Chris Brogan, via a very simple post, gave everyone involved in social media something to think about this morning. He pointed out a fact that many of us who are deeply passionate about social media tend to forget – millions of people live their lives quite happily having never signed into Facebook, never Dugg a news story, or never even heard of a tweet, aside from the noise that birds make in the trees outside. Chris asked, then, why we spend hours working with social media, making connections, contacts and content and why we feel it is such a fundamental aspect of our daily work and lives.
I may only offer a single voice, but here is why I am passionate about it. Apologies for this being a ‘top 7 reasons why…’ list, but I thought it was the easiest way to outline what keeps me coming back to the social media. Perhaps it might inspire you to give it a try if you haven’t yet taken the plunge.
1. I get alerted to things instantly. In fact, I found Chris’ blog post through Twitter and was inspired to respond immediately. It’s not 24 hour news which tends to be repetitive and tolerable for short bursts only. It is a constant stream of new ideas, new content, opinions, thoughts and personality. Major world events documented via Twitter tell me exactly what is happening without media bias or ulterior motive. I prefer balance to hype.
2. Grassroots recommendations help me make up my mind. I have installed new software, subscribed to new podcasts and purchased new gadgets based on recommendations, reviews and information that I have found through trusted sources on social media sites and blogs. But it isn’t just material – those same sources have helped me make decisions in terms of my business direction, my clients and my own life.
3. I get to meet people from all over the world who I may not otherwise have met. Whether we meet online only, or online first and subsequently in person, the social web has given me the opportunity to speak to people I would have struggled to ever meet, from authors I admire to industry leaders to people who share my interests.
4. I benefit from accelerated learning like never before. I remember when I was back at university (pre internet days…) we we often put into tutorial groups or study groups to discuss ideas and essentially learn off each other. The social web has turned my university study group into a global study group and the benefit I gain from learning off others has increased in ways I could never have dreamed back in the early 90s.
5. I get to add my tiny voice to posterity. By getting involved, I am playing a part (albeit minuscule) in the growth of the technology and the dissemination of the knowledge which I am so eagerly consuming. In 50 years time, someone might just come across a legacy blog post that I had written, and it might make them smile.
And probably most importantly…
6. It give me the opportunity to give help and share knowledge every single day.
and
7. I get to be a part of a global community which means that my world is that much bigger, that much more interesting and far less sheltered, blinkered or lonely than it might otherwise be.
That’s why this is my passion.
Thanks to noe** for the image
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