Remember the good old days when you’d tell your girlfriend or wife that you were off to some meeting or happy hour, or even to play some golf, and you’d assure her at the core of the outing was an opportunity to network? Ya know, rub some elbows, swap some business cards, and get a sense of who was doing what and who they might need in order to do so – that sort of thing. “Networking,” conceptually speaking, was a necessity (oft-times quantified as a necessary evil), and by and large considered an invaluable and largely enjoyable work-related exercise.
It’s taken on a whole new meaning.
You see, “social networking” can be – and often is – approached the exact same way, and can produce the same results, plus boasts the killer added bonus of never doffing the jammies and hitting a nightclub downtown. But (there is always a but when it comes to networking!), social networking – much like the tried-and-true variety – can also come in quite handy as an excuse, and also is ten times the minefield of a nightclub. All the exes are there, all at once, or on the outskirts, alerted to your logging on, etc.
A study by Pew Research Centre took an in-depth look into the numerous reasons why men and women use Facebook, arguably the leading social networking site at this time, although many claim it is well on its way to Myspace territory. That said, with over 1 billion users from all different demographics, locations and genders sharing updates and photos on the platform, it ain’t going there any time soon. The study found that 54 per cent of women enjoy seeing photos and videos on their News Feeds, compared to 39 per cent of men. Catch is, beyond college friends, family, and the like; these same women are on the lookout for photos and videos of “the one(s) who got away.” Or, at the very least, that is what many men believe.
The Facebook features men and women appreciate equally is receiving updates or comments, both at 39 per cent, as well as keeping up with news and current events at 31 per cent.
Simply put, Facebook can certainly be used for traditional networking purposes, and for catching up and keeping up with old friends, but it has also proven to play a key role in the disintegration of many a relationship, married and unmarried alike. When that ex who did all the things your wife won’t do launches a friend request your way at 2AM and you see that she’s not in a relationship – not even a “complicated one!” – Chaos can most definitely ensue.
A more straight-forward networking site is LinkedIn. Requests pour in much the same way they do on Facebook, yet they are typically from actual former colleagues – co-workers and bosses, interns and underlings. The site affords one the opportunity to be a reference and perhaps glean an endorsement simultaneously, a resume in cyberspace in perpetuity. Despite this, I recently heard from a former co-worker that she was being accosted left and right from gentlemen requesters claiming they’d like to discuss potential job opportunities and then suddenly lament the state of their marriage to this veritable stranger. Ah, the temptation of boxers, a laptop and the wee hours of the morning. Clearly “linked in” meant something entirely different to these laptop lotharios.
Twitter brings with it a mixed bag all its own. While the opportunity for personal one-on-one is slimmer-to-nonexistent, the double-edged sword lies in the opportunity to tweet something that could completely bite you on the ass, either personally or professionally. Or both. Typically the latter, but even so, the spontaneity at a man’s unfiltered fingertips, be he drunken, lonely, unable to sleep – whatever – by Twitter is simply a recipe for disaster. A tweet can cost you your girl and definitely your job, dependent upon your line of work, of course. With it, even your reputation. Anthony Wiener anyone?
According to socialmedia.com: “Did you know that there are now 231.7 million active users on Twitter worldwide, and that 100 million of them log into the service on a daily basis, and 52.7 Million of these are in the U.S.?
What if I told you that more than 5K tweets are tweeted each and every second and 3 million websites integrate with Twitter? Believe it.
While each and every Kardashian and 99% of today’s outspoken (and genuine) celebrities are keenly aware of this, or at least peripherally, I highly doubt that the 9-to-5 part-time playa is aware of the enormity of the platform, never mind the potential fallout. The off-the-cuff commentary on a news story, or even personal issue, could be something the workplace takes issue with, and takes up with you. Filtering your zingers is key – more than ever.
There is a litany, a laundry list, of other sites, from Pinterest, Instagram, Dig It, Reddit and so on that have their own individual downsides as well, that gal who proves irresistible on the loneliest of nights.
Simply put, social networking is heavier on the social than it is on the networking. Proceed with caution, Adam. The apple is still tempting…and it’s, in many cases, the Apple on the desk in your study.
Article By: Vinnie Penn
