Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You're only a stranger once.

February 5, 2009

Social Media Fatigue (SMF)

Liz published this at 7:30 am

Do you suffer from Social Media fatigue (SMF?)

Unless you’re aware of your goals and understand why you’re using the many social platforms you may be involved in, it’s easy to get caught up in the sharing of links, music and personal tidbits. Everyone has had an hour fly by on Twitter when they’ve just meant to pop in for a few minutes right? Was there anything specific of value that you found during that time or did you just get caught up in the flurry? Blasting about in social media can take a lot out of you.

If you spend time in the stream on Twitter,  Face Book, Friendfeed  (or on any of the myriad of social platforms ) you form relationships with people. These relationships may be based on business interests or friendships or both. Last week, a close friend and I both noticed a friend was in trouble. His tweets tweets were sporadic and talked of being in ill health. We checked in. Our interaction had brought us beyond our keyboards into a real sense of human empathy. When you see someone tweet about a bad day, a mis-hap, or a loss do you check in – DM a little message? visit their blog and leave an encouraging comment?

Recently, I read along as Seth Simonds held a discussion on Twitter about how many users felt like they could freely admit to having a bad day in a tweet. Then, without warning, he asked everybody to “tweet” ME with a bowl of curried lentils. I love curried lentils! My screen was suddenly filled with tweets from strangers “giving” me a hot bowl of lentils. It’s random and silly, right? Then why did it put such a bright spot in my day? Because it reflected that brightness of empathy and community that brings me back into social media time after time.

The next time you sit down for “just five minutes” in social media, make a point to lift up another person. You don’t need to attempt profound conversations on deep subjects at every turn. Just try to stay open to the signals we all give when discouragement, loneliness, and fatigue set in.

Only you can prevent SMF! ;)

 

from: Kathryn Jennex @northernchick

photo: Vito’

Filed under Successful Blog | 18 Comments »


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18 Comments to “Social Media Fatigue (SMF)”

  1. February 5th, 2009 at 7:55 am
    David Niall Wilson said

    I think it’s possible that the relationships we form on line tend to be more in line with how we actually feel and think than the ones we can pluck out of a limited area exposure in the real world.

    On Twitter, in particular, most of those truly active really WANT to connect…and are actively seeking the chance…it really can brighten your day.

    Last night I had a particularly enjoyable time on Twitter…I won’t go on about why…but someone did something nice for me…and I love it when that happens. It’s why I try to pay it back…

    DNW

  2. February 5th, 2009 at 8:09 am
    Kathryn said

    That’s good to hear! I know we all need to push our work, our product, our service – that’s a given. We need to take care of ourselves and each other as well. Glad we’re connected!

  3. February 5th, 2009 at 8:09 am
    Dan at Pan said

    Truer words were never spoken … and I just happened to be blogging on the same topic, in a sense, this morning when I was moved by the passing of a social media friend of a long time:

    Wyatt at Pan Historia

  4. February 5th, 2009 at 8:12 am
    Susan Mazza said

    Twitter can be like a drug. Hours can disappear. And I have found myself meandering at times wondering what the heck I am doing out here. At the end of each day I ask myself what did I do today that fed my energy and what depleted it. Most often my time on twitter is feeding me – ideas, inspiration, support. But that makes sense since so far my goal has been to learn and connect. But I can see that I now need a more focused goal so I don’t fall into the “too much of a good thing” trap. Thanks for the reminder.

  5. February 5th, 2009 at 8:34 am
    John Bianchi said

    I measure the success of a day not by the number of hits we get for the client, but by how far we extended the reach of their ideas. Yesterday was a good day.

    The day before may have not been as productive, and I got caught up in the “flurry”, as you put it. But, when I burned my hand on some Starbucks, I got a lot of support from my friends on Twitter, which I really didn’t expect, and appreciated very much.

    My friend Ameena Meer says she likes Twitter because the best tweets are about sharing our humanity. I couldn’t agree more with her, or you.

  6. February 5th, 2009 at 8:36 am
    Kathryn said

    Dan – I commented & thank you for doing the same.

    Susan – Glad to hear you’re getting a lot of good stuff – I bet you’re giving as well! Thanks.

  7. February 5th, 2009 at 9:52 am
    LizSara said

    I think the rise and rise of Twitter has led to SMF on blogs and other sites around the blogosphere. Someone on my twitterstream today said that they had no ispiration for blogging even though they have time to do it now…but they still twittered. That attitude is shared. Twittering is more interactive than blogging, you work hard on posts that get no comments and something you just float out there gets a ton of people talking about it.

    Tweeting is the new texting, which was the new IM’ing which was the new calling, which was the new writing…maybe it’s just media fatigue?

  8. February 5th, 2009 at 10:20 am
    Enzie Shahmiri said

    At times it can get rather confusing remembering who you know from where, but I love it when my tweets generate blog traffic. I actually like the blogs more, because there you can get a feel for the real likes and dislikes of the person who is twittering… Is the latter even a word?!

  9. February 5th, 2009 at 10:44 am
    Kathryn said

    John, I guess we’re all trying to extend the reach of our ideas – love how you put that. Thankfully those ideas include sharing and involve humanity – wise friend you have there ;) Thanks for stopping by.

    LizSara – It’s sad really, we’re all just too tired to write…. maybe it’s just plain fatigue. Keep writing – please ;) .

    Enzie – yes twittering is a word! I agree it can get confusing but the great part is it can lead to the blogs! Thanks for stopping by!

  10. February 5th, 2009 at 11:08 am
    Bean said

    Thank you for this great and timely post. I am working on Twitter with my students and a frequent question is shy do this and and concerns about being so immersed in the online community that real life interactions fall by the way side. That is something to be cautious of, but over the last nine years I have met people online that have developed into my closest friends. I may only see them once or year or less, but we communicate almost daily online. That quick Tweet or IM, I am thinking of you goes a long ways to making my day.

  11. February 5th, 2009 at 11:19 am
    Dan at Pan said

    I see this all the time, Bean.

    Yes, I can see that some people, particularly if they have social difficulties in the first place, or have difficulty setting boundaries, might have problems with social media and online communities, but for most people it can be a pleasant, socially affirming and self-esteem boosting experience.

    Real life friendships are made, even if you don’t meet the person in the flesh.

  12. February 5th, 2009 at 11:34 am
    Todd Smith said

    Great topic. We all somehow feel free to be human on Twitter. And what’s wonderful is that people like you look out for us when we need a hand. It feels so nice to bolster someone’s confidence when we can. Like Liz’s post yesterday: two words can make a difference – “I care.” :)

  13. February 5th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
    krissy knox said

    What a beautiful idea Liz, to “lift up another person” while using Social Media. I have seen some tweeters do this, on occassion, right in the Twitter stream. Sometimes they would call even more tweeters to add their encouragement also. Other tweeters would then join in lifting up of the one who needed it. I was very impressed, encouraged, and delighted by what I saw — the uplifting, warmth, and kindness. We should all remember to do this. It takes such a small act of kindness to cheer someone up, and really touch them!

    krissy knox :)
    http://www.twitter.com/iamkrissy

  14. February 5th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
    Kevin Boon said

    Great Post! In fact it’s something that I’ve wanted to post about myself. Social Media Fatigue is a real issue and it seems like one of main reasons people do not want to dive into sites like Twitter or other online communities.

    If you take the hours dedicated to our jobs, our families, our health, our relationships and everything else and then throw SM on top of it you can easily get distracted.

    I know that it’s good to take a break from social media even if it’s for a day. Also it’s good to schedule blocks of time and keep to those commitments.

    If I post something in the future I’ll let you know.
    Kevin

  15. February 5th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
    Kathryn said

    Kevin – Thanks, I’d like that!

  16. February 6th, 2009 at 1:40 am
    Tracy said

    I need to be more creative and lift other people. right I’m just slaving away like a robot at 12:40am.

  17. February 6th, 2009 at 5:36 am
    Monica Hamburg said

    Lovely post. Sending lentils. :)

  18. July 25th, 2010 at 8:02 am
    I am sick and tired of social media! said

    [...] on for a while.   Here is a time line if you care to see what was being said in 2007,  2008, 2009, 2009, and   [...]

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