How Social Networking Has Affected Me
How Social Networking Has Affected Me
When adults hear the word “Facebook” they think of hours of wasted time between teens talking instead of studying. To many adults Facebook is a euphemism for time waster.
In a similar way, adults really do not understand Twitter. Twitter is seen as a way for teens to hook up or post a micro diary about their daily life.
As any adult what SMS means and you’ll be answered with a shoulder shrug. Ask most adults if you can call your friend in India on Skype, and they’ll ask how much it costs.
Two years ago I was one of those adults. I didn’t know what an RSS, SMS, or FTP meant. This article is intended to help others like myself to understand some of the new language of technology.
Facebook is a social forum where users can post personal information on a profile and invite friends to events. It’s a place to share photos and catch up with friends or stay in contact with friends. Because users reveal private facts about themselves, a user must be careful about who to allow as a contact. In Florida, teachers are not allowed to have a Facebook account. The greatest benefit I have found using Facebook is that adults will learn how to talk to students and not talk down to them.
Twitter is a micro blogging site that allows “tweets” of 149 characters. I have learned how to make my words do double time. The Japanese concept of “ekiben” forces the speaker to say as much as possible in a few words. Ekiben energizes me as the character limit forces me to be creative with my text and style. The limitations on character have forced me to be more creative with my word choice.
As valedictorian, Frederic Galosco was to address a packed graduation audience. Fifteen minutes before his address, Frederic was managing his online business using Twitter. Frederic taught me the power of using Twitter to network and market my information products around the world. That’s hardly kid’s stuff.
Nobel Laureate, Robert Solow observed that when new technology is introduced to an adult population it is used in old ways. Teenagers, however, tend to use the new technology in ways that it wasn’t intended. This is what MIT professor Eric von Hipple called “end-user innovation.”
It’s been my observation that technological change must come from our youth. Adults are too busy and learning how to use Facebook and Twitter comes at a high opportunity cost.
Knowledge of the new social media is necessary for innovation and growth in the world that changes according to Moore’s Law, every seven days. If the terms SMS, FTP, and RSS are unfamiliar to you, perform a Google search to find out what they mean. Then open a Facebook and Twitter account.
Mike Fladlien
www.mikeroeconomics.blogspot.com
Twitter: mcfladlien
Being a guy, I myself despise facebook and Twitter. NLo offense to any guys who DO like it. I just don’t see the point of Twitter at all. And facebook at least has a a point to it. I just think those things are overhyped.
This is a great post from Flad’s blog about the usefulness and, almost, necessity of these social networks and other forms of them. I agree that while many adults do not have enough time to devote to learning how or what or why to Facebook or Twitter, they should in order to stay connected in the 21st century. Facebook, especially, allows people to rekindle connections that have lain dormant for years; some former classmates, roommates, relationships. These social networks will not go away and will, in fact, grow almost exponentially. It’s in their nature.
I think that Myspace has had a more cultural impact than say Facebook or Twitter has had. More people talk about Myspace, but i think thats because they have the upper hand on the teen demographic. Alot of people use twitter all ages, but i think Facebook users are generally older, it’s more of a way for families to connect via the internet. Myspace users are mostly teens, focusing on adding friends they know from school, or listening/adding music.