Is Social Media...Social Enough?

Technology is a funny mistress.  One minute it's the best tool on the planet.  The next minute it's either a complete annoyance, or worse, you become so dependent on it, that you can't live without it.  Take Social Media for example.  It's a very useful tool for keeping in touch with friends and colleagues around the world and get latest news and opinions on global events.  However, is it possible that it is causing us to miss out on real life?

Now I'm not advocating that social media is evil or that it is not a great useful tool.  I like social media.  I enjoy checking my Facebook and Twitter accounts to find out what's going on with my friends.  My concern lies on our dependance on it to the extent that we freak out if we haven't checked our Facebook, Twitter, etc.... in the last ten minutes.  Are we so concerned with what's going on online that we forget to value people and events that are right in front of us?

It's funny.  This dependence on social media has not gone unnoticed.  In 2011, an ad for Toyota Versa (here) showed a daughter who was concerned about her parent's social interaction because they only had six friends on Facebook.  Turns out, they're out enjoying life while she sitting at home looking at pictures online.  Point taken.  Recently, Kit Kat created "Wi-Fi Free Zones" (here) to encourage people to get off their devices and spend time enjoying the real world.  Who would have thought in a day where companies are encouraging the latest app, fan page, or website, that a company would be encouraging people to dis-connect from technology.  Don't be surprised if other companies start creating "Technology Free Zones" in order to encourage person-to-person interaction.

So how do we deal with our dependance on social media?  One idea is to create a day of rest from technology.  In a 2011 article for Communications Arts Magazine (here), Ernie Schenck, a contributing writer, described his "Sabbath Project" as "The idea is to take time off, deadlines and paperwork...  In the Manifesto, we’ve adapted our ancestors’ rituals by carving out one day per week to unwind, unplug, relax, reflect, get outdoors, get with loved ones.”  This time of rest away from technology, in this case social media, allows the individual to focus on the people and events going on around them.  Another way is limiting your access whether with time or equipment.  Use a cell phone for calls and texts only, limit time to an hour or two a day, whatever allows you a break from the dependency.  Finally, ask yourself, is this more important then what's going on around me?

Social media is a great tool of communication and interaction.  However, if we're not careful, we may become so dependent on it that we'll miss out on the important things in life.  In short, don't let life pass you by.  Treasure the moments and the people in your life.  Besides, it'll make a great post online (and who doesn't want that).