Micro Blogging and Social Networking
Until now, my interest and enthusiasm in both micro blogging and social networking has been, well, lightly existent. I created a Twitter account back in ’09 and used it once. My good friend Barb saw me on there and started following. I had a follower! That would be my last Tweet for four years. At about the same time, I created a Facebook account. Initially, I dove in and started connecting and reconnecting with friends. Something didn’t feel right. The more I searched for friends and monitored my profile, the more I started to feel like I was in high school again. It was like being a part of a giant popularity contest. I backed off.
While I was on hiatus from the digital wave that was surging, the rest of world was changing at an unforeseen pace. Facebook and Twitter were bringing presidents down and changing the face of human relationships. And I was watching it all on TV. I was still resistant. In my mind, all of this media was great for the rest of the world but still just represented digital noise, in regard to my own personal happiness. My relationship with Facebook did peak a bit, as I found it a great alternative to mailing pictures of my kids to grandma. I was able to embrace the simplicity.
Things have changed a little, for me. About three months ago, I reconnected with my lonely Twitter account. Why? It was “required reading” for a tech. class, and it hasn’t been too bad. What I like: posting tidbits, no room for hot air. I have been able to let parents know that assignments are due and quizzes loom in the near future. Also, I have been able to look at a few other Tweets and keep up-to-date on the most current ideas and thoughts in our field. Am I in love with Twitter? No. Do I see its use? Yes.
One social media site that really speaks to me is Goodreads. It’s all the greatness of Facebook with substance. It’s nice to have a place where I can connect with people who like to read and who like to talk about reading. Goodreads offers book reviews by readers and book suggestions from friends and from the algorithms based on my interests. Additionally, it’s easy to use and ascetically attractive. I’ll keep it.
So, in a nutshell, I’m still not in love with social media. I much prefer face-to-face communication, but I see how social media can fill in the gaps created by the limitations of proximity. I’ll keep Tweeting and posting, as needed.
Until now, my interest and enthusiasm in both micro blogging and social networking has been, well, lightly existent. I created a Twitter account back in ’09 and used it once. My good friend Barb saw me on there and started following. I had a follower! That would be my last Tweet for four years. At about the same time, I created a Facebook account. Initially, I dove in and started connecting and reconnecting with friends. Something didn’t feel right. The more I searched for friends and monitored my profile, the more I started to feel like I was in high school again. It was like being a part of a giant popularity contest. I backed off.
While I was on hiatus from the digital wave that was surging, the rest of world was changing at an unforeseen pace. Facebook and Twitter were bringing presidents down and changing the face of human relationships. And I was watching it all on TV. I was still resistant. In my mind, all of this media was great for the rest of the world but still just represented digital noise, in regard to my own personal happiness. My relationship with Facebook did peak a bit, as I found it a great alternative to mailing pictures of my kids to grandma. I was able to embrace the simplicity.
Things have changed a little, for me. About three months ago, I reconnected with my lonely Twitter account. Why? It was “required reading” for a tech. class, and it hasn’t been too bad. What I like: posting tidbits, no room for hot air. I have been able to let parents know that assignments are due and quizzes loom in the near future. Also, I have been able to look at a few other Tweets and keep up-to-date on the most current ideas and thoughts in our field. Am I in love with Twitter? No. Do I see its use? Yes.
One social media site that really speaks to me is Goodreads. It’s all the greatness of Facebook with substance. It’s nice to have a place where I can connect with people who like to read and who like to talk about reading. Goodreads offers book reviews by readers and book suggestions from friends and from the algorithms based on my interests. Additionally, it’s easy to use and ascetically attractive. I’ll keep it.
So, in a nutshell, I’m still not in love with social media. I much prefer face-to-face communication, but I see how social media can fill in the gaps created by the limitations of proximity. I’ll keep Tweeting and posting, as needed.