When people meet me for the first time, the first thing everyone says is, “I feel like I know everything about you.” Well, that’s a good thing. But wait, it could be a bad thing, right? Is anyone actually awesome enough for everyone to know what is going on in their life every second of the day? This has me questioning the thing I do each and every day.
Do you think there could be anything wrong with using social media to let everyone in the world know what’s going on in your life?
Chris Martin says
I'd say there is still no replacement for a true, face-to-face relationship. We can have hundreds of friends on Facebook, and still feel very alone.
My recent post Expert or Generalist?
jackalopekid says
very true
passionburnswithin says
It can get you in trouble. As one on staff at the church everything I put out there has to go through a filter. If it is a personal opinion that might cause uproar at my church I have to hold off. I found that out the hard way posting stuff on a ministry website discussion boards. I didn't think what I posted would be seen by people in the church but it was and the outcome was not good.
jackalopekid says
oh wow
passionburnswithin says
wow doesn't even begin to describe it. It was like something from a bad soap opera!
@scottfinn says
I struggle with this myself, as I have been using one set of social media tools for all parts of my life: personal, professional, faith, politics, etc. The risk, in my mind, is that something I post personally could have negative impact on me professionally someday.
I don't think checking into Starbucks on FourSquare is a risk (some find 4SQ annoying, though), but what about topics of faith, personal struggles, etc…
Still trying to figure out how best to navigate this new world.
jackalopekid says
good thoughts
becky says
You gotta wonder, ask yourself…why would I want to…really???
My recent post
jackalopekid says
yep
wackywilliams says
yes there can be draw backs, I have posted struggles I have had so that I could have a larger body of commuinty support me but have caught flack for it & like my bro never let me forget that a year ago I made a commint about something & thats still got to be true right? I don't know about others but my emoshons shoot around like a roller coster exspeshily when it comes to my relationship with God. so to be reminded that I told God to take a hike 3 months ago is very annoing becuse I may not feel that way still.
DanisLinus says
I think the main question isn't, "is it wrong" but rather "is it wise?" If that's the filter then I think you can still bring a level of authenticity and transparency without being stupid and getting into trouble.
My recent post Cars in Hawaii'!!??
jackalopekid says
true
Prudence says
One thing I learned during Lent (went off twitter & facebook) is I don't need to share every moment of every day with the people who read those tweets & updates on facebook. I remember a funny moment in the TV show Big Bang Theory where one of the characters makes a comment about another character tweeting about his 9 AM bowel movement. Obviously somethings JUST don't need to be said.
My recent post Silent Murder
jackalopekid says
haha. with ya on that
Kevin_Martineau says
I agree that we should be wise in what we share. I am discovering over time though that social media is a whole different culture than real life. What is considered acceptable to share on twitter or facebook may not be considered acceptable in real life. Twitter and Facebook have changed the "rules" and people are living within those new "rules". The goal for us as Christians and the church is to seek to engage our culture within the new "rules."
Here is a great video that illustrates what Twitter (or Facebook for that matter) would look like in real life:http://su.pr/2ZRr3B
My recent post The Me I Don't Want to Be
@kevinowens4 says
Very funny video. Thanks for sharing it.
Kevin_Martineau says
You're welcome! 🙂
My recent post What's the worst job you have ever had?
jackalopekid says
hilarious
@Unikornsong says
Griping about work has been proven to lose jobs for some. Yeah, everything should go through a self imposed filter, on the Internet or in real life. We all wear different masks in our daily lives. It's even more so on the Web, where we have no control who sees what we say.
@sadlierka says
I think everyone really said it. I think if you wouldn't say in a regular face-to-face relationship /interaction then you shouldn't say it. I think maybe as Facebook/Twitter/ Myspace/etc has grown in its popularity we have learned what to say/do and what not to say/do through the mistakes of many others that we see on the media. Some fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Some not.
dale says
I like the social media because it can be said and read at ones convenience. However, it can make you a bit anti-social. I have noticed that about myself – sometimes I would rather talk to people via a social media outlet than on the phone or in person. But, only sometimes…
jackalopekid says
me too. i cant stand the phone
@kevinowens4 says
Some very insightful comments. And while I agree that social media should not replace in person relationships, social media does allow for relationships that exceed the geographical boundaries outside of which our personal relationships usually cannot go. As long as it is used for purposes of extending reach and influence and "relationship", and not to replace it, I say carry on.
KO
jackalopekid says
good stuff
bondChristian says
I see this conversation all the time, and the more I think about it, the more I come back to the same conclusion.
Forget editing your "social media" presence and start editing your life.
If you can't or shouldn't share it with everyone, it might not be a good idea to share it anyway. I know, I know… exceptions to this are all over the place, and if you work somewhere where they're filtering your stuff then you have to honor their authority.
But in general, I'm like, "Post it up."
-Marshall Jones Jr.
My recent post What you need to know about asking yourself what people want
jackalopekid says
i like it:)