Comments on: Does social media help or hinder social skills?

By: Belinda - Marketing Nabbed

Belinda - Marketing Nabbed — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:40:42 +0000

I think social media is a huge and growing part of our modern lives. People could have said the same about TV back in the early years sucking people's attention and whole families eating dinner around it eg The Simpsons.
People like to feel connected and a sense of belonging and engagement. That is what social media offers. Marketing through social media can be very lucrative for companies that do it correctly. You can easily target the exact demographic and customer you want to engage with unlike traditional media like a magazine ad that may be glanced over in a page turn and never stared at.
Of course in a face to face social situation it is definitely rude to be on your phone playing Facebook or Twitter. I for one am sick to death of four square check ins. I don't care if someone is buying shampoo at Coles! It is getting to information overload sometimes.

By: Terje Sannarnes

Terje Sannarnes — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:03:46 +0000

I would like to say that social media plays a key role in an online marketing strategy. So, I think that for every entrepreneur, who wants to succeed in doing online business it makes sense to include social media in his/her internet marketing strategy.

By: James Duthie

James Duthie — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:06:54 +0000

Interesting perspectives. Thanks for everyone's thoughts. It's interesting to see a bias against social media. I think Jenn hit the nail on the head via in the need to be cognisant of the people you are around. It's no surprise that the person who voiced their concern in my scenario was a bit of a techno-phobe. In many other circles of friends, it simply wouldn't have been a consideration.
I think you had another great point there Jenn regarding the tokenism that social media can foster. I've written about it before in relation to people 'supporting' charities by Liking their campaign or sharing it via social media. It's nothing more than a token gesture in my eyes, and it is visible in personal relation as well. I'm thinking of the person who you don't talk to for 12 months, but posts a happy birthday message on your wall. I suspect you've seen quite a bit of this tokenistic behaviour over the past few weeks given your current scenario Jenn.
But, despite all this, I still lean towards social media being a positive tool for social relations, at least… the ones that really matter.

By: Business Man

Business Man — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:28:27 +0000

I think we loose on our in-person social interactions due to social networking on the Internet. We treat each other with less respect because it is so easy to make new friends online or tell our existing friends to f….. themselves. Everything social on the net is easier. There are things we would never tell a person face to face yet we do not restrain ourselves on Facebook. True, we are in better contact with our friends thanks to social networks. But are these really quality contacts or relations? In my opinion, no.

By: Social Norms

Social Norms — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 08:27:21 +0000

I think that it's definitely leading to a decay of social norms. I have (and i'm sure most other people have too) been in a similar scenario to the one you described where a friend is chatting away on their smart phone instead of participating in our conversation. I find it very rude and distracting that they are more interested in chatting to some friend who isn't physically there with them than the ones who have made real time for them.
Are people becoming so restless and socially awkward that they have to distract themselves from their own thoughts rather than actively trying to participate in any type of conversation?

By: Jen Frahm

Jen Frahm — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 07:35:05 +0000

Oh, I have been so waiting for a post like this, thank you James, you must have been reading my mind. I think it comes down to the only social skill that is really important is sensitivity to others communication skills / preferences. If you are in the company of those who are not highly engaged with their smart phones, put it away. Do think about those who are not FB.
I think SM platforms are fab for the introverted, time poor, distance impacted (me included!). The seemingly superficial likes, comments, create a rhythm that permits connection. But the social skills that matter are empathy and action. Give me the friend who brings me chicken soup when ill, rather than the one who texts / FBs an XOXO…
I might be leaning towards SM encourages a lack of accountability for action, and this is socially disturbing…