Do you ever feel like this?

Sorry this has taken be so long to write but my full-time job seems to have gotten in the way a little bit lately.  But better late than never I suppose.

As I said in my previous blog,  my next blog, this blog, would be my thoughts on social media engagement and interaction.

I want to start off my saying that I am obviously a huge fan of social media and believe that all organizations and individuals should be involved in social media in some way since it is not going away and in fact is only going to continue to grow.

H0wever, with that being said, I also think it is extremely easy to become obsessed with social media and it can easily become your life.  Do you ever notice those people that even in meetings can help but check their Facebook status or Twitter feed in the  middle of the meeting or post what they ate for lunch as they are eating it?  I will admit that sometimes I am in this person (not the lunch part though ;).  However, I am come to also realize that in some cases in-person or direct contact of some sort is much more appropriate.

Many people have asked me in the last couple of years if I think social media will replace all in-person contact.  My answer to that is no.  I think it is still important to have direct contact with people.  What I also tell them is that social media can play a part in generating this direct contact because it creates the ability to meet people and network which then leads to these direct contacts.  I can't tell you the number of people I have met because of me stepping into the social media realm that I would never have had the opportunity to meet without being on Facebook and Twitter.  I will also say that it is a little strange to talk to someone for years, virtually, via Facebook and Twitter, but have never met them.  But, once I do meet them, it is like I already know them due to our social media interactions.

So while I do think that social media is important and extremely useful I don't think it is taking away from or making people  more impersonal.  In fact, I think it is doing the opposite in that it is generating more engagement just on a different level.  Social media is, however, creating the need for us to teach our students, and even ourselves, how to understand the difference between social media "speak" and real world, in-person "speak".  These are two different types of "speak" that cannot always be intermingled.  Basically, this world of social media has come along and created its own vernacular and when people become so entrenched in it the forget how to use real world "speak".  So it is up to use to continue to educate ourselves and those around us on when each of these forms of communication are used and how to use them appropriately.

Do you agree?  What are you thoughts on this?

I thought I would write a post this time.  I have had several guest bloggers lately but haven't really said anything myself so I thought I would weigh in on a few things.

Lately, there have been quite a few interesting posts about the use of social media.  From everything to use in higher education to no longer needing business cards.

While I am an obvious supporter of social media these articles made me stop and think.  I think social media tools are great and useful but the questions these articles and the use of social media in general have raised for me, and I know for many others, is does the use of social media make us more impersonal and anti-social in in-person settings?  Also, do you think kids/students today are more or less engaged as a result of social media use?

I know these are not easy questions to answer but I thought I would put them out there and see what you think about them.

I will post what I think in another blog in the next week or so but I don't want my opinions to sway yours.  I want to see what others really feel about this topic.  What have your interactions with students and colleagues made you think in regards to these questions?

I look forward to reading your comments!