Well, as indicated by the title, I’m a bit low at the moment. Which my boss seemed to doubt when I came to ask him something today. Apparently I came across as very cheerful. Oh well. I guess it could be any of the above or a fourth not mentioned. And honestly I just liked the title.
This is what I REALLY wanted to talk about; Social media tellers off. Oh you know exactly who you are! And I was one today… a while ago a friend told people off on Facebook for putting food pictures up on the internet. And threatened to put a picture of his bodily processed food up if it didn’t stop. A threat I naturally challenged. Anyway, I’m getting off topic and getting images of toilet bowls entering my head.
What I was going to say was; today I took the opportunity to reciprocate the discipline and tell him that Instagram might not be a cookbook, but it sure isn’t a photo album either – the clue is in the name!
And yes it really does annoy my brain – when somebody uses a network for something another network is more appropriate. There is a reason, whether some want to realise or not, why Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Flickr, blogging etc all are able to co-exist; they serve different purposes! It might not seem like it to some who are unfamiliar with the different platforms for social interaction on the internet. But they are actually very different.
So having said that, was I in the right telling my friend off – even as a joke – because people should realize that Instagram for example is a fast moving – picture in the moment type of social media and I don’t want my list of new posts all be from one person from a holiday three years ago? I almost forgot the question mark at the end of that, cause I so over complicated that question.. And the answer is; No. No I’m not in the right.
All these social media networks are just that; networks or communities. Meaning they belong to all of us. Within the parameters of the specific social media (I.e. tweets can’t be longer than 147, Instagram post must include a picture…) people are allowed to use it whichever way they want..
So instead of making yourself (myself) a self appointed social media police – read up on how to block or hide your bragging friend’s Facebook status, your old classmates game request, all those Runkeeper updates, love messages between Mr & Mrs who-gives-a-damn, people who uses FB status as their personal diary or whole photo albums on Instagram (for those people I would recommend Flickr by the way). Put the telling-off on the shelf and start using networks how they are supposed to be used yourself (myself) if you’re (I am) such an expert, meaning; block, hide, unsubscribe.
