In the 21st century, social networks have become the most influential medium for constructing symbolic value in non-personal environments such as academia, professional fields, business, and institutional contexts. These networks are not merely communication channels; they are environments where reputations are shaped, credibility is built, and influence is exercised. In such contexts, the strategic use of social networks lies in their ability to install functional myths that precede action and define symbolic value.
Symbolic Value: The Essence of Influence
Symbolic value is the social construct that gives meaning to individuals or organizations beyond their utilitarian function. It answers the implicit question: What do they represent? It shapes how people are perceived, trusted, and followed. In adaptive environments, symbolic value is a gravitational force that attracts attention, enables engagement, and provides legitimacy. It must be earned through actions that resonate with others, not claimed through self-referencing.
The purpose of social networks in non-personal use is to build this symbolic value. However, symbolic value is not created through marketing tactics or teaching strategies; it is built through genuine giving, the provision of meaningful value that is recognized by the audience.
To manage this, it is necessary to be fully aware of the functionality of symbolic value in its three basic fields of application:
- Social symbolic value – https://www.unicist.org/research/social/symbolic-value-in-societies/
- Symbolic value in the field of innovations – https://www.unicist.com/marketing/symbolic-value/
- Personal symbolic value – https://www.unicist.net/management/personal-symbolic-value/
The Unicist Functionalist Perspective
From a unicist functionalist standpoint, the use of social networks can be understood as a functional system composed of three integrated elements:
- Purpose: Giving
- Active Function: To provide social contributions that enhance the value of the audience.
- Energy Conservation Function: To open new possibilities for those who receive such contributions.
Symbolic value is not a decorative label; it is the consequence of a structured interaction between these three elements. The communication must express meaningfulness (active function), be recognized as useful or inspirational (energy conservation), and align with the identity and functionality of the person or institution (purpose).
Genuine Giving and Empathic Resonance
At the heart of symbolic value is the act of genuine giving. In social networks, this means delivering insights, actions, or content that others perceive as valuable without expecting immediate reciprocity. However, genuine giving is not abstract generosity; it requires empathic perception of what the audience values and needs.
Giving is only effective when it is received and recognized. In this way, the symbolic value is not only built but confirmed by the environment. When this process is repeated consistently, it installs functional myths, shared beliefs that precede action and define the identity and credibility of the individual or institution.
Avoiding the Teaching Trap
One of the most frequent dysfunctions in the use of social networks is the adoption of a teaching role. While education is vital in formal settings, it is counterproductive when the goal is to build symbolic value. Teaching implies a hierarchical relationship that positions the audience as subordinates. It requires adaptation to others’ mental frameworks and implicitly challenges them to surpass the teacher. Symbolic value, in contrast, is enhanced when communication empowers rather than instructs.
Instead of teaching, the strategic user of social networks shares reflections, discoveries, and experiences that invite participation and stimulate autonomous thinking. This preserves the balance between influence and respect.
The Role of Influencers as Symbolic Carriers
In this context, influencers play a central role as symbolic amplifiers. Their power lies not in their reach but in their authenticity. To be functional, an influencer must be a genuine follower of the ideas or institutions they represent. They are more than endorsers; they are living evidence of the value they transmit.
This authenticity transforms the communication into a credible expression of symbolic meaning. The audience does not merely listen to influencers—they read into them the symbolic consistency of the entities behind them.
The Role of Influencers as Followers of Symbolic Value
In the context of building symbolic value through social networks, the role of influencers is not to promote products or services, but to act as authentic followers of the symbolic value they represent. This distinction is crucial: when influencers communicate from a position of genuine belief and identification with the values, ideas, or causes they embody, they reinforce and help grow the symbolic value of the entities they represent. When they simply leverage symbolic value to drive sales or self-promotion, they consume it, and by doing so, degrade it.
Influencers as Followers, Not Promoters
To functionally contribute to symbolic value, influencers must be integrated into the idea, brand, institution, or cause they support. This means they are more than users or spokespersons—they are followers in the true sense: people whose identity is, at least partially, aligned with what they represent. Their communication is an act of sharing something they believe in, not a transaction.
Symbolic Value: It Either Upgrades or Degrades
Symbolic value is sustained only by genuine giving. The moment the communication becomes centered on monetization, visibility, or persuasion, the act of giving is replaced by taking. The influencer becomes a beneficiary rather than a contributor. In this shift, symbolic value begins to lose its authenticity, becoming a utilitarian symbol rather than a functional myth.
Domains of Symbolic Value Construction
The use of social networks to build symbolic value differs according to the field of application:
- In institutional settings, it depends on social responsiveness, transparency, and legitimacy.
- In academia, symbolic value is built through contribution to knowledge, methodological integrity, and peer recognition.
- In business, it is constructed through brand consistency, customer orientation, and value creation.
- In professional contexts, it emerges from thought leadership, demonstrated competence, and ethical conduct.
Each domain has different mechanisms of perception, but all are governed by the same structural logic of symbolic value.
Conclusion: Institutionalizing Symbolic Value
Social networks, when used strategically in non-personal contexts, serve to institutionalize symbolic value. They allow individuals and organizations to project their identity, communicate their essence, and build trust over time. The process is not spontaneous, it requires intentionality, coherence, and a profound understanding of how value is perceived in each context.
By avoiding the teaching trap, committing to genuine giving, and acting through consistent influencers, symbolic value becomes a structural asset; one that installs functional myths and positions the user as a credible reference within their environment.
The Unicist Research Institute