Despite the incredible growth in social media usage and functionality, a large swath of humanity eschew it and, in their minds, stand bravely and steadfastly in resistance to this modern concoction that threatens their analog social life. They have their reasons:I don't want people to find me; I'm off the grid
I don't have the time
I have an addictive personality; I don't trust myself
It's creepy; I'm not an exhibitionist; I'm a private person
It's creepy; "they" will learn too much about me; I'm off the grid
I don't get it and I don't want to get it because...well, just because
When compared to the benefits (benefits only realized by using social media), I just don't find any of this compelling. More often than not, i think the reasons are rationalizations and they remind me of the reasons people have for not using direct deposit, computers or cash cards.
LinkedIn is an extraordinary tool. It's like a rolodex on steroids and it will in all likelihood make the resume extinct. I cannot count the number of colleagues who I lost touch with years ago, but I am certain that will not happen moving forward thanks to LinkedIn. Professional networks are the best sources for employment, advice, references and business leads. LinkedIn makes those networks larger and more accessible. It's free and it's remarkably easy to use. Not utilizing LinkedIn is downright foolish.
I've cajoled many of my friends into using Facebook. In doing so, I encountered every objection imaginable. I would put the objections into two categories: fear and arrogance. Absent any experience with Facebook, many harbor the belief that they are inviting the unwashed public into their home, view "Facebooking" as something childish and beneath them or fear that their participation will elicit a flood of unwanted attention. What little they know about Facebook has convinced them that it's not for them. Meanwhile, they miss opportunities to connect, meet and interact with friends and family. And that leads to one of the most common and most arrogant or all social media objections: I don't have the bandwidth. These people's lives are so full and their schedules so jammed that they couldn't possibly squeeze in an old friend from college who they haven't spoken to in 15 years.
Of course most objections to social media are just window dressing for obsolescence. While we may speculate on the future business prospects of Twitter or Facebook, social networking is here to stay. It has conclusively proved its value to users. Those who summon a little curiosity and courage will realize the benefits and those who do not will, in the best case scenario, remain blissfully ignorant of what they missed. In the worst case, they will split a timeshare with those who so proudly proclaimed, "I'm not a computer person."
Social Bookmarks