Social Media

Social Media is everywhere these days. Whether you facebook or tweet or follow the feeds of blogs or sites you use...you can't escape it. That got me wondering...what would life be like if you actually lived it by Social Media's rules and how will social media impact how children today grow up.

When I was younger you went outside and rode bikes or played kickball, or something with your friends...you didn't play online games and chat with them. So...what would life be like if you lived by Social Media's rules?

You would have 100's of friends to keep up with on a regular basis...you could approve or deny new friends by the click of your mouse. You could block people and not have to deal with them again...instead of getting to the heart of the problem, having a conversation and perhaps salvaging a friend. Your thoughts and ideas and random musings are public for everyone to experience. Your living room would suddenly be full to capacity and over-flowing as you watch your favourite TV show or awards ceremony with thousands of other people...all talking about what's happening. You would know and talk to celebrity's all the time. Pass them in the hallways even and shout "I loved last night's episode" and they would actually stop and respond to you and say thanks for the support. There would be no boundaries. Following a "star" while walking down the street and seeing into the intimate details of their life isn't considered stalking anymore...it's the norm.

Every time you had a new thought or musing, you would automatically find new friends with whom you immediately identify and create lasting bonds with. You share more about your life than you might in person and never ask, wait, did I just say that out loud? Friends from all over the world and still feel like they are sitting right next to you. If you see something interesting you merely snap a picture and everyone else you know automatically sees it too, and then shares it with everyone they know, in a matter of seconds and all of a sudden, you have more friends at your disposal. Bullies from High School would like things you have to say...as there are no longer any boundaries separating you anymore. All of that is in the past.

When you travel to new cities you automatically have a social network and friends to go have drinks and dinner with...no more awkwardly standing at a bar waiting to be talked to...conversely...everyone you meet becomes your new friend, thus increasing the size of your Arc...

wait...why is Social Media bad again? Oh...right...because in all of the good that can happen with Social Media...and all of the positives it has...if you don't know how to disconnect from it and have a real and legitimate conversation with your real peeps it means absolutely nothing. I don't care how many friends you have on Facebook or how many people follow you on Twitter...if you can't actually find the time to have dinner with me after tweeting that you have plans with X, Y, Z and each of their cousins over the next few days then social media does me no good.

I love that I can keep folks updated on everything I do...I love the some friends get to travel through me every time I take a trip for work. I love that I can watch my nephews grow up in real time when pictures are posted...and see that one turned 2 months old and looks more adorable every day and another wore crazy socks to school...I love all of the bonuses that social media can bring your life...but I also know that I can step away from it and have conversations over dinner with real friends...or coffee...or go to the movies and not have to live tweet throughout the entire event.

For all the ways that social media brings us together...I wonder how much further it pushes us apart...just something to think about.