Here I thought it was just because I am old and don't feel the need to share the minutia of my day....
Like a lot of electronic communications, there is the technology and then there is the content. So all the BS posts the like of which Eric illustrated are easy to dump on, but new ways of information propogation from Facebook and Twitter actually showed a lot of what happened in Iran, for example, that wouldn't have been possible with older technologies. You could make a similar graph like Nate posted for internet bandwidth, but then the major constituents would be spam and porn! Doesn't mean that there aren't some very good uses for internet bandwidth that create good value but aren't the majority of the actual traffic. Anyway, the abillity to reach many easily is a nice plus of the technology, but the total sap of time is a downside for sure.... Kind of like internet forums! Matt
Well, there's no question the younger folks view this social interaction thing a whole different way than us "old folks", and I'm interested to see where it takes us, as a country. I saw an ad the other day for a phone that constantly links you with your friends (Kin?), anything you do automatically reports to them too. Very interesting concept, both in exectution and the fact that people want to do this - have their friends know their every move all day long. I prefer my privacy, TYVM, but this generation clearly wants more interaction...........can this turn out to be a good thing somehow?
I don't horribly disagree with you there Nathan ... but it's here to stay (at least for a while) so we might as well embrace (some) of it.
The classic example of commitment vs involvement. The chicken was involved whereas the pig was committed. As a forum owner I do realize the potential of these social media sites, not that I fully leverage them as I don't understand how as of yet. There is a M/A facebook page. When I do use it there seems to be a bounce in traffic, but I'm terrible at promoting it. There is also the M/A Twitter that is automated, sending out a tweet for each new thread. That too brings a few people to the site. What I find interesting is the followers. There are also API's out there that allow people to log into forums with a Facebook account. Where I think they fall down is they also send every post to your wall. There is also a problem of spammers using these very relaxed log ins to fill a site with spam.
I have made a choice a while ago to not share on the socials sites. I have ratcheted my security settings to the max and I limit my FB posts to inappropriate sexual comments that are directed at no one in particular. Watched a story on the news last night about social media posts coming back to bite people in the arse. Specifically in divorce proceedings. As for twitter, I don't even have an account. Never even been to their site. I don't care enough about anyone to want or need to know their daily going-ons. I sure as hell don't lead an exciting enough life for anyone wanting to know about me. At least, so far, no one has asked.
They're just tools, and I don't believe social media is a sign of generational change. I know plenty of people who talk too much and over-share, and they're not even on Facebook or Twitter! And what about the old lady next door who knows everyone's comings and goings? Is she not as informed as Facebook? As for myspace, take a look at any 7th grader's locker - pictures of rock stars, glitter, stickers - and you'll note a similarity. People were making the same complaints about cell phones when they first came out, but they're just one of many communication tools. (Disclaimer: I joined facebook in 2004, when it was just a way for Ivy League and Boston-area college kids to hook up.)
we had a sociologist come in to our office to help with team building. one of the biggest things we discussed was differences in generations and how technology (we are a tech firm) plays a role in such differences. Out of that, it was shown how each new generation becomes more comfortable with technology and using it to share. As a result younger generations don't think twice about sharing personal information or stories with strangers. Not to say that there are exceptions in any group. However, the younger ones shows a higher predominance to such sharing.
I hear ya on the "I just farted LOL" types of posts I had stayed away from Facebook for that very reason, still don't 'tweet'. I offered to set up a page for the local MINI club and all the sudden I start getting friend requests from folks that I had lost touch with over the years. Pretty cool (and in some cases not so cool....) All depends on how you use it
Me too! :lol: Like Tim S. said, I like being able to reconnect with old friends. I think its great. And you can block your friends that post too many trivial stuff like farting. Being a teacher, it is also very useful for keeping in touch with alumni and hooking alumni up with each other for job searches and internships.
<sigh> Yup, it's pretty much a resume site now. My parents are on facebook, my boss is on facebook (not my friend, though), my coworkers, my past coworkers, my past girlfriends... And everybody can see everyone else! Hence the need to sterilize your profile. I still support the original concept, which hid anybody outside your network and required the proper @college.edu email address. Those hazy nights in college when you woke up with only vague memories, a name, and a phone number were solved by a quick check on facebook. You could see what movies she liked and which friends you had in common. Now, your boss and your mom's next door neighbor see a picture taken by said girl's friend of you passed out on a couch with a half empty beer in your hand and sharpie on your forehead. The local office supply store pays for an ad on your profile page for permanent markers and solo cups, and the beer company wants you to "like" their fan page. Ugh.
Perfect. +1 internets to you. I do like that Facebook has become something of a universal phonebook, though. When I wanted to track down a cousin I had lost touch with, I looked her up on Facebook and we emailed each other a couple of times. I'm not sure how I would have found her otherwise.