Super Savvy Business Anyone of the 1+ billion on Facebook can post, comment, and like at any time. So even all at once everyone of them can voice what they're thinking.

However, the converse is a different matter altogether. That is, the likelihood of any one post, comment or like being heard, seen or listened to is a tiny fraction. It is virtually impossible for all 1+ billion members to come across every single post etc.

Now, if you're a paying advertiser, then of course Facebook can position your post (e.g., a promotion) in front of many more on the site, using their algorithms. So the likelihood of your target audience coming across your post is a bit greater than a tiny fraction.

It's the sheer volume of posts, matched with the real human limits in cognition, perception and interest, that makes it virtually unlikely that any single "voice" will be heard.

Add Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, plus TV and radio, into the mix, and there is an even more staggering competition and demand for our attention. How much of anyone's voice can we truly hear? Not much, really.
Mark Zuckerberg says what he says, because it's promotional and it's motivating. But it's only half true, at best.   

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD