Happy Friday Friends! How about a daily reminder to ENTER MY GIVEAWAY if you haven’t already, and win yourself some tasty treats!
Done? Good. Now onto a special treat of a different kind- a combined rant/rave about an increasingly controversial topic: Social networks. A few weeks ago I joined Twitter (for real this time, as in I actually logged in for a second time…). Then today, after weeks of interest, joined Pinterest. I’d tell you how to access my Pinterest page, but that would be embarrassing since I’m pretty sure I’ll not get around to pinning anything for at least a week, more likely three. This had me thinking about other networks I am or am not a part of.
People love or hate their networks. I’ll give you my thoughts on some of the biggies, and then I’d love to hear what you guys think! There must be ways I’m not using these sites that I might like, or even social networks this nerd has never heard of… but here goes…
MySpace: Does this one still exist? To me, myspace will always smell like desperate 14 year old girls trying to get noticed, and pink hearts on a black background with Fall out Boy blaring from the speakers as the page tries to load. Not my thing. I was a member once, but not anymore (I don’t think?)
Twitter: Pro? The blind narcissism… “I’m at the NKOTB concert and here is a picture of Joey naked.” Con? The blind narcissism…”I just pooped and it looked like a member of NKOTB! Here is a picture.” Pro? You can follow people or they can follow you without reciprocation. i.e. less awkward than facebook. Con? I find it hard to find people I know or want to follow. Pro? Pseudo fame. You can tweet at someone and they might even respond. Awesome. Con? sorting through the dregs of people’s cyber diarrhea.
LinkedIn: The best part about LinkedIn? It’s a one-stop answer to my continuous and embarrassing questions of what loved ones (like my parents) actually do for a living. Going to see a friend you haven’t seen in awhile? Get the details of their job! The worst part about LinkedIn? No one seems to get it, use it, or even be completely sure if they are on it.
Pinterest: Too soon to tell. Flickr: I have but one small collection. I need to expand it! Snapfish: Quite satisfied, overall! I like their prices for a photo-monger like me
Google+: After fretting for a week that I wasn’t invited yet, now that I can join I haven’t yet, because it seems like so much work. TBD.
aaaaaand….
Facebook: You knew this one was coming. People seem to be most vigilant about their love/hate for facebook. Verdict for me? Love. I love the photos, primarily, as I’m a photo junkie and total stalker. I also love the easy messaging system. It organizes my life for me. I like the “like” button, even. I think they should invent a way you can tell someone you like them when they like your post at the touch of a button. It would say, “I like you,” or similar. Downsides to facebook? Well, it can be creepy. And a lot of the apps are hella annoying. As with twitter, people like to discuss every movement they make throughout the day. And there’s always the slim chance something embarrassing from, say, last weekend college will emerge. But overall? I give it a B-.
Overall, I think there are upsides and downsides to social networks. I like connecting with people that I would have lost touch with, sharing photos, discovering mutual friends, and getting to share everyday messages with people who I don’t have the time to have deep meaningful conversations with. I don’t like how much garbage comes along for the ride. But hey, as I always argue to man-go-round (a stubborn social network loather), if you are busy or not interested… don’t log in that day! Just don’t go on!
What do you all think about social networks? Do you love ’em or loathe ’em? Do you think they are worth it? Did I miss any?
I’m off for a weekend with family! I’ll be blogging here and there, and I have a new feature I’m very excited about scheduled to start Monday!
Thanks for reading!
Meri
A new feature! I’m so excited to see what that’s gonna be!
Social networks. Myspace is dead, or almost there. Twitter is pretty awesome, not gonna lie, it’s how I got my magazine gig. And I can keep up with the “famous” people that I know, without bugging them tons. Pinterest, it just keeps all your pictures and their links in one place, pretty awesome for a blogger. Facebook, gotta love it! So I guess I am a fan.
On the other hand all of these things keep you out there for everyone to see. I think it’s kinda crazy that we learn that our friends are engaged or “in a relationship” through social networks. Sometimes I just wanna tell people to pick up the phone already…
People definitely overshare on facebook… Ever since I edited mine down so I wouldn’t care what ANYone saw, if they happened to see it, I think its much better 🙂 In college I pretty much would post any picture or thing… now I’m a bit more reserved 🙂
Ah social media. Where do I even begin?
Facebook initially was AMAZEBALLS! Then it became the source of an obscene amount of drama. I enjoy it for being able to keep up with family and friends who are far away.
I love twitter and facebook for the simple fact that I get to interact with people, but many of my favorite businesses. I think it is such a great tool for customer service and finding great deals.
I tried with Pinterest, but didnt really get it? I havent logged in, in a few weeks. One of these days.
My new favorite social media site is Tumblr. It just keeps me so entertained and laughing for hours.
I think that just about covers them all.
I agree about interacting with others, and also about things like coupons, freebies, events from companies. I like that it’s all in one place!
Facebook is old hat to me, I check it a couple times a month to keep up with close friends and family, see new pics … but I’m not obsessed like when I first joined a few years ago, sitting at my computer checking for replies to my witty updates 24/7 …
Now I sit checking Twitter for replies to my witty monologues 24/7. Okay, not that much, more like 23/7. I heart me some Twitter.
I LOVE Pinterest. I have pages, way too many pages, of magazines that have been torn out and saved for “oohs and ahhhs!”, now I’m finding those imagaines & things online and saving to my boards. Throwing away the stacks of clutter, Pinterest keeps it all nice and neat.
I have Google+. I hate it. Been on for a couple weeks, it’s just another twitter with a little bit of facebook. I need to scale back so I think that one will be getting the ax soon.
I’m going to have to sit down and actually try to figure pinterest out- it sounds like I’ll like it, in theory at least!
I was going to say Tumblr too, the kiddos seem to be all over this one. I follow a few and have seen some really interesting stuff, photos, art, etc. I’ve checked out peoples tweets on and off for the last two years and I can’t get interested. Seems to emphasize the part of social networks I’m not interested in. The instant disposable crap, the recycled jokes #duh winning, lame trends, ripped off ideas, the movement of the herd, etc… In general I appreciate people who put out their own original content. Like their own photos on FB, art, writing (like your blog of course). Oh and by the way, way to find a use for LinkedIn!
I’ve heard of tumblr but don’t really know what it is… I think I end up there accidentally sometimes, maybe, and youtube is the same for me. I’m still trying to figure twitter out, honestly… but I do like it, and I like being able to follow companies a lot more than on facebook.
I think certain peeps ruined twitter for me. I’m sure there’s lots of different things going on on it… maybe I’ll start an account just for fun.
I’ve heard rumblings from people about using Twitter for networking- this interests me, although I’ve had a few borderline inappropriate tweets already so perhaps I best keep my professional life far away from my social media haha. That’s about the first rule you’re supposed to learn about social media, and I suppose I fail.
“I’d like to ride THAT merry go round…. if you know what i’m sayin’…” Um no but, see you tomorrow at work! …Haha stay safe out there Mers-
haha I’ll try to keep it clean
The extent of my social network is email and reading and commenting on your blog. Oh, and I get notices of Linked In but don’t even know how to respond. Amen
haha- you’re probably better off that way. Except for the photos, I think you’d like that on facebook. But not if it meant you wouldn’t have time to read my blog 🙂
Haha I love social media, but sometimes it gets frustrating to keep up. But ultimately, I think there are more pros than cons. I love how easy it is to stay connected, and Pininterest is a definite YAY. There is no better way to procrastinate than pininterest haha 🙂
I feel the same way about MySpace! Is your account even still active? Haha.
<3 Belly B
I’m glad to hear so much positive feedback about pinterest since I haven’t really tried it out or figured it out yet 🙂 I’m guessing soon I won’t be able to get off of it! Thanks for coming to my blog!
Twitter is so much better than FB at times like there are some people who might as well own a damn twitter, always posting updates every minute.
If only people would use twitter as twitter and facebook without the constant updates… I think both sides would be happier haha!
Call me old-fashioned, but I just have Facebook and Twitter. (Just started Tweeting in earnest this past winter). I love the networking Twitter offers and I like that Facebook keeps me connected with far-flung friends. Not so thrilled that Twitter seems overrun with people selling themselves and that Facebook, once an “our generation” thing is now overrun with mothers of my friends.
I’m interested in using twitter for networking, especially for writing- any tips?
Great post! I love Pinterest. Facebook has been amazing with reconnecting with buds from the past (just had a reunion with girlfriends from 15 hrs ago which would not have happened without FB). I don’t know anything about Google+, but I do have Google Voice (permanent phone number) which is cool with us moving so much…
Even with friends I don’t have real face to face encounters very often, its nice to stay in touch with messaging and photos with far flung friends (say that 5 times fast 😉 )
I definitely enjoy Facebook the most, although I don’t get on as often these days. How could it not be fun to stalk old high school friend’s pictures? 😉
I feel similar about Twitter too – love your description! haha I go through phases where I love twitter, and then I won’t log on for a week.
I get sucked into twitter for like 3o minutes straight, then log off for 3 days… I’m learning the rhythm, slowly 🙂
I’m a total social networking junkie. I have fb and google+ open at all times while I’m sharing playlists on Grooveshark and adding pictures to Pinterest while perusing weheartit.com… FB is definitely my favorite though! I love looking at pictures and sharing links with others.
I was never on MySpace, and like you, I’m still waiting for Twitter to “stick.” I logged into my account a few times and forgot about it.
I’ve already found out about some cool community news and events from twitter, so I like it and I think I”ll keep it! Otherwise, its hard to want to log on or stay connected.
