Someone asked this question the other day on a forum I was browsing and I’ve been pondering it since.
I don’t have anything profound to say about it, but I will share that between my computer and iPhone I do spend a heck of a lot of time on social sites.
The majority of that time is spent networking and interacting for the purposes of growing business relationships—because I do happen to have a business online. I also have the handy excuse that social media is a major component of the work I do with clients.
Social media can be addictive and time-consuming and is something done generally in isolation. But the interesting thing about this particular discussion is that the original poster was referring to being less social within social networks—as opposed to out in the “real world.”
Essentially they were saying that a great majority of time is spent on your updates, comments, recommendations, etc. leaving less time to interact with others, answer questions and engage in back and forth conversation.
I myself may have experienced this a bit in the beginning, when I was still getting acclimated to how the sites actually worked. But now the most value—and fun—comes out of the actual “socializing” and relationships.
It’s also worth mentioning that social media has facilitated many in-person meetings such as “tweetups” and local groups formed through meetup.com and the like.
So I’m curious: Either way, do you feel your use of sites like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. has caused you to be less social? Do you give yourself a break from it once in a while? Do you obsessively check Twitter 25,000 times a day like I do? 
Let me know your thoughts.
Also, if you are interested in learning how to use online marketing and social media techniques to help build your business and give you a competitive edge, check out my affordable e-Coaching program that’s built around your schedule.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I feel like I’m more social. I have my external friends and my online friends. I hang out with my external friends as much as I ever did. I just stepped up my online social time. There are times I feel overwhelmed so I’ll take my dog for a walk or go for a bike ride to release the buildup of stress.
Karl Staib – Work Happy Now’s last blog post..The “Yes, And” Technique
I carve out a max of 20 minutes for social media and a minimum of an hour to walk the halls or synch with people live each day.
I’m sure I’ll bump up my social media time, but so far, I’ve kept it pretty limited.
When I join twitter, I’ll try to avoid being a twitterholic, but no promises
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I think social media can go one of two ways personally.
1. Yes, I agree social media allows the world to be a little smaller. You are able to connect to people who you normally wouldn’t have talked to so frequently before social networking. Old colleagues, distant relatives, family member and acquaintance are all within reach over social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, allowing everyone to stay easily connected.
2. On the other hand, the fast and immediate transmission of tweets and updates are overwhelming. I think this overload of information desensitizes members’ emotions, resulting in empty conversation and communication, which ultimately may affect us as social creatures.
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I think social media does tend to be self-absorbed, and more so than real-life interaction.
I am asked the same question by all of my acquaintances outside of the social media realm. “When do you have the time to go on Twitter?” “Why would you focus on computer people rather than real people for socializing?”
I really do believe that people who ask these questions don’t understand the true connectedness of social media sites. These ARE real people! I converse with many great people on Twitter!! Those ARE relationships, whether they be for business, pleasure, professional, or educational….all great reasons to connect. Like checking email, I go to Twitter whenever I get 5 minutes here and there to click on a link, read a blog, comment on an article, or say hello to others. The best part of my day is when I can actually sit down and dedicate 30 minutes to Twitter. I learn so much! Its addictive because its so interesting. And although my business is not internet-driven, I certainly have connected with valuable people who have helped improve my professional career as a legal nurse consultant in one way or another. If you surround yourself with good people on Twitter, the experience is perfect!
I don’t think that’s LESS SOCIAL
Hi Christine,
Twitter has taken more of my time recently. What’s nice, though, is that it’s in short bursts. So, while it takes more of my time – it’s also quick. And I’ve also found that this facilitates offline relationships that would likely have never developed. And these are relationships that come with meaning. Are all of our offline relationships like that? No, I don’t think so. so, in that sense, these can very much be meaningful relationships. And that’s where I’m currently at – it’s relationships with meaning that are so important to me. Online is a great way to facilitate that – without some of the boundaries we put up in the offline world.
That said, I “try” to maintain a balance betweeen offline and online. Some days are better than others…
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You know, Christine these are wild times we have been thrust into. Aspects of life in many ways are being redefined due to our Internet activities. It is important we connect with real human bodies and spirits together, as our cyber lives ever expand.
So I better get off this computer and spend time with my family! I’ve o.d.ed on the net today. Yikes.
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Hi~
This a great post and is a great way to get us thinking about how we are less social, the more we are online……on twitter, facebook, etc.
Thank you for giving me something to think about.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than no Action
There is absolutely no question in my mind that through social media I can be and am more social than I would be without it. At the same time, I don’t use social media in isolation from or to the exclusion of other forms of communication and contact. Just as previously I did not use the telephone to the exclusion of other forms of contact and intimacy of friendship. My relationships with many people are without doubt richer and likely to be more long-lasting by virtue of social media. Especially the ones who don’t seem to use the phone any more! Yes, I am “in the business” of social media, but not all my social media connections are business-related.
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@Karl–I also feel I’ve just ramped up my online social time but the time I spend offline with friends is still the same. Stepping away from the computer is always good when you’ve gotten sucked in for hours on Twitter or something….strangely enough, recently I have taken to doing dishes as a break–which you wouldn’t think sounds like a “break” but it seems to work for me.
@J.D.–Perfect. I like to advise 15-20 minutes a day on social sites to those who come to me with the concern that they are overwhelmed or will be once they start. You can get a lot done in that small amount of time. For example–comment on a few blogs, write on some Facebok walls, re-tweet or interact on Twitter. It doesn’t have to be a 3-hour-plus time-suck.
@L–Interesting take: info overload leads to empty conversation. I’ll have to ponder that one.
@Vered–I’d love to hear more on your thoughts about this.
@Ellen–You are someone who “gets it” my friend!
@Lance–Agreed, and I think that’s one of the harder aspects for non social media users to fathom–that the relationships, though virtual, can have real meaning.
@Jannie–Yes, wild times where we must be conscious of balancing it all out!
@Giovanna–Thanks Giovanna–always love your tagline–oh so true.
@Des–Good point about the telephone, I like that way of looking at it.
Hi Christine
A neighbor asked me one day, “Have you ever walked around the neighborhood at night?” I told him I had, but not often. He pointed out that it was ‘like a graveyard.’ “Everyone is inside in front of a flickering box, and that’s where they are walking around the neighborhood.” The great joy for me in my social networks is being able to connect to anyone from any time in my life at any time I have a moment to do so. In some ways, I feel more connected to more people than ever before.
That said, I’ve refined my habits (really had no choice, just too much to do) so that it takes me very little time to twitter, post and poke. I do not check my networks often, but at regular times for limited amounts of time. With one exception. If I find myself waiting for something to happen or otherwise have a dearth of time to do nothing in particular, I may become a little more involved with it all.
Best wishes,
Rick
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