Humans Of The Web
An Introduction To Netnography
The gifts of our colors may be different, but God has so placed us as to journey in the same path — James Fenimore Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans
Netnography is the observation of human behavior on the internet. Today, businesses of all sizes use expert netnographers to to observe how people interact on the internet. This article introduces readers to netnography.
As a child, I heard stories about the Masai-a tribe mainly residing in Kenya and Tanzania. I was told the Masai could stare down a lion. They also happen to be one of the tallest people in the world with an average height of 6ft, 3 inches. I was very keen to observe the tribe in person.
About a decade ago, I received an invitation to attend a family wedding in Kenya. It was more than just a wedding for me. Not only was it my first time outside India but it was also an ethnographic dream come true. Africa, to me, is the continent where it all began — home to our ancestors and rich in natural beauty beyond comparison. My trip to Kenya proved that and much more.
Today, the modern tribe lives on the internet. Naturally, the internet represents a giant social experiment. It is of interest to business and to…