Great post, Meri, and I’m so glad your on Twitter now! I’m off to go follow you. 🙂
Great thanks I’ll find you then 🙂
I have no real issue with social network stuff, but that’s probably because I only have facebook. I don’t really see the point of others, too much and I basically use facebook to stay in touch with my best friends and stalk old crushes haha 🙂
haha, or unstalk new uncrushes (aka high school crushes who aren’t so crushworthy anymore… good to know…)
I think that with so many social media options, people are more comfortable with “over-sharing”, most of which I don’t care about. Ha!
When I get “full” of the overshares and tedious status updates, I just take a break for a few days and then I’m ready to log on again
I am not a fan of any of it.
we do have a fb page because it was the only way to easily keep up with a few long distance friends but the securities are a bitch to keep up.
I have a nasty ex…. and I don’t want him snooping
plus than one work friend did some odd thing and I ended up getting where I work and what not plasted all over her stuff and mine.
and people at work I don’t want in my business …WERE.
eek.
I like to blog.
I am in control. (mostly)
and hardly anyone goes there so it’s pretty much there for me and my little narcissistic side. tee hee
xo
I suppose the big white elephant in this post is the blog world- I sort of forgot to include it, or am not sure its considered “social media,” but it definitely is all intertwined… its probably my favorite. Or maybe facebook, I can’t choose 🙂
I totally agree about My Space. I like facebook and it’s been great to keep my parents in California updated but some people update their status too much and tell way too much! I LOVE pinterest! I have seen so many awesome things that google would never had showed me. And I put a bookmarklet on my toolbar so I can pin anything around the web! No more long lists of bookmarked pages anymore.
I’m hoping I get the hang of pinterest soon because I like the idea that it saves all of the things you find in one place- my macbook desktop is an utter mess right now, and I have the links in weird places… ugh!
FB—yup…but mostly because I am from out of state and me and my lazy siblings use it as it as a tool to communicate and share. But I do love it because it put me back in touch with my old friends and we ended up going on a girls trip 2 years ago and HAD THE BEST TIME. I pretty much only blog in order to share photos with my mom (who is not on FB)…or write some random thoughs I am having….but overall I think I am old fashioned. I still love paper books(not ebooks), paper invites. CDs…….freakazoid I know….
Funny though, my boss recently asked me if I tweeted/twittered and I told him no and he asked if I would consider doing it for work….paid to be social….we will see.
haha, now tweeting or fb-ing for work, I could get on board with that!
good to hear your thoughts -I actually just stick with blogging and emailing…no social networks. I figure this has me on the computer enough and I’d like to limit that time 🙂
no kidding- sometimes between my computer at home, computer at work, and smartphone in between I feel like I’m always online. I like weekend breaks at the cabin to escape!
As far as I’m concerned Facebook and Twitter are the only two social networks I mess with. I remember my Myspace era, but that stopped once I got to college. I think I deleted it and I’m glad I did!
I think myspace and facebook fought for a bit, and facebook came out the clear winner… but I do remember when Myspace was the only big thing!
I will so admit that I was “that girl” on myspace. Just trade the Fall Out Boy for Blink 182. I have since deleted my account, but it certainly makes me smile thinking of the old school myspace picture poses. Truly ridiculous! I guess you just have to laugh at yourself though.
I actually joined facebook before myspace, and I think because I always preferred facebook because it used to be so college oriented, I never really got into myspace. I joined late though, and I think people were already using it a lot less by that time!
I have a special place in my heart for MySpace. Back in 2006 (when it wasn’t quite as 12-year-old dominated) I got one and was featured as a ‘Cool New Person’ for about three months. As a result, I got about 5000 friend requests. I sorted through them and added a few people, and one of them became a really good friend of mine. We’re still friends now and it was him who introduced me to my husband!!
x Jasmine
see- another positive outcome of social networks! I love it!
I use Twitter for social presence of my blog, Linked in to lure employers big employers do search people in Linked in and I was contacted a lot of times there specially when you have good recommendations and FB to catch up with friends whats happening with them. I use pinterest but haveent fully utilized it.
I just took a class about blogging and social media this weekend! The teacher seems to prefer Google + over facebook because of circles and apparently you can choose who sees what… I love/hate facebook.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
hmmm maybe I’ll at least give it a shot? Have you tried google+ yet?
I still have a myspace. I should really delete that, but I’ll occasionally remember I have it and log in maybe once a year and just laugh. Myspace is so laaaaaame. I remember being SO excited getting new friend requests and commenting on friend’s profiles etc but omg. It’s so cheesy now! I have a slew of other social networking sites: facebook, twitter, Pinterest, AOL/MSN chat. I’ve yet to do LinkedIn or Google+ yet. I just feel like I’m already so connected, I don’t want to add any others.
I agree about google+… I think I just wanted to be able to get it, then once I could it seemed like a lot of work. I have heard it has elements much superior to fb but… everyones already on facebook! I don’t want to start over- its hard enough starting my blog over!