This Mom's Guide

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Archive for category Internet Or Social Media

Social Media is it an Addiction, Illness, or a Must Have?

Feb 27

Posted by ThisMomsGuide in Internet Or Social Media, life | Comments off

social-media-ballSocial Media, five years ago I didn’t have any clue what that was. If I had to guess back then the definition of Social Media, it was something to do with Media (TV, Movies, Music, etc.) and it was a social group. Close right? Kind of. Little did I know Social Media would become a cornerstone in my everyday life as well as most of friends and family.

I touched back on a previous blog, “My Social Media Friends – Why I Need Them” the importance of some friends that I have on these sites and the different reasons why. But today want to write about, “Is Social Media an Addiction, Illness, or a Must Have?” For me it’s all three.

My husband introduced me to MySpace maybe 3 years ago. I thought this is great. Being a new Stay At Home Mom I was not used to not being surrounded by my peers. I had a job that demanded a lot of me that involved many people. All of sudden there I was sitting there looking at a infant not use to hearing only my own voice. Myspace became a Savior at first. I connected with a few friends and some local people. I loved making my profile unique and my own. I thought I would never tire of my new “Addition”, MySpace.  But alas, like any human with a shiny new toy, I got bored.

Then my husband introduced me to Facebook. I hated it. It was the “Anti” Myspace in the fact it was not personalized like Myspace with the Layouts and the music and the images allowed. Not to mention “The Wall” of Facebook was annoying to me.  But sometimes we are against change, but change is actually what we wanted whether we knew it or not. Facebook became my new “Addiction”. MySpace slowed down to almost nonexistent activity and Facebook is active almost every minute of the day. I am friends with almost everyone I went to high school with, old co-workers, old friends, and family. There is not a day I do not check it. Some of my friends would not embrace Facebook, but like an “Illness”, it spread. Now even those who were against any form of Social Media are fighting the “Illness”, the “Addiction”. They are hooked and getting others hooked everyday.

Finally a” Must Have” is where is ends for me. Between Twitter, where I chat my random thoughts with mostly strangers and Facebook where I get my everyday fixes and friendships from many, I am fulfilled. (Myspace..still have it but nothing happens on it..ever..) I think whether you are a stay at home parent, or someone who works in an office 50 hours a week, Social Media is a “Must Have”. It keeps us human, in touch with so many that we would have not had connections with before the internet. It keeps us abreast of our fellow man. It makes us thinks of others, if only for five minutes in our busy lives. It gives us sounding boards and loads of advice. It tells the place to be on Friday night and a place to try the next time you are on vacation. It gives us our connection to Life. So what are you waiting for, join one, we’re all waiting…..You know where I’ll be…

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My Social Media Friends – Why I Need Them

Nov 16

Posted by ThisMomsGuide in Internet Or Social Media, life | Comments off

social-mediaI try to remember times before my love of the internet. I was in my early 20’s. Friends were never a problem. Whether getting friends, keeping friends, hanging with friends, chatting with friends, or being friends, it was easy. It was before my adult life took over.

You get married, have children, and get older. You keep some friends and you tend to lose a lot more it seems. Sometimes it’s due to no longer having anything in common, and as for others, it’s merely a time issue.

Now that I am well into my thirties, I find it hard to have a lot of “tangible” real world friends. I salute the people I know, that get to go and party like it’s 1999 with their friends on a regular basis. I for some reason no longer do. I know even my husband has this issue. Work, family life, house and yard upkeep, and exhaustion..just sucks up your time so often.

I feel making new friends is easier for women than men. I recently watched a movie called “I Love You Man” with Paul Rudd. I feel for men after seeing that movie. I guess I never thought about how hard it is for a man to make new friends in the adult world, if you can not make them in your work environment. I can strike up a conversation with a woman in the grocery or the library, but will we end up grabbing a latte or really calling each other? More than likely not. I have however met women and exchanged Twitter handles. There we stay in touch. I guess men could do that too, it would seem less intimate.

