We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.
-Albert Einstein.
This blog entry is for anybody who still feels squeamish about social media.
As RadioEngage moves forward, we are met with more reluctance. We didn’t know why at first. Public radio stations are eager for better ways to manage their websites, but many people are averse to using social media. The reluctance stems from some common myths: that social media is a useless pastime for high schoolers, that it’s a time-suck, or that it puts your copyrighted material in danger, for example.
Social media can be abused–just like any tool. But it can to positively transform your business and personal life. For many people it already has. But there’s still a long way to go. The power of these programs is still being discovered. And in a time of moral and economic poverty, new solutions are exactly what we need.
Here is a list of the most common social media myths I hear and their corresponding truths. Hopefully, this will help clarify how social media can be used to create a positive impact in problematic times.
Myth: “Social media is just showcasing, it has no practical use.”
Truth: Social media is for sharing.
Sharing pictures, videos, ideas, stories, laughs, tears, and anything else you can think of. When you use social media, it may feel like showcasing, but really you are contributing to a pool of shared knowledge. Shouldn’t information be shared?
Myth: “People will find out sensitive personal information about me if I use social media.”
Truth: People will find out sensitive personal information about you if you are careless.
Social media sites allow you to choose what information you share. If I run a business out of my garage, of course I want to put my address on my social media site–that way customers can find me. But, if I don’t want somebody to know where I live, I don’t have to include any contact information–just a valid email address.
Myth: “Social media will take up too much of my time.”
Truth: Social media takes only the time you choose to give it.
One of the best things about social media is its capacity to do complicated things quickly. We can upload a hundred photos in five minutes, or complete and publish articles in under an hour. Just remember: if you go online with a purpose in mind (like finding out up-to-the-minute opinions on the IMF, or getting some pictures of great latte art), you’ll get what you want faster than ever before. It is equally possible for you to look at funny pictures of cats for hours. (I can vouch for both.)
Myth: “People used to go outside and talk to each other. Because of social media, people go online instead of connecting in real life.”
Truth: Social media enhances our face-to-face interactions.
Nothing will replace sitting down with a friend or family member over a meal, or the pleasure of meeting someone new upon a chance encounter. But we can’t always be together. When your loved ones are distant, you can share photos or videos instantly, instead of sending them through the mail. We can also learn more about our friends from what they choose to share online.
Myth: “I’m too old for social media. It’s for young people.”
Truth: Social media needs everybody, and everybody can use social media.
This one really gets me. Not only is social media for everybody–its usefulness is dependent upon a diverse network of users. It is especially important for people who did not grow up with computers to participate in sharing information: the more wisdom to impart! And don’t worry about getting lost: there’s already an active community of self-described “baby boomers” and “greying computer users” to help if you get stuck.