Brand - Is it Always Positive When Things Synchronize?

In an earlier blog we considered the 'firefly effect' identified by Trone Brand Energy.  This phenomenon can bring male fireflies into synchronous effect so the light of many male fireflies attracts greater numbers of  females to mate with them.

As brand developers and designers, we are interested to influence large groups of consumers.  With new technologies this seems to be more possible and affordable then ever before.  But are the things we use to create synchronous behaviors always positive or do we create experiences that are less than positive for the consumers we seek to influence.

Steven Strogatz explores synchronous behavior in nature and finds four rules that seem to apply in biological systems as well as some situations that have not created a positive experience.  Enjoy Steven in this TED Video and then add your comment on a positive or negative experience that has resulted from a 'brand influencer program' you were involved in.