When most of us talk about spending time online, what we really mean is that we have been on one of our many social media pages, talking to friends, or just basically letting the world know how awesome we are via our witty repartee and latest picture of us standing in front of some place that others could only dream of going – #mylifeisbetterthanyours! According to a recent Business Insider report, Social media is now the top Internet activity: Americans on average spend at least 37 minutes daily on social media, a higher time-spend than any other major Internet activity, including email. For some of us, we are likely far higher than that. With that in mind, here are your top 5 love/hate conundrums for social media.
#5 People won’t go away – This may be hard to believe for the young ones out there, but there was a time when you simply lost touch with people. You get different jobs, your interests change or maybe you just move, but sooner or later you stop talking. And, particularly in cases where perhaps these people aren’t the best of friends to begin with – this could be a very good thing. Today when this happens, the person never really goes away. Sure, perhaps they don’t call you, but you are still inundated with their 10 Facebook or Twitter posts a day. And some of them are watching your every move…creepy (Btw – you look great this morning)!
#4 The commodification of…everything! – So you love Instagram? Twitter? Facebook? Here it is, and for free, with no ads – just come check it out kiddos! Until you do of course, at which point they start selling off ad space like it’s a real estate on a race car, using all of your profile information they have amassed to sell you things in the process. Thank you, Internet! Suggested posts, recommended links, post-bumping, sponsored links – maybe we should take the built-in commercials down a notch.
#3 Checking in places – So you checked in at the gym – we are all happy for you! And then you checked in at McDonalds, which makes me question your gym commitment. Then you checked in at “Mycoolpadbythesea” where apparently you are mayor, which makes me think you are needy. And then you tweeted a pic of yourself driving down the road doing your makeup, which generally just makes me concerned for your safety. I love knowing what you are up to, truly, but allow me a little mystery here. Let me not know for 5 minutes – maybe I will check in as missing you!
#2 Social media for business interests – OK, if you are trying to get the word out on your new Etsy craft business or future guacamole conglomerate, it makes sense that you are going to start out via the free advertising gift that social media has become, but we are getting serious pitch-fatigue here! Between the trainers, the therapists, the foodies, the bands, your blog, your brother’s car shop, and mom’s charity work, we can’t take it anymore. Plus, and I’m just saying, but if you have asked everyone to like your page and they haven’t, stop asking – we didn’t forget, we’re foregoing! (P.S. Have I told you about my blog? Please like it!)
#1 The Selfie – Oh…the selfie. Now that it is ubiquitous enough to be an art form. Let’s take a second to reflect on how it all happened. Simply, we all like to look good in photos, and nobody knows what makes us look good in a picture like, uh…us! (What do you mean? This is my good side!). Still that doesn’t mean you always make good decisions when faced with our own photographic biographies. From duck lips, to Sparrow Face, Frog Face, Miley-tongue, horse-face, fish-lips, the Gervais-triple chin and the latest: Squinching—there are a lot of ways selfie styles go seriously wrong. This can’t really be us at our best, can it? (I would answer but I am stuck on permanent fish face after a selfie incident gone wrong).
Love/Hate is your monthly guide to the things that irk and entertain us in equal measure. Up next month Love/Hate: Being the Boss.
