Thursday, December 17, 2009

Social Media

Social media has changed society as we know it both good and bad. Families and friends are using it to communicate instantly, strengthening relationships. We can instantly let you know that little Johnny has just taken his first step and present you with a video or photos. You can find people you have lost track of and pick up where you left off. But then, companies are having to write policies to deal with it at work and they can and will use it against you if they want to. News is disseminated before we have time to check the facts causing countless more stories about the same subject as it's updated over and over, the facts diluted. Are we deluged with too much instant information? The under thirty crowd seems to think it a right to know everything right now and not a second later. Some think nothing of airing every little bit of their lives publicly. Reputations and relationships are ruined at the thoughtless stroke of the enter key. Political campaigns are won or lost on the internet. Views and arguments aired on blogs for all to see.

The younger generation seems to be putting their life out there without thinking who can see their words or photos for that matter. Are they hardened? Are they just so inundated with instant information they think it's normal to blast another relative or cuss out a person without thinking about who else is looking? Is it becoming normal to say anything you want without thinking first?

For me I think about what I'm putting out there in the cyber world. I want to present my spin on the world and pass on some of my experience to do good in the world. I'm not a fan of negative anything and if I read something inappropriate that ends up in my view on any of my social media links, I may comment on its inappropriateness and I may delete you as "my friend." Life is too short to waste on naysayers. You get to choose who you put in your life and how you present yourself as a human being. Choose wisely.