Graham Smith’s ‘The Facebook Roadtrip’ is a short documentary that follows Smith as he travels the country to reconnect with people with whom he is friends on Facebook. As Graham Smith puts it, the grad school thesis project is about heading on "a journey to bridge the gap between relationships."
Graham Smith’s ‘The Facebook Roadtrip’ documentary proves that true friendship is enhanced by face-to-face contact—and that the human experience is far more than a mere series of status updates.
Social Networking Sabbaticals
Graham Smith's 'The Facebook Roadtrip' Bridges Gap Between Friends
Trend Themes
1. Relationship Rekindling - As demonstrated by 'The Facebook Roadtrip,' there is a trend of people seeking to strengthen personal relationships through face-to-face interaction.
2. Offline Socializing - As social media fatigue sets in, there is a growing trend of people taking breaks from social networking as a way to prioritize real-life connections over digital ones.
3. Human Experience Enhancement - The success of 'The Facebook Roadtrip' suggests a trend of people seeking to enhance their human experience and emotional wellbeing by investing time and effort into personal relationships, as opposed to just online connections.
Industry Implications
1. Social Media - Social media companies could disrupt their own industry by providing tools and features that encourage face-to-face interaction and strengthen real-life relationships.
2. Travel - Travel companies could capitalize on the trend of relationship rekindling and offer trips or experiences that bring people together, helping them reconnect in meaningful and memorable ways.
3. Entertainment - The success of 'The Facebook Roadtrip' highlights an opportunity for filmmakers and content creators to produce more stories that explore the value and depth of personal relationships and human connection.