"I'm sitting on the patio" - Assumptions Regarding Social Media

Why is it that anytime I talk about social media to someone, they think MySpace or Facebook? Why is it when I mention Twitter, they think of meaningless status updates like "I'm having chicken for dinner" or "My favorite show is on TV"? The majority of people I run into seem to have the wrong idea about social media.

At least 75% of Facebook posts are seemingly meaningless updates and most seem to be about growing virtual vegetables or feeding virtual fish. Facebook has the potential to be so much more. Some people have realized this and are using it as a tool to organize events and bring people together who share similar interests or philosophies.

I'll admit that when I first heard about Twitter, I was not at all impressed because all I ever saw was those meaningless status updates. You've probably seen the Verizon ad for which this post is named; that's the attitude I've found most people have taken regarding Twitter. After signing up and playing around, I've found that there are actually a lot of interesting people with useful, meaningful things to share.

By leveraging the power of two of the most popular social media sites, a person can be connected and informed in ways never before possible. They can use these services as a platform to reach out to local or distant communities, share ideas, learn, and grow.

Don't dismiss social media as a distraction or a waste of time.