My Social Networking Profile
Most people who sneer at technology would starve to death if the engineering infrastructure were removed.
-Robert A. Heinlein
"What!?"
"Are you serious?!
"How do you function?!"
Those were some of the responses directed at me from my classmates in my senior seminar psychology class. The theme of the class was technology and the digital age and its social, educational, mental, and physical impact on people and society as a whole. It was taught by Dr. Larry Rosen, a renown psychologist and expert on the overall impact of technology and the digital age on humans. It was one of the most interesting classes I ever participated in. Nonetheless, that did not stop my classmates from lambasting me about my lack of internet access at home. Being only 25 at the time did not help my case very much. Subsequently, I did not have Facebook or MySpace, the two biggest social networking sites at the time.
I actually had a Facebook account before in the mid-2000s not too long after it was released in early 2004. I remember my friend Bruce badgering me about starting an account. I finally caved and created an account. I had no idea what it was as social networking was just starting to absolutely explode. This was a time when you had to have a college or university email to start an account. After about a year, I did not know what to make of Facebook and social networking and just deleted my account.
After my classmates ripped me a new one, and while I was disabled and in a cast after rupturing my Achilles tendon, I made the call to Time Warner and added internet to my apartment. Soon thereafter, I created a Facebook account and immediately sent friend requests to my classmates, more so to get them off my back *chuckling*. I decided to keep my social networking alter-ego alive this time as I still have Facebook among other social networking accounts.
Dr. Rosen and his class totally changed my perspective and my appreciation for social networking and digital technology. Before the class, I was on pace to becoming one of those adult dinosaurs. You know who they are; those that boast now about not ever using the internet or thinking it is somehow cool to not know how an email works. Embarrassing. This class opened my eyes to where the zeitgeist was headed and I subsequently decided to hop on the digital age train. I do it mainly to stay relevant with the times even though I grew up mostly before internet and cell phones were standard. I actually have to consciously motivate myself to be involved in this era.
Since re-adding Facebook in 2009, I have added 6 more social networking site to my repertoire. Some are used more than others and my behavior and revelations varies with each program.
Facebook
Profile Created: 2005 (deactivated in 2006); 2009
Use: Occasionally (Never, Seldom, Occasionally, Frequently, Always)
Overall Tone: Facetious and informative
When I first started Facebook in 2005, I used it to reconnect with those from the past and possibly connect with others through friends; basically an extension of real life. However, I discovered it was as much about broadcasting one's life. This was my source of disconnect. I was never cynical of Facebook and its users as many are today. Rather, I simply was not in tune with it.
The second time around, I decided to not take it as serious. My status updates are mostly funny or ironic observations in life or the sharing of interesting articles or links that some of my family and friends might like and appreciate. I do not post many pictures and most of the ones I post are from my "Instinctive Travels..." in which I am showing moments in my life from my perspective and mind. However, these pictures will start going to another program I use I will mention later. Also, I peruse to see how friends and family are doing and make a quick comment or wise crack. Oh yeah, I used it this year mainly to quiet LeBron haters! I only wish many people would not be as angry and negative on there, but what are you going to do?
Twitter
Profile Created: 2011
Use: Frequently
Overall Tone: Facetious; informative; news-hub
I was not sure if I was going to last on Twitter until I figured out how I can use it to my ultimate advantage. I actually do not create my own Tweets very often as I do not have many followers, and I do not care to. Where Twitter's value to me is in the people and entities I follow. I follow many writers, columnist, activists, organizations, comedians and the strangely entertaining ÜberFacts. I also have a few friends I follow. Twitters serves as my ultimate news hub. When there is breaking news or new articles released that interest me, Twitter lets me know and I eat up all sorts of information. Other than that, I usually Retweet interesting information Tweeted by someone or something I follow.
Vtok
Profile Created: 2012
Use: Seldom
Overall Tone: Chat/texting
Description: Instant messaging app for the iPhone that incorporates my Gmail account and contacts.
Vtok has very little value, but some nonetheless. Sometimes, I have serious conversations with friends within Gchat. However, I sometimes have to go away from my computer especially while at work. To continue that conversation, I open Vtok and it keeps it the conversation going smoothly without the other person having to change their chatting venue. Other than that, I do not need it as most of my Gmail contacts have phone numbers I can use to text or call.
Voxer
Profile Created: 2012
Use: Very Seldom
Overall Tone: Voice Chat
Description: Digital walkie-talkie type program.
Voxer seems like a good idea. It is basically texting or instant messaging with the voice rather than typed words. My friends had it for a while now, but I could not have it until I got an iPhone. The Android phone I had at the time was equipped with a primitive version of Android and it could not accommodate Voxer. By time I got it earlier this year, it was not as hot with my friends. Hence, I do not use much if at all. Ideally, it would be used in lieu of texting when we want to coordinate. It does not seem practical for deep conversations, however.
Latitude
Profile Created: 2011
Use: Occasionally
Overall Tone: Geographically informative
Description: Geographic location sharing.
A group of my friends are big on Latitude. For me, it serves two purposes. First, it makes it easier sometimes to meet up with my friends if they are at a location I have not been to before. All I have to do is tap that person's icon and I can get driving directions to that person's location instantly. The second purpose is entertainment. Seems odd, but it can be entertaining. For instance, I was bored one day and decided to see what some of my boys were up to. Then, I randomly see one friend in Cinco Bayou, Florida! I immediately texted him to see what that was all about (he was at a family reunion). Another time, another friend was randomly in Las Vegas, sans an invite for Christopher! He heard from me soon thereafter. That was funny too. Only a handful of my friends use Latitude as you can probably see the many potential issues that can arise. However, we use it purely in fun.
Instagram
Profile Created: 2012
Use: Occasionally
Overall Tone: Introspective
Description: A picture version of Twitter.
I just decided to create an Instagram account about one month ago. I really do not know why I had the urge to create an account. I guess I like the idea of creating some sort of mosaic of some of my experiences. It serves as an extension of my "Instinctive Travels..." from Facebook in which I take pictures of the world I am experiencing as I hate being in pictures myself. While I am the same in Instagram as I am in the rest of the social networking programs I use, I have an esoteric layer added. I am far more introspective than with other programs. It is here where you can really get a sense of how my mind operates and how I interpret life's moments. It is also a manifestation of what I do in real life. Sometimes in life, I stop and shut my mind down and focus on my very existence at that very particular moment in time and reflect briefly on the path that led me to this very particular moment. Sometimes, I may snap a picture using Instagram to create a visual record of one of these moments.
Yelp
Profile Created: 2012
Use: Occasionally
Overall Tone: Informative
Description: Listings for businesses of all types with reviews, ratings, business information and location, and information sharing between users.
I sometimes hop on Yelp to get an idea for a new place to try before going. Other users post reviews and even take photos of the place or its food and drinks to give others an idea of what the place is like. I can connect with the few friends I have on there. I can send them information about a place and vise versa and see what places they frequent the most. I find it useful when researching new restaurants or wine bars to try when I want to try something new.
Path
Profile Created: 2012
Use: Seldom (unfortunately)
Overall Tone: Casual and fun
Description: A combination of everything above in addition to iTunes/Rhapsody and Flixster (a movie rating/sharing program).
While I am not optimistic about Path's future popularity, I really think it is vastly underrated. I wish I could use it as a consolidation of all the other social networking programs I use, but very few people I know use it. I still make some posts here and there and try inviting people to join Path, but it will be hard given the dominance of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Hopefully it catches on and I can use this as a one stop program. I doubt it though.
-Robert A. Heinlein
"What!?"
"Are you serious?!
"How do you function?!"
Those were some of the responses directed at me from my classmates in my senior seminar psychology class. The theme of the class was technology and the digital age and its social, educational, mental, and physical impact on people and society as a whole. It was taught by Dr. Larry Rosen, a renown psychologist and expert on the overall impact of technology and the digital age on humans. It was one of the most interesting classes I ever participated in. Nonetheless, that did not stop my classmates from lambasting me about my lack of internet access at home. Being only 25 at the time did not help my case very much. Subsequently, I did not have Facebook or MySpace, the two biggest social networking sites at the time.
I actually had a Facebook account before in the mid-2000s not too long after it was released in early 2004. I remember my friend Bruce badgering me about starting an account. I finally caved and created an account. I had no idea what it was as social networking was just starting to absolutely explode. This was a time when you had to have a college or university email to start an account. After about a year, I did not know what to make of Facebook and social networking and just deleted my account.
After my classmates ripped me a new one, and while I was disabled and in a cast after rupturing my Achilles tendon, I made the call to Time Warner and added internet to my apartment. Soon thereafter, I created a Facebook account and immediately sent friend requests to my classmates, more so to get them off my back *chuckling*. I decided to keep my social networking alter-ego alive this time as I still have Facebook among other social networking accounts.
Dr. Rosen and his class totally changed my perspective and my appreciation for social networking and digital technology. Before the class, I was on pace to becoming one of those adult dinosaurs. You know who they are; those that boast now about not ever using the internet or thinking it is somehow cool to not know how an email works. Embarrassing. This class opened my eyes to where the zeitgeist was headed and I subsequently decided to hop on the digital age train. I do it mainly to stay relevant with the times even though I grew up mostly before internet and cell phones were standard. I actually have to consciously motivate myself to be involved in this era.
Since re-adding Facebook in 2009, I have added 6 more social networking site to my repertoire. Some are used more than others and my behavior and revelations varies with each program.
Profile Created: 2005 (deactivated in 2006); 2009
Use: Occasionally (Never, Seldom, Occasionally, Frequently, Always)
Overall Tone: Facetious and informative
When I first started Facebook in 2005, I used it to reconnect with those from the past and possibly connect with others through friends; basically an extension of real life. However, I discovered it was as much about broadcasting one's life. This was my source of disconnect. I was never cynical of Facebook and its users as many are today. Rather, I simply was not in tune with it.
The second time around, I decided to not take it as serious. My status updates are mostly funny or ironic observations in life or the sharing of interesting articles or links that some of my family and friends might like and appreciate. I do not post many pictures and most of the ones I post are from my "Instinctive Travels..." in which I am showing moments in my life from my perspective and mind. However, these pictures will start going to another program I use I will mention later. Also, I peruse to see how friends and family are doing and make a quick comment or wise crack. Oh yeah, I used it this year mainly to quiet LeBron haters! I only wish many people would not be as angry and negative on there, but what are you going to do?
Profile Created: 2011
Use: Frequently
Overall Tone: Facetious; informative; news-hub
I was not sure if I was going to last on Twitter until I figured out how I can use it to my ultimate advantage. I actually do not create my own Tweets very often as I do not have many followers, and I do not care to. Where Twitter's value to me is in the people and entities I follow. I follow many writers, columnist, activists, organizations, comedians and the strangely entertaining ÜberFacts. I also have a few friends I follow. Twitters serves as my ultimate news hub. When there is breaking news or new articles released that interest me, Twitter lets me know and I eat up all sorts of information. Other than that, I usually Retweet interesting information Tweeted by someone or something I follow.
Vtok
Profile Created: 2012
Use: Seldom
Overall Tone: Chat/texting
Description: Instant messaging app for the iPhone that incorporates my Gmail account and contacts.
Vtok has very little value, but some nonetheless. Sometimes, I have serious conversations with friends within Gchat. However, I sometimes have to go away from my computer especially while at work. To continue that conversation, I open Vtok and it keeps it the conversation going smoothly without the other person having to change their chatting venue. Other than that, I do not need it as most of my Gmail contacts have phone numbers I can use to text or call.
Voxer
Profile Created: 2012
Use: Very Seldom
Overall Tone: Voice Chat
Description: Digital walkie-talkie type program.
Voxer seems like a good idea. It is basically texting or instant messaging with the voice rather than typed words. My friends had it for a while now, but I could not have it until I got an iPhone. The Android phone I had at the time was equipped with a primitive version of Android and it could not accommodate Voxer. By time I got it earlier this year, it was not as hot with my friends. Hence, I do not use much if at all. Ideally, it would be used in lieu of texting when we want to coordinate. It does not seem practical for deep conversations, however.
Latitude
Profile Created: 2011
Use: Occasionally
Overall Tone: Geographically informative
Description: Geographic location sharing.
A group of my friends are big on Latitude. For me, it serves two purposes. First, it makes it easier sometimes to meet up with my friends if they are at a location I have not been to before. All I have to do is tap that person's icon and I can get driving directions to that person's location instantly. The second purpose is entertainment. Seems odd, but it can be entertaining. For instance, I was bored one day and decided to see what some of my boys were up to. Then, I randomly see one friend in Cinco Bayou, Florida! I immediately texted him to see what that was all about (he was at a family reunion). Another time, another friend was randomly in Las Vegas, sans an invite for Christopher! He heard from me soon thereafter. That was funny too. Only a handful of my friends use Latitude as you can probably see the many potential issues that can arise. However, we use it purely in fun.
Profile Created: 2012
Use: Occasionally
Overall Tone: Introspective
Description: A picture version of Twitter.
I just decided to create an Instagram account about one month ago. I really do not know why I had the urge to create an account. I guess I like the idea of creating some sort of mosaic of some of my experiences. It serves as an extension of my "Instinctive Travels..." from Facebook in which I take pictures of the world I am experiencing as I hate being in pictures myself. While I am the same in Instagram as I am in the rest of the social networking programs I use, I have an esoteric layer added. I am far more introspective than with other programs. It is here where you can really get a sense of how my mind operates and how I interpret life's moments. It is also a manifestation of what I do in real life. Sometimes in life, I stop and shut my mind down and focus on my very existence at that very particular moment in time and reflect briefly on the path that led me to this very particular moment. Sometimes, I may snap a picture using Instagram to create a visual record of one of these moments.
Yelp
Profile Created: 2012
Use: Occasionally
Overall Tone: Informative
Description: Listings for businesses of all types with reviews, ratings, business information and location, and information sharing between users.
I sometimes hop on Yelp to get an idea for a new place to try before going. Other users post reviews and even take photos of the place or its food and drinks to give others an idea of what the place is like. I can connect with the few friends I have on there. I can send them information about a place and vise versa and see what places they frequent the most. I find it useful when researching new restaurants or wine bars to try when I want to try something new.
Path
Profile Created: 2012
Use: Seldom (unfortunately)
Overall Tone: Casual and fun
Description: A combination of everything above in addition to iTunes/Rhapsody and Flixster (a movie rating/sharing program).
While I am not optimistic about Path's future popularity, I really think it is vastly underrated. I wish I could use it as a consolidation of all the other social networking programs I use, but very few people I know use it. I still make some posts here and there and try inviting people to join Path, but it will be hard given the dominance of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Hopefully it catches on and I can use this as a one stop program. I doubt it though.
***
I was listening to The Adam Carolla Show podcast with Jimmy Kimmel as the guest, I believe. It is a pretty funny show if you can stomach the vulgarity and lasciviousness (literally nothing offends me). He has a knack for talking about seemingly mundane things that we all think about, but do not talk about and it is hilarious. One of those things he mentioned to Kimmel was how it is now all of a sudden cool to either not be on Facebook or admit you hardly ever use it. I could do nothing but say "thank you," as I have noticed that with people and became somewhat annoyed. Facebook has nearly 1 billion users and apparently nobody uses it!
I use Facebook and other forms of social media not only for the intent of the programs, but to make sure I am up with the times. I may have kids in the future and while I may not relate entirely to their generation in an empathetic way, I can at least understand it and know how to be a better parent for them. I can make it easier for my relatives and friends of all ages and all locations to see how I am doing through social media and vise versa. I can acknowledge the usefulness of all of this while shaking my head at those, especially at those around my age or slightly older or younger, that sneer cynically while saying, "I don't do Facebook/Twitter/etc." I do not resent them for not being a part of anything social media as it may not be right for them; rather, I feel bad that they miss the essence of what all of this could do for them and possibly their loved ones. It took me almost forever to get with social media, but I never had an actual problem with it.
I learned to use everything to my advantage while portraying positivity and possibly useful information for anyone that can see or hear it. Once I was able to grasp the essence of social media while knowing I am mostly in control of what I disseminate and see, I have been able to add a very useful and informative dimension to my life.
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