Why I Love Social Media

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Critics of social media abound. There’s not a week, maybe even a day, that goes by that I don’t hear someone complain about the “pseudo friendships” and “virtual and meaningless” relationships that are forged and maintained online. We all have heard, some of us even have said it, “If I want to talk with someone, I pick up the phone and call them.” Interestingly, in the days prior to the digital revolution, the telephone itself had its critics for being, well, impersonal. But regardless of where you stand on this debate, I am thankful for my social media friends and here’s why:

Yesterday it was my birthday and before the day was over I had nearly 200 messages, tweets and texts from friends from all over the globe. I couldn’t have talked to a fraction of them even if I wanted to, but their love came through strong, even through a digital medium. I felt loved and appreciated living in a global village connected by the internet.

I have met interesting, funny, committed, smart, wise, spiritual and successful people through Twitter, Facebook, Orkut and LinkedIn that outside social media I would have never known. They have impacted my life in a real and practical way with their posts, suggestions, resources and encouragement. Many of them I have never met personally, but their contribution is no less appreciated or needed than as if they were sitting across from my desk.

My business has benefited from clients I’ve met online and whom my company serves now. I can quantify a significant amount of projects that are directly tied to my social media involvement.

I have reconnected with friends I hadn’t seen in decades and that are now part of the ongoing narrative of my life story and I of theirs. Without social media, those connections would have been lost as they were until Facebook and Orkut began connecting us all.

I know there are privacy and personal risks with being an active member of these communities. But for me, the advantage far, far outweighs the liabilities.

What about you? How has social media impacted your life?

  • Tom Jamieson

    Maurilio, I completely agree! I have met people thru social media that I probably would never have met otherwise, which has led to opportunities I would never have had. Plus, I have reconnected with people that I had lost contact with over the years. For me, the advantages have definitely outweighed the liabilities. Thanks for sharing.

  • Tami Heim

    I am right there with you, Maurilio. I cherish that in this day and age we can easily stay connected, share the day-to-day of life, and keep in touch with what holds the hearts of others. I can't image what it would be like if I couldn't visit with my daughter and her husband in Korea via Facebook and Skype. I am grateful for social media and technology!

    PS – I sure hope you saved me a piece of cake. /

    • Sorry, Tami, but the cake is all gone. However, I'm sure I can find more chocolate somewhere. 🙂

      • Tami Heim

        Okay – I will give you a "Good Answer" for acceptable come-back quality.

  • I agree as well. I wouldn't have met you in real life had it not been through the initial Twitter connection. Now we have a friendship and a business relationship that is developing into opportunities for the future. That's a win.

    Not just you but I can point to multiple similar scenarios. I've met designers, business leaders, new friends, clients, and even recruited volunteers for a local event off of Twitter. It works IF you know how to use it and leverage it.

    To me, social media makes it way better. I'm more in the KNOW of your life than I am with some relatives who aren't on social media. Sure, the relatives can pick up the phone but honestly it can be weeks or months between those happenings. With social media I know what's going on with regular updates without delay and can choose to respond and interact as I see fit.

    • You're a social media machine. If anyone is using it well, you are my friend. Thanks for the example.

  • First, happy birthday a day late. 🙂

    In 2005, I had an apartment fire where I lost everything. My youngest son has autism and when he came for his weekend visitation (his mother and I had split up just three months prior to the fire) he would get comfort from sitting and watching a particular Spongebob Squarepants DVD at "daddy's condo". (It was a one bedroom apartment but I wasn't going to correct them.) The TV, DVD player and DVDs were destroyed in the fire.

    About a week after the fire, a huge box was delivered to my workplace. (The box was literally as tall as I am.) Inside? A TV, DVD player and many DVDs including…Spongebob.

    I had been playing online fantasy baseball with a group of guys for years. Without my knowledge, they pulled together from all over the USA and bought those items to send to me so that when Eli came to his dad's house he would not get upset because his Spongebob was gone. And despite what you might think at first, almost the entire league was made up of guys who weren't Christians. My church at the time (which had well over 1,000 members) only had one person in it step up to help me although I was (and still am) very grateful for that person.

  • I have to admit, social media has been a major positive force in my life. Not a day goes by that I don't correspond with friends from high school (that I haven't seen in 30 years…did I just type that out loud?) there are at least 5 people that are like best friends to me on here that I've never met.

    When my father passed away back in December, the hundred or so posts on my facebook was so powerful, it reduced me to tears. It has acutally sharpened my writing skills (I think my google has strectch marks…sorry!)

    any time spent communicating with people, in my opinion, is never time wasted!!

    "Power to the Cyber-People" (right on)

  • I love it too. It does take discernment to use Social Media well, but it really empowers those who want to use it responsibly. I recently spoke to some business owners and told them that Social Media will not replace or alter their value propositions or their business principles, it simply perpetuates them. Social Media is creating new opportunities to meet customers where they are. Among many other things, Social Media can help organizations generate referrals and its creates so many shared learning opportunities. I'm really enjoying developing Social Media strategy and helping others do the same.

  • There are lots of positive sides to social media. I have a few friends that are not on Twitter (quite a few actually) but one in particular that just cannot wrap his head around it. But I have noticed that he is not outgoing even when in large social gatherings. People that put down social media, as far as I can tell, are much more content with just having a small circle of friends that keep to themselves….and that is fine.

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