Friday, June 29, 2012

The Social Media Experiment

I have a love/hate relationship with social media.  I love the idea of connecting with lots of awesome people that I might not otherwise have the opportunity to talk to on a regular basis, but I hate the way it makes me feel...anxious, as if I'm being self-absorbed if I don't post on Twitter for a week.

Over the past couple of years, I've struggled to find a way to have social media in my life without giving my life over to it.  I've mostly failed at it.  So I'm going to run an experiment.

For 30 days, I'm going to free myself of the shackles of social media.  No Facebook, no Twitter, no Reddit, no Livejournal.  Nothing.  This weekend I'm going to pre-write some blog posts because I love blogging and don't want it to go dark, but for the most part, I'm going to cut myself off from social media.  I'm even going to limit my email to once per day.  Other than that one email-check per day, all my communication will be via telephone or quill and paper.

After that month, I'm going to spend 30 days on every social media platform available.  I'd love suggestions.  Tumblr, Twitter, Pininterest, Linkedin.  Whatever.  I'll do it.  I'll post something here every single day and will respond to every comment.  

The experiment is to see what social media outlets I miss during my 30 day hiatus, and then to try on all of them to see what social media outlets might be a good fit for a grouchy introvert like me.  

What do you think? Am I an idiot?  Want to join me? 

Let's hear your thoughts.

6 comments:

  1. Idiot? No. Crazy person? Very possibly.

    Like you, I feel the love/hate (more the latter). I've pretty much cut back to just Twitter with occasional blog posts (have never been on Facebook and gave up on Google+ recently).

    Good luck with the experiment. Remember, give yourself permission to ignore 30 days of tweets, posts, etc. when you re-enter the social media world so you don't drive yourself crazy by trying to get caught up.

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    1. I love crazy!

      I never tried Google+ but I almost jumped ship on Facebook when it came out, but couldn't bring myself to do it. I pretty much loathe Facebook and the way they do business, but they've got such a stranglehold on social media that I feel like I have to be on it. Plus, some of my friends practically live there and I might not get the chance to "talk" to them otherwise...which really says something about society.

      I'll probably declare social media bankruptcy when I return and just pretend that 30 days didn't happen.

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    2. I just got on facebook because of the stranglehold. It's so held that it's both social and professional and in contrast to a couple years ago when "real" adults were impressed by twenty-something without facebook, now it's like not having a business card at a meet-n-greet. And I'm unemployed. Coincidence?!?!?! (yes, but also no.) Now I'm networky and my social life just got less labor-intensive as a bonus.

      That's why I hate to have to, but shall nonetheless give facebook my vote.

      Yes, you are crazy, but that doesn't mean you're wrong! (but I'm crazy, so maybe don't take my word for it.)

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  3. I did this (sort of) back in May. Got a whole book written. Lol. Its helpful to get away. I dont blame you at all.

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  4. I think you're brilliant, but you know that.

    Also, I don't have your number. I'm not saying I need it, just pointing it out.

    Now, I use blogger and Facebook daily. Well, every weekday. I do it because I enjoy it. Twitter: meh. G+: nah. Pinterest? Tumbler? Hell no. I don't have time for anything else. Blogging already cuts into writing, and writing is technically more important.

    So, all that being said, I think this is a fascinating idea, and I'm really curious to hear about what you find out.

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