On Social Media and Friends
I’ve heard a lot of noise about how Social Networking Sites are going to be the downfall of civilization because everyone will be too busy updating their second life profiles to go out into the real world… and I wonder where these critiques are coming from?? Maybe I’m on oddball… but some of my most meaningful and amazing relationships have become what they are today BECAUSE of internet tools like twitter and Facebook.
My “big sister” CosmoPolitician has been the biggest force behind me getting involved in the internet. I was her intern at Mikel Marketing and admitedly a little terrified of computers. Monica made me helped me create my first myspace page, and I ended up having a blast with it. Myspace was also instrumental when I broke up with an ex because he didn’t want to believe we were really broken up until my status said “single” but I suppose that is another story. Myspace may not be as big as it once was, but I am still in debt beacuse it ignited my love of the interwebs.
Next came Facebook. I spent some time attending the University of Salamanca in Spain and met some truly amazing girls from Canada, Caitlyn and Christina. Apparently Canadian’s were already too cool for Myspace so they taught me all about Facebook. In order to stay in touch with them (and other countless people I met while overseas) I created a profile and was immediately addicted. It has been three years since I drank vino blanco in the plaza mayor and stayed out all night dancing, but I am still in touch with two of the most kick ass chicks I have ever met.
My Flickr and twitter accounts were born more recently and Monica also arbitrarily signed me up for those. I still remember the random confirmation emails appearing in my inbox… and cracking up over the completely inappropriate random passwords Monica came up with. I am not so adept at Flickr, but twitter is my constant companion. Through the twitterberry application on my phone and twhirl on my desktop, I am constantly aware of what the people I love (and the people I want to avoid) are up to.
So I don’t understand why people, or even companies, balk at signing up.
Social Media is not about sitting behind a computer. It is about creating and maintaining relationships with people you may not otherwise get a chance to know so deeply otherwise… and in turn giving them a chance to get to know you. If you don’t ever step out from behind your computer and take part in the “social” aspect of new media, then this concept is probably lost on you and it is no wonder you think Social Networking sites have heralded the demise of life as we know it.
If it was not for Social Media, I would not have met the lovely @gwenbell at the grand opening of the Caroline Collective party nor would I still be in touch with her. I would not be able to write on the wall of the fun Australian chick I met at @kapachino’s wedding and I would not have gotten to know Fayza well enough to have constant sleepovers… Or, for that matter, been victim to the “cupcake shots” that will go down in infamy.
I would never have been the contributing editor of Barstool magazine or interned with the Houston Dynamo. I would not have my current job and would not get to drag MommyMac to Stag’s Head once a month in the name of knowledge sharing. So it is to the people I have met (and the people I have YET to meet) that I say.. I love you… and you have been a blessing in my life. And I thank Social Media for you.
Social Media has given me a voice. And I don’t understand why anyone would not want to be heard.
Cheese served up by MagsMac
18 Responses to “On Social Media and Friends”
Bravo! Wonderfully put. I’ve had the “you have no social life” line leveled at me, too. And I’m like, “online social life propels me into interactions IRL.” And I say IRL just to, ya know, get my point across. *smile*
I love you to bits. So glad this social web got us together…forever…
By Gwen Bell on Oct 7, 2008
I have very similar stories on the connections, friendships, opportunities I have made/had through Social Media – including meeting you! And I *also* went to summer school at the University of Salamance (Cursos Internacionales Summer ‘96 – did you find the frog on your own? It had to be pointed out to me).
Que mundo mas pequeño!
By cybertoad on Oct 7, 2008
I had to have the frog pointed out to me too!!
I held out till the end of summer and then had to give up
By MagsMac on Oct 7, 2008
This is an AWESOME post! With my recent forays into the social media world, I too have encountered many off-line friends who question my motivations. I love telling them about the RIDICULOUSLY amazing people I have met and opportunities that were born from social media.
By favouritethings on Oct 7, 2008
You won’t find me arguing. Social media is the best thing that ever happened to me. Well, aside from you, that is.
By Fayza on Oct 7, 2008
Agree, agree, agree! You’ve summed up my sentiments about social media exactly! There are a million more avenues through which to get to know the people with whom we share a handshake and a hello on first meeting. And I love that you don’t ever have to be alone; there always is a conversation in which to participate.
By Cortney/cmartin82 on Oct 7, 2008
And we are very glad you drank the cool aid and joined our lives. We are the lucky ones to have met you Mags (even if Monica says otherwise)!
By Ed Schipul on Oct 7, 2008
don’t listen to ed!
you make me so proud every single day. and i can’t imagine my life without you in it. IRL, or other wise.
By Monica Danna on Oct 7, 2008
BTW, i totally remember that day we made your first my space page.
By Monica Danna on Oct 7, 2008
very well written! Some of my best friends are the the result of social media. And I’ve met some wonderful people in real life and been able to keep in touch via sites like facebook and twitter.
By Jessica on Oct 7, 2008
I’m glad you all think Social Media is as great as I do. I mean… how can you not LOVE geeky things that connect you with your friends???
By MagsMac on Oct 8, 2008
I totally agree. Well said! I’ve reconnected with many friends since I joined Facebook back in June 2006.
PLUS: I think that FB and Twitter can be used as facilitators – especially when you are looking to network or meet people with the same career interests.
Cheers!
By JosyAn on Oct 8, 2008
Totally agree JosyAn. There is nothing better than walking into a client meeting and realizing you follow each other on twitter. Eases almost any tension immediately!
By MagsMac on Oct 9, 2008
love your blog! i thought i had enough cheese tonight at dolce vita, but i guess not b/c i’m eating this up!
By neverfull on Oct 12, 2008
Maggie.. I meant to comment after I read this post on my iPhone at lunch almost 2 weeks ago but forgot.
I LOVE THIS POST! You summed up friends and social media PERFECTLY! Really!
I have always been a connector of people. I keep in touch with soo many friends from growing up but many were not into social media. I would get a few people to join flickr, a few family members to join twitter, and a few more friends to start playing on FB. Now just in the past few weeks I have so many of my closest friends on FB. I want to send everyone your post to help encourage others to grasp social media.
Love it!
By Imelda on Oct 21, 2008
Good stuff, I totally agree. Social networks have their best application in building new and better real relationships. Twitter in particular seems to excel at that, maybe because it’s nothing but a conversation, there’s no structure to reenforce the “tell people about me!” model.
Thanks!
By Jeremey on Oct 22, 2008
Great article! Probably one the best I have read about social networking that explains what it really is. It is a way to “Create conversations.” If you can’t maintain them, they can’t get any deeper than they are. Great post!
By Matt Kelly on Nov 2, 2008