I didn't hop on the social media bandwagon when it first came out, and finally took the plunge sometime in 2009 or 2010 with Facebook. Never was into the Twitter thing (still don't quite 'get' it - like people want to know what you ate for breakfast?). Went cold turkey February 2012. F-R-E-E-D-O-M!!
Wasn't on FB long before I realized, this isn't really about 'connecting' with people. Not really connecting. It 'appears' as if you are. Gives the impression you're 'sharing' with folks.
What? Didn't you see (fill in the blank)? My perception is it feeds the narcissism we're all born with. Saw this video and it sums up what I've been thinking and feeling about today's methods of 'communicating.'
Communication
Studies show that only 7% of communication is based on the written or verbal word. A whopping 93% is based on nonverbal body language.” Therefore it is practically impossible to be truly communicating with others because the face-to-face social aspect is missing. The article continues on about this notion, stating “with 93% of our communication context stripped away, we are now attempting to forge relationships and make decisions based on phrases. (From this article.)
While there are positives, there are negatives, and they seem to be increasing as usage swells.
Addiction?
Analyzing responses in a series of experiments, researchers concluded that disclosing information about oneself engages the same area of the brain associated with pleasure. These pleasures centers, which are stimulated comparably when engaged in activities such as eating, sexual intercourse or receiving money, were more stimulated when speaking about the details of one’s life, especially if those details being shared with friends. Pleasure decreased notably when participants were told the information would be kept a secret from friends or family. (From this article.)
Attention Deficit Disorder
Prolonged social network activity can cause deterioration of attention concentration and other symptoms of ADHD.
While communicating using social networks, people constantly switch from one task to another: read the comments, check the updates, turn on some video, while replying to a message, and write a short comment.
During such activity, people’s attention dwells on one thing not very long and constantly switches to another one.
It also forms a certain habit of learning information. You get used to receive information in small portions, constantly switching from one type of information to another, for example, from replying to a comment to some video viewing. This habit creates difficulties in attention concentration. It is more difficult to hold your attention on one thing for long. (From this article.)
So turn off the computer, put the smart phone down (or turn it off), disengage from the Ipad or Tablet and really look at the people around you. Look up!
For other articles on the positives and negatives of social media:
How Social Media Has Changed Us: The Good and The Bad
So you really are a 'friend' - pick up the phone, send a card, text, email (I'm not totally against electronic communication!). Spend time, REAL time, with those you claim to love.
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