Today's Topic:
WHAT'S BEEF??
Social Networking Drama
With the introduction of social networks, it was only a matter of time before personal issues became "public" knowledge. Social media relies on participants sharing their personal information. This personal information is then shared with either a select group of followers, friends, or to the general public. Social networking creates the personal obligation to share your life with people granted access to your information. But it is a slippery slope.
Though MySpace was around before Facebook, I feel like Facebook specialized in creating "cyber thugging." It was on Facebook that I first noticed wall posts subliminally coming at someone else. And then status messages were introduced. Status messages allowed people to post a statement your friends can see. Though status messages were first intended to be quick blurts about your day to day activities, they quickly became the way to vent how you were feeling. It wasn't uncommon to see messages referring subliminally to a negative part of a user's day, most often involving another Facebook user. Facebook status messages created a medium for people to argue. The ability to comment on status messages created a whole other level of e-thugging. People bickered back and forth over status messages, publicizing issues for the Facebook world to see.
Then Twitter came along and totally revitalized social networking. Twitter makes you cocky enough to believe that people actually care what you say. Almost to the point you feel like you're depriving your followers if you don't dispense every aspect of your life and how you are feeling. But where do you draw the line?
Twitter has created the ability to mold a more secluded social networking environment (if you please) and only allow a select group of followers to see your tweets. Therefore, I feel people use this sense of exclusivity to be more open and honest than they would on Facebook (or Myspace if you still use it). I know I do. I find myself tweeting more of my innermost thoughts of various varieties. Stuff I think is funny, crazy, sexy, or dumb. Stuff I say. Stuff my friends say. And stuff I argue about. And there is where the problem lies.
When, if ever, is it appropriate to use Twitter to vent your frustrations about someone? And is it okay to do so subliminally?? I have definitely used #subliminaltweet to discuss another one of my followers without addressing them directly. Usually it's all in good fun and won't cause a riff between us. But it does allow my followers a glimpse into my personal life and the life I share with someone else. And usually the subliminal diss is far from subliminal.
For anything to be sacred, it is essential that everyone (or even a gang of people) aren't aware of every innermost secret. This includes relationships and friendships. Twitter does allow the chance to express positive things about your experiences with someone else, but venting isn't usually about the good things. When you take the time to write something malicious about a friend or significant other, it creates the need for conversations that should have been had in private beforehand. It's embarrassing and far from healthy. But these are just my opinions.
So where do YOU draw the line??
For more information on handling social networking arguments, read the article I posted below:
How to Argue for Social Media
Social Networking Drama
With the introduction of social networks, it was only a matter of time before personal issues became "public" knowledge. Social media relies on participants sharing their personal information. This personal information is then shared with either a select group of followers, friends, or to the general public. Social networking creates the personal obligation to share your life with people granted access to your information. But it is a slippery slope.
Though MySpace was around before Facebook, I feel like Facebook specialized in creating "cyber thugging." It was on Facebook that I first noticed wall posts subliminally coming at someone else. And then status messages were introduced. Status messages allowed people to post a statement your friends can see. Though status messages were first intended to be quick blurts about your day to day activities, they quickly became the way to vent how you were feeling. It wasn't uncommon to see messages referring subliminally to a negative part of a user's day, most often involving another Facebook user. Facebook status messages created a medium for people to argue. The ability to comment on status messages created a whole other level of e-thugging. People bickered back and forth over status messages, publicizing issues for the Facebook world to see.
Then Twitter came along and totally revitalized social networking. Twitter makes you cocky enough to believe that people actually care what you say. Almost to the point you feel like you're depriving your followers if you don't dispense every aspect of your life and how you are feeling. But where do you draw the line?
Twitter has created the ability to mold a more secluded social networking environment (if you please) and only allow a select group of followers to see your tweets. Therefore, I feel people use this sense of exclusivity to be more open and honest than they would on Facebook (or Myspace if you still use it). I know I do. I find myself tweeting more of my innermost thoughts of various varieties. Stuff I think is funny, crazy, sexy, or dumb. Stuff I say. Stuff my friends say. And stuff I argue about. And there is where the problem lies.
When, if ever, is it appropriate to use Twitter to vent your frustrations about someone? And is it okay to do so subliminally?? I have definitely used #subliminaltweet to discuss another one of my followers without addressing them directly. Usually it's all in good fun and won't cause a riff between us. But it does allow my followers a glimpse into my personal life and the life I share with someone else. And usually the subliminal diss is far from subliminal.
For anything to be sacred, it is essential that everyone (or even a gang of people) aren't aware of every innermost secret. This includes relationships and friendships. Twitter does allow the chance to express positive things about your experiences with someone else, but venting isn't usually about the good things. When you take the time to write something malicious about a friend or significant other, it creates the need for conversations that should have been had in private beforehand. It's embarrassing and far from healthy. But these are just my opinions.
So where do YOU draw the line??
For more information on handling social networking arguments, read the article I posted below:
How to Argue for Social Media
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