How much do you share online?
I’m on Twitter. I’m on Facebook. I’m on MySpace, LinkedIn, Tagged, Bebo… There may be more communities that I’m a part of but they escape me at the moment. For some of these sites, the goal is to develop a following, but I play the middle on just about every level. I’m definitely active in social media, but sometimes I feel like I’m behind the pack in terms of immersion and even deciding what to share.
Are you regular?
No sophomoric references to one’s digestive tract, I promise. I’m wondering what “regular” means in terms of posts and updates to social networking sites. I like to think that I update them all regularly, but that seems to be a relative term.
I probably tweet once or twice a day but I follow people who do so once or twice a minute. I’m on Facebook often, but I don’t take all the random quizzes (seriously…what kind of toilet paper-folder are you???). I don’t send obscure “gifts” all day either. Who really wants to get a “Happy Smiley Heart Margarita in a Here’s a Hug Mug?” Does this mean I’m only a casual user and not as absorbed as I once thought? I also wonder if my amount of time spent online influences my interests on certain sites, if it’s the other way around, or if it’s a bi-causal relationship. It’s a quintessential chicken/egg question.
Business, Personal…Businal?
I certainly enjoy letting my friends know that my mom thinks I moved to Japan, or that I believe a cravings troll lives under my couch and he’s to blame when I suddenly need a Rice Crispies Treat. But I also have some pretty serious followers on Twitter who are all about business. Reading their tweets make me wonder if I should maybe talk more about race relations and beer at the White House. Mind you, this comes with some level of assumption that people actually care what I’m writing/tweeting/updating about. But I’m a blogger ¾ of course I think people (well…at least a couple of friends) care!
What Are You In For?
When it comes to sharing information online, for some, it’s a job. For others, it’s all play. You have those who should really learn the art of self-censorship and then there’s me. I’m a communications professional who likes to play in the space but I’m very aware of what I put out there. For now, I’ll continue to share with the same levels of frequency and disclosure. I’m curious to know what ¾ if anything ¾ would prompt this to change.
I’m comfortable with my presence online. Sure, I’d have more followers on Twitter if I discussed more industry topics. I’d have a following here if I posted more often too. But for me, it’s isn’t about who’s reading as much as it is about having a say. I put myself out there just enough for those who are interested and I can say what I want. It’s like talking to yourself out loud when you’re alone (don’t act like you’ve never done it!). Sometimes we have something to say whether someone’s listening or not.