So I call these women (and men) that I have met in many different ways that I converse basically via a social media proxy my “Social Media Friends”.  On my Facebook account most of my friends are old high school friends and acquaintances, a few tangible friends, old coworker friends,  family, and very few strangers. This is because I have pictures of my daughter and more personal information on there. On my MySpace account, which I admit I do not really use very much, it’s  mostly the same as facebook but there are a few people I met through myspace. Now my Twitter account is anyone who wants to chat with me and they are not some spammer I happily include them into my circle of my friends.

I find that because I am more than likely on the internet at least once a day every day, my social media friends are more informed about my day to day life than the friends who do not use social media. I find that my social media friends sometimes care more or maybe just have more time to care. They ask on daily basis how things might be going. They share more. They give pep talks to each other. They give advice more. They give well wishes for you to get better. They comment on pictures. I love my Social Media friends.

Do I feel they they are better than my tanglible friends? In some aspects, maybe, but I will never replace them ever because nothing can replace a hug when needed. Maybe I finally hook up with them for dinner and we laugh until it’s way to late into the night. When I have had family die they are there to hold my hand. When I give birth they are taking pictures. They are tangible “Aunties” to my daughter since I have no siblings.

My Social Media Friends fill in the holes in my life, making it more complete. I barely remember my life without them, and I glad they are here. Thank you to all my friends…whether on the web or in life…

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Social Media Avenues – The Good & The Bad In My Life

Sep 6

Posted by ThisMomsGuide in Internet Or Social Media | 6 Comments

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I have been called a few times a “social media junkie” and maybe I am. No I do not know everything about it. I am just a mom at home who stays connected. I just know how it affects my life, there is good and there is bad.

Let’s start with the bad. I am sure being on the internet and on these Social Media Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace (and even my blog and other people’s blogs) must take up some of my time that probably should be directed in other avenues of my life. My husband would probably say cleaning is definitely one of those avenues LOL. My daughter at times says, “No Puter Mom” and I believe that is my hint that it’s probably time to play dolls or tea party and to indeed put the “puter” away. Finally, since I already do not enjoy talking on the phone (more than likely all my years in Customer Service at STERIS Corp), I find myself spreading the word about my life on my social media sites and if I have a friend who is not plugged into that scene then they are not as up to date.

You do need to be careful what you share on Social Media sites, especially if it’s public. Never share information that could be used in identity theft. Never post that cute picture of your naked child in the tub. Never meet anyone online without many safety precautions taken. Be careful what you write or pictures you post, an employer or a future employer may see them. More and more companies are researching Social Media Avenues to see what you are up too. Not to mention, your family might see some unflattering things. Once it’s out there, it’s there.

I am always amazed when some of my friends are not plugged in. They do not have a single account on any Social Media Sites and barely use email…shudder…and rarely even use the internet as a resource tool. If I have a single question about any subject I am opening up my laptop and off I go to any search engine (usually google) and find what I am looking for. I can barely remember my life before the internet.

Now it’s time for the good. Let’s face it before these sites, friends of long ago usually stayed in the past only to be reminisced occasionally in our minds. With the use of Facebook.com, Twitter.com, Myspace.com or Classmates.com we are all connected again. Now we never have to wonder what happened to so and so, we already know. It’s wonderful to see how everyone is doing and to keep in touch.

Another benefit is, it’s nice to have support from many people on situations in one’s life. I have seen it all on Facebook: venting, political conversations, selling things, buying a home, raising children, losing weight, quitting smoking, getting married, sick children, deaths in the family, births, the list goes on. Then the responses from everyone tend to be helpful, hopeful and encouraging. If someone did not have a strong supportive group of friends or family in their tangible lives, they can get the support they were lacking online. With the use of Social Media Sites we are never alone.

Sharing pictures and update of the children and family is another huge benefit. I save so much money not printing the pictures and mailing them and I save time by not having to attach them to 50 separate emails.  It also helps when trying to sell personal items, promoting your business, promoting blogs, giving away animals, finding people to render services. Amber Alerts and Safety recalls, and coupons are also a big thing on social media and I believe are truly a wonderful benefit. Finding a lost child, making sure your friends baby doesn’t bounce in a chair that has broken and hurt others, and of course saving money and helping others to do the same, it’s all warm and fuzzies…

If you already do not have an account on any of these and other Social Media Avenues, please look into them, and although you might lose some time and maybe get carpel tunnel, just look at the possibilities gained.

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