Thursday, August 15, 2013

Why do you use Social Media?

As a society that has created a social platform online, I find it interesting the reasons why people use it, how the patterns vary, and what people expect to get out of it. I like to study them to learn what qualities I want to build in my Social Media presence.

I find a common thread that people want to be followed, but are not interested in following you back. They want you to comment on their post, but are not interested in engaging back. Is what you have to say more important than what I have to say?

To me, the online social presence shouldn't be any different then your offline social presence. Do you have friendships just to be a one way street? Do you engage with people only to have a bunch of friends but not be a friend? Are you a giver or just a taker?

Why do we look at the online presence different then the offline? If God views what you think in your heart the same as what comes out of your mouth, why is more importance put on the online vs the offline?

If we really kept in mind that people do business with people they know, like, and trust...wouldn't that impact how we interacted a lot more?

If we remember that if you help enough people get what they want, they will help you get what you want, don't you think it would make a difference in how you interacted on Social Media?  What if we kept in focus that every person out there wants happiness, meaning, and significance...would this change how we interacted with them?  Would we spend more time encouraging and uplifting others?

So my question to you today is: What is your purpose in creating a Social Media presence?  Make it intentional!