When your college professor knows more about social networking sites than you do, there comes a feeling of awkwardness and even a slight sense of failure. Compared to most students, and even my professor, in my Digital Journalism class, it would be accurate to say I'm on the lower end of the spectrum of technology usage. On an online quiz from BBC that determined what kind of web animal I was, I was decidedly a hedgehog; I guess I'm a little out of touch with the smart phone/Twitter/Facebook/blogging craze. It all seems a little overwhelming, invasive, and even controlling of people's lives. The stats for the amount of time people spend on facebook or twitter according to Telegraph are a little absurd: "during the month of June, Facebook attracted 87 million US users, who each spent an average of four hours and 39 minutes on the site." But, if you have a lot of self control and are good at putting a limit on the time you spend on the Internet, the consequence is that you risk social isolation. It's lose-lose. Given that, why do people continue to practice behavior that is clearly detrimental to their productivity?
People, especially now more than ever, like to be connected all the time, to anything they can. Email, Facebook, Twitter, blogging, and texting, and now the new BBM messaging system lets this all happen. We constantly seek new and better ways to contact each other. It has gotten to the point of a cultural phenomenon. Ever since the establishment of our capitalist economy, Americans have always been pushing for more of what they essentially already have. I think we're getting to the point, or at least I am, where the Internet has given us access to everything that we could possibly want at our fingertips and as a result young people are actually starting to lose interest in social networking. We are starting to publicly recognize how the Internet is dominating our lives, and even joking about it amongst ourselves. Maybe the previous generation does not feel this way, but it is possible that teens and young adults have had a far greater amount of exposure than their parents have had to social media, and want to move on to the next big thing.
Yes, agreed on some accounts like the total randomness of twitter -I mean really, isn't it already covered by the likes of Facebook and such? I can't imagine people being interested in a blow by blow account of already mundane tasks like trying to find a parking space or waiting on hold for someone to service my request that should have already been serviced! However, some of these sites can really provide intrinsic value. Facebook, for example, although a huge distraction at the outset, long term can make you feel very connected without actually requiring much effort on your part. "Friends" post when they feel like it and you read them when you feel like it and your connected with very little commitment on your part. And, if you ever need your friends input you just make a plea and they come to your aid in droves. That's not half bad. Email --that's totally different--that's very direct communication requiring a response on your part but it gives you the flexibility to stall, think about your response and craft it just so if need be, and answer on your own terms (i.e. at 2am if it suits you). No, you shouldn't ignore it as it is the communication method of choice today in the work place and has the added benefit of allowing you to cover your backside with relative ease. You can manage the distraction more easily and let's face it at least you know the communication is intended in for you specifically unlike reams of messages telling the world that you are in need of pigs or goats or whatever for your fictitious farm and oh by the way have nothing better to do than annoy people!! The beauty of filters....
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