Is social media actually useful?
Broadcasting Brain picks up a rather interesting post from Jay Cruz that challenges me to consider Twitter and social media in a light that I haven’t quite done before called Why I’m Quitting Social Media:
I realized that at best social media is entertainment disguised as “useful” information or crowdsourced “knowledge”, and at worst is distraction disguised as entertainment. The later being most of my experience with social networking sites, specially Twitter. See, when you watch Television to kill time and distract yourself because you’re bored, it is easier to realize it. Most TV junkies are aware that they are TV junkies. But the web is constantly shifting your attention and it makes it harder to realize that you’re distracting yourself.
Now, of course I’ve heard the Twitter: What’s The Point Again? and Social Media Is A Waste Of Time arguments as we all have. I suppose I’m being challenged here to think about the usefulness of Twitter and social media above being entertainment, fun, distraction, conversation, connection, interaction.
I’ll lean toward saying that Twitter and social media can be quite useful… provided you use it in the right way. And of course that right way can vary widely! That’s the beauty of it, in part.
And a goodly dose of moderation also can’t hurt. It can be awfully hard to find the right balance at times to be sure.
