Social media is a main component of our everyday lives today. As Jerry Kane said in his TEDx Talk, "Social media, I think is here to stay and I don't think we've seen anything yet". We live in a different world when it comes to connecting with others. This new age of social media has been very difficult for me to engage in. I have always been a very private person and have only a few really close friends that I share things with. As Facebook has become more and more popular and my family and friends have used it to connect with me, I have had to reluctantly engage in Facebook. At first and still for the most part, I am just a Facebook observer. I will get on Facebook and see what everyone is doing and what is going on in their lives. Every once and awhile, I will post something, but very rarely. I have shied away from it. I really don't want all of my acquaintances and family for that matter, to know what is going on with me every moment of my life. I completely relate with Alison Graham in her TEDx Talk about how your family and friends think that you know what has been going on with them because they have posted it on Facebook. They think that everyone should know without having a conversation with them.
I can see both the good and bad effects of social media in the lives of my family and in my personal life. I have just begun to learn about Twitter and I have found it fascinating. I love reading the Tweets of the very interesting and educated people I am following. I have noticed that I can get on Facebook and get bored after just a few minutes. A lot of the people on my Facebook share too much of their personal information that just doesn't need to be shared. I enjoy less and less of Facebook. My new favorite is Twitter. I have noticed that I can get on Twitter and be enlightened and motivated by the groups and individuals I am following. I can, however, spend too much time on Twitter. I can see how it can almost take over my life. I am sometimes on my social media as much as my kids and just as Alison Graham has noticed, families can be sitting together and be more interested in the people on social media then on the person in front of them.
I know that social media is a very powerful tool to help change the world as Jan Rezab discussed in his TEDx Talk. He really opened my eyes to how powerful people can be and how one tweet can influence others. It also can be very damaging to companies if tweets go out from someone about complaints they have had. I, however, was very impressed at how much influence social media has on the government. Who knew?
Stephanie, like you, I have not been that engaged in social media. However, my sisters are even more out of the loop. My older sister refuses to set up a Facebook account, but then she gets bent out of shape when our nieces don't connect with her. I have suggested she set a Facebook page under her childhood nickname and only request the people she wants to be her friends. She can lurk, like I do, when it comes to the important information in the lives of our family members. She is still hesitant to do it. My younger sister doesn't have a smartphone or even a computer at home. She is really disconnected. Recently she lost her job of several years. Now she is finding it a challenge to apply for any positions because she doesn't have an internet connection at home and a huge learning curve ahead of her. Unlike applying for a job in the old days, generally businesses have turned to an online application process.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, I agree that many people today don't offer respect to the people they are currently spending time with because they are tethered to their phones. I just wanted to point out the opposite side of the spectrum.
I'm the same way with Facebook. I have an account but I just use it to observe what's going on in other peoples lives. I do have a lot of friends out of state from moving around so much, so I have to admit it is nice to catch up without a phone call to multiple people that demands all of your attention. I just don't want my business shared and I only want a few select people to really know what is going on with me. If people that live in my town want to know what's going on, they can ask me themselves.
ReplyDeleteLinkedIn I have to admit I will use in the future. I thought that it was really nice to have a purely professional form of social media. I can see how making sure my LinkedIn account is up to date and have as much professional information as possible can be beneficial. If for some reason Facebook just shut down, I wouldn't shed a tear.
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteI also find that I do not engage that well with social media. I didn't care to create a Twitter account, and I now have one! I don't use it as regularly as I should. So far the one benefit to having a Twitter account is not seeing what other people are eating for lunch or dinner! Likewise, I see that some things just should not be shared or re-shared.
I find that I am a little old fashioned (so to speak). I prefer to communicate with those directly in front of me. Like you, Facebook is a great go to for family and friend connectedness. Both mine and my husbands families are scattered across the country. Facebook has been a great way for keeping in touch! Alison Graham made very valid points and I found myself relating to most of what she was discussing.
LinkedIn is great for professional connections! Unlike Facebook, the information that is being shared relates to you! It can definitely be asset. It is one account that I will keep for years to come. It can help me grow personally and professionally.