Social Media: Just the Way I Like It

 

Social media has been blamed for ruining our generation because of the simple fact that we can’t “communicate” anymore. For the fact that we “vicariously live our lives through our phones and PCs” rather than living in the real world.

The truth is people don’t need an excuse to get lost in something other than reality. Before social media hit the scene, we chose to lose ourselves in many other things. The desire to unplug from the world and get lost in something virtual has always been an issue and a desire. Social media has opened up a portal into a new world and the extent that you get lost in it is entirely up to you.

Here are my 5 reasons that I use social media – just the way I like it:

 

1. What Happens on Social Media Stays on Social Media

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have opened up a world where you can store and share all your photos, thoughts, videos, memories, and ideas, and it is virtually eternal.

 

2. My Brain Can Only Store So Much

…for everything else there’s a social platform.

As much as I would like to remember every event in my life, I find myself struggling to remember what I had for dinner last night (until I check Instagram). Social media has provided a way for you to remember events and track appointments. Yes this is the easy way out…but am I complaining? Definitely not.

 

3. Store Your Social Nuts for the Winter

Every so often while trolling the internet, I come across a recipe I want to try, a blog I want to read, or a style I wish I could save for later. Platforms like Pinterest have made it possible for you to save neat ideas in categories and store them away for when you need them. Social media platforms are programmed to figure out what you like and keep churning out content that suits your style. Talk about convenience, right? 

 

4. Job Hunting and Building Relationships

The age of door-to-door job hunting is over, and the age of “if you aren’t on LinkedIn you probably don’t exist” has begun. This may sound unfair, but if you don’t have an online social presence, you may not be considered for a job – especially over someone who uses social media.

 

5. Staying Connected – ‘Round the Clock

Yes, social media can be a bit of a mood killer when someone you were trying to avoid pops you a friend request. But in general, it allows you to keep up with friends you would have otherwise forgotten or possibly never contacted again. It is convenient, easy to use, and you can access it from virtually anywhere at any time.

Do I think you should be on social media 24/7, 365 days a year? No. I definitely think there is a time and place for everything and nothing should ever come to the point of being an addiction in your life. But I also don’t think writing it off and blaming it for the world’s current problems is wise, either.

 

Yes, social media is my profession and yes, admittedly, at times I’ll clock off from using it and wish I could do a “social media fast”. But ultimately, the pros outweigh the cons heavily.

What are your views? Are you a social media butterfly or a social media hater?

 

This post was written by Kirstin Venn . Kirstin is a Social Media Specialist with Media Connect Partners.