Forgive Me Social Media!

Up until a year a go I hated social media. Maybe not "hated" but I didn't like having to engage with others online. Some of it stemmed from a dislike of not having that face-to-face contact. Most of it was from a lot of what passes for social media communication namely mindless selfies, photos of somebody's dinner, and endless shares and retweets of news stories that have already proved false.

So what changed? Social media didn't change. How I choose to engage in social media has.

Like any form of communication, social media needs meaning. If you're posting or tweeting or sharing without really thinking of what you're posting because you're bored, what's the point? You're just making noise. After a while, mindless noise reveals its own pointlessness and people tune you out.

I choose to engage in my chose social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, discussion boards, and this blog) in a different way. While I may not post something everyday, when I do post it's because I feel I have something to contribute. It may be a a deep and serious discussion of learning best practices, a "Happy Birthday" wish to a cousin or friend online, or a two-word vent in a tweet - I have a message that I need to share and this message has a meaning for someone.

As fun as it is to use social media to play the game of "my life is a lot cooler than yours," it prevents many of us from seeing the power of social media. In my previous blog, What the Little Bird Tells Me, I look at how Twitter or other social media tools can be used as a tool to help the public in emergencies. As the technology matures, we will continue to see examples of how its use will evolve to be something that will serve the online and real-world community.

It all comes down to the basic principle of thinking before speaking. If you're bored and can't figure out something to keep you occupied, leave social media alone and try turning on the TV instead.