socialmediaicons

This is a guest blog entry from Karin Gerber.

I have been on Facebook and Twitter for a while now and I will admit I do enjoy the social (as well as the family) aspects of this brave new world.  While many say that social media is somehow isolating us from the outside world, I think it’s like any other form or media or technology… it’s all in how you use it.

Granted, if you trade in your night out with the girls, or poker with the fellas, or that evening out for beer and pizza with friends, then yes, it is a bad thing.  However, if you use social media to plan even more events and keep in touch with those you haven’t seen in years, then it actually brings people closer together.  I have gotten back in touch with people that I haven’t heard from in 20 years, and I am glad I was able to get back in touch with them.  For that alone, I’m grateful Facebook came about.

Social media websites like Facebook and Twitter are also fantastic mediums for businesses to keep in touch with their customers as well.  Any new and upcoming events can immediately be sent to people in the blink of an eye.  Any new newsworthy story or information is all at your fingertips.  Not only that, but complaints can be voiced and actually heard (see WindowsObserver.com article “Got A Complaint? Use Social Media”).

Keep in mind, there are people out there in the social world that you do indeed want to steer clear from as they will sour your online time.  These particular people can be draining, annoying, infuriating, and just plain time consuming to be around.  I’m sure you know at least one or two people that make you feel this way.   Maybe you know some that have behaviors that stress you out more than just being annoying or time consuming.  The rules in the social media world apply just like the rules for interacting with people in the outside world.  We’re just doing it in a socially different way.