What is social media?

What is social media?

In my opinion social media is a way that you can connect electronically and communicate with other people. This is a way that people can communicate effectively and quickly using any number of the following tools or devices: Facebook, Twitter, email, texting, Wikis, online communities, video sharing like YouTube and Vimeo, photo sharing like Flickr and Picasa, Skype, Blogs, social bookmarking like Delicious and Diigo, RSS Feeds, LinkedIn, Dropbox, Google Drive, GoToMeeting and various other social media tools, apps, and handle held devices. These are all great tools to use for socializing, to use for work and to keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues.

With these social media tools you can follow the most up to date events and news as it is happening. You can share videos, photos and documents quickly and can communicate with coworkers as needed. These tools allow you to be able to work together collaboratively. You can chat with coworkers easier than explaining in lengthy emails or phone calls. These tools also provide you with the ability to share your life experiences with your friends and family. You can easily post Facebook updates and pictures. You can share videos and Skype with friends and family around the world.

Now you have the opportunity access all of this information at your fingertips instantly. You can access this information on your computer or on your hand held devices. We now have more access than ever to do our jobs quicker and more efficient and great ways to work together. We also have great ways to stay connected with people that we love and care about.

I have accounts that are set up for some of these tools for classes, work and personal use. At some point I would like to have one log in name and password to use with all these tools and be able to access all of these tools on one portable device. I have way too many log in names  and passwords to remember and of course they are all one number or letter different or one requires a capital letter. Maybe I just need an app for that.

Unfortunately, having one log in name and password for everything and being able to access everything on one portable device may mean that work, class and personal life starts to merge together. If we are taking care of personal things at work and work things when we are at home, then our lives have become combined and electronic. When do we have time to disconnect, unplug? When do we connect with our children or spouses? When do we have face to face conversations? When I am around friends I prefer to talk to them and connect with them. I don’t want to be looking at my mobile device and dividing my attention. These are my friend and family. I also prefer that they are paying me the same respect. Are we really that busy that we can’t take time to give someone an hour of undivided attention? Do we even know how to listen anymore? I mean really listen. I recall going to check on a friend to see how they were doing. I never did find out how they were doing because the whole time I was there they spent it playing on their phone. Not once did they ask how I was doing.

I think that we can all find ways to live our lives with a balance that we can do our jobs and stay connected with friends and family and at the same time we can give our attention to those that are close enough to spend time with. Spend time with your spouse and kids and spend time with your friends. Enjoy face to face conversations and see their expressions. It is important to learn to read body language. Take time to express yourself and listen. Maybe it is just me. 

What do you think?