If you’re weary of OMGOMG social media this and OMGOMG social media that, check out this hilarious video from The Content Wrangler. (Many thanks to Sharon Burton for the heads-up.)
Gotta love those made-up statistics.
Like a lot of people, I’m carefully figuring out for myself the big appeal of Facebook, the point of Tweeting 24/7, the reasons why people create original content and give it to Pinterest absolutely free, and so on. Don’t misunderstand me, though. I am by no means completely dismissing social media’s usefulness.
For instance, I enjoy LinkedIn and YouTube nearly every day. I’ve made great connections and learned a lot using them. The same goes for blogging. Over the last six years, WordPress and Blogger have helped me improve my writing in ways I might never have discovered by more traditional means. Blogging helps showcase my work for prospective clients, and lets them learn a little about me before we meet in person. Readers and I can engage in an ongoing conversation. And, in small doses, Twitter has led me to excellent reading, fascinating research projects, amazing professional resources, and helpful workshops.
But I’m also fortunate enough to have grown up in rural Alabama and Georgia before the advent of satellite TV and broadband cable internet. I like my “alone time,” and feel no need to connect with other people every minute of every day. My best ideas come to me when I’m not plugged in to what somebody else did last night, or what they had for lunch, or whether they like Singer [X] or Athlete [Y].
Next month, I’ll begin a series of posts exploring social media in depth, in order to better understand the ”big deal” about these new technologies. So many people tell me I must adopt and become a total expert at these fads tools right now, or else OMGWTFLOLBBQ I’ll be left homeless and picking up aluminum cans along the highway! And I can’t let that happen! Because, like, you know, like, ohmigawd, like, my utter downfall into ignominy will be chronicled for all the world to see right now right here via social media!1!!
Oh, please.
Facebook, at the ripe old age of eight, is probably the longest-lived social media outlet. Eight years may seem an eternity on the internet, but is hardly a blip in terms of human and societal development. As with most new technologies, I think we’ll need a couple of decades before we can look objectively at the social media phenomenon. Still, though, I’ll give it a try as a relative newcomer.
When will the posts appear? Irony of ironies! You can check my Twitter feed or my LinkedIn profile for updates. If you prefer that the mountain come to Mohammed, just subscribe to this blog using the “Subscribe” feature to the right, and any new posts will come straight to your e-mail inbox.
Do you like or loathe Twitter, or just wish you knew what the fuss is about? Do you have no idea where your best friend has disappeared to, but keep getting his ”Join me on Facebook!” requests in your e-mail? Do you think Tumblr is something in your wedding registry? Do you wish you’d never heard of MySpace? Leave a comment, and let’s talk.