Communicating by means of social media has definitely taken a seat at the tables of most of the homes in our world today. I, for one, would tell you I don’t post as much as the next person on popular social media outlets such as Facebook or Instagram; however, I think I use them more than I’d like to admit. For instance, after my daughter’s wedding last March, our garage ended up packed full of ceremony and reception décor. It was absolutely wall to wall with items such as floor coverings, a large metal garden arch that had framed the couple while they swapped vows, boxes of chargers, and vases of every size, eight of which were almost as tall as me. Being no longer in need of these items, I had the bright idea to post them on Facebook marketplace. It was so easy to fill in the prompts already supplied by the source simply by using a touch of my finger on my iPhone. There was a place to indicate what category the item qualified for, pricing, description of the condition, and of course, pictures could be uploaded as well. I was also able to give a general idea of my location without being too specific by simply including my zip code for potential buyers to decide if the item was worth the drive time. Amazingly, within just a week, my garage was back to its old self and once again served as my home fitness hub. Did I mention that now I even had a few more items for my garage gym? Yes, while checking my listings and managing communications with those interested in my goods, I came across a few things I too couldn’t live without.
It seems I had finally found where I fit in the Facebook community. You see, I’m not one to consistently post or share daily happenings on my personal timeline. However, Facebook messenger is more likely where you’ll find me. I believe that may be due to the fact that I can reach out to those people over messenger whom I may not have a phone number for, especially for professional networking. I also have friends in Northern Ireland, and communicating via Facebook messenger has been an extremely wonderful benefit for staying connected with them. I remember the day when making long distance calls cost a small fortune, and international calls were out of the question because of the expense they ensued. Therefore, I certainly realize the value of communicating using social media in the ways that serve me and my family well.
I have decided intentionally to let go of the pressure to post on Facebook daily. When I do decide to scroll through the newsfeed, I usually try to keep myself to a limit of around 15 minutes. I also do my best to remember netiquette rule number 1: remember the human. Real people you know and care for are actually going to be reading what you shared even if it wasn’t directly intended for them. I will always prefer to catch up with friends the old-fashioned way, a one-on-one conversation, so when I do connect with someone over Facebook messenger, I try to progress to a phone call or meeting as soon as possible.
Of course, even I make exceptions and resort to making use of Facebook or Instagram by intentionally checking friends’ postings if I know they have had a special occasion such as a wedding, birthday, or graduation. It is quite enjoyable to see pictures of the big event and even write a comment to offer a word of encouragement or congratulations. It is also a way of making my friends across the pond not feel so far away after all. Also, when my children travel, I can easily experience a bit of what they are seeing and experiencing. For instance, my youngest daughter studied abroad in Scotland last year. Because of the time difference talking on the phone did not work out as often as we would have wished; however, seeing her pictures posted on Instagram and Facebook brought me much joy and affirmed to me she was doing well. Much expense was saved by making use of the benefits offered by social media’s capabilities.
Generally, however, when it comes to social media, I would describe myself as being somewhat shy. Every time I access it without a goal or designated purpose, I feel slightly lost and out of place. However, the more I use social media for purposes that are serving me well it seems the more knowledge I am gaining regarding its helpfulness for communication both locally and internationally. Apparently, it is possible to expand your own comfort zone with just a little nudge in the right direction.
