Separation Anxiety in a New Age
Recently, I posted a quip on Twitter that met with rapturous 'online' applause:
"Thanks to Twitter, I can't go anywhere without my mobile. Quick question. Do I take this man to be my lawfully wedded husband?"
It wasn't real; (in case I have to point that out), but the ensuing stars posted on http://favstar.fm coupled with some individual responses and it's inclusion on www.funtweets.com showed that lots of people following me on Twitter completely related to it.
So have we become co-dependant to the instant gratification of a favstar stamp of approval and a Facebook like?
With extrinsic motivation, you’re doing something because the activity will bring some reward or benefit at the end of it. And for many people, a like, a star, a retweet and a social share provides just that. Is it any wonder them that many of us are becoming hooked?
I do vaguely recall posting comments online and then furtively logging in via my mobile five or six times in an hour to see if anyone liked what I had to say. But it isn't the done thing to admit this naturally. I don't do it anymore... nor do I save things like, I don't know, print screen pictures of top tweet nominations for example.
But my own view is thus; dependence on social media for social interaction is not altogether unhealthy. As a family, me and my extendeds are suddenly talking more, sharing photo's and catching up on stories that we wouldn't have had the inclination or means to share a decade ago.
So we're bringing families together and communicating better than ever before. A win/win!
And Ryan my boy, if you're reading this, it's time to come out of your room for your supper...
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