I’ve written before about my experiments with technology, and the ups and downs of embracing the newest and shiniest before all the bugs are worked out.
But what I haven’t discussed here are all of the popular social media platforms into which I haven’t even dipped a toe. For instance, Facebook; I’ve never joined and I don’t think I ever will. I missed the “everyone in college must be in Facebook” time, and