Social Media: Start As You Mean to Go
The ChickieNob recently set up her first social media account because she wanted to participate in a hashtag contest with a photo she took while we were in France. She had been circling the decision to join social media for about six months, talking herself out of it immediately after talking herself into it and agonizing over a good handle. She finally set up the account, posted the picture, and then immediately told me she didn’t enjoy having an account.
It’s an interesting situation because while we (as in, adults) all once had nascent social media accounts, we usually did so in the infancy of the site and made up decisions as we went along, often changing our mind as new information came to light about privacy and data. For instance, I didn’t think about how I wanted to use Facebook until I was years into using Facebook, which has become a mishmash of friends and work and family, and has plenty of data bells I can’t unring.
But I didn’t set up my Instagram account until a year or so ago. I’ve never posted anything on it. I use it to see pictures shared by my siblings or their kids, and I follow a few tourism organization accounts of places I’ve either been or want to go.
I love opening up Instagram. I only get maybe 6 new pictures per day, so it’s completely manageable. I’m either looking at a space I love (or think I will love) or a person I love. I feel no pressure to accept friend requests––I won’t change my mind on this one––or share images––again, it won’t happen. It’s the first place I’ve mindfully started as I mean to go, so I love it.
ChickieNob took that advice––to set her own personal rules (though be consistent) and stick to them because it’s her space to interact with as she wishes––and followed a small number of accounts of places and organizations. She likes it a little more now, though, she also knows she is under no obligation to look at the account ever again.
It’s a strong argument for waiting until you know what you want and how you want to use it. It’s something I wish I had done before diving head-first into social media without an understanding of the various directions my usage could go.
I also thought this article had good advice on how to limit usage in a way that makes sense in your life vs. following someone else’s digital detox plan since they sometimes feel punitive more than restorative.
2 comments
My kid has a couple social media accounts, and she spends a lot of time on them. But also, my husband is always taking her phone away for some infraction or another, so she doesn’t get too attached to anything (her typical response is a shrug).
She uses Snapchat, which was initially a way to keep in touch with her cousins who live far away (they have a group chat), but has expanded to include friends from school and elsewhere. As she is an only child, I don’t mind whatever she finds to connect with others.
She also uses Instagram to post pictures of Littlest Pet Shops that she takes – she enjoys the photography and has learned a lot about it. She also participates in a “collab account” on the same theme. It entertains me to watch her navigate working with other people on a project. I do get concerned when she talks to me about chatting with the others in the account, but she has heard us talk about giving away information enough so that she rarely shares anything.
She sometimes talks about giving herself limits and such, but hasn’t stuck to anything thus far. I don’t see an obsession, so I don’t feel much need to intervene.
So well said about the digital generation that evolved alongside the technology. Versus joining well-established platforms. And I really love how you phrased this: “data bells I can’t unring.”
I like the emphasis on mindfulness in the FC article.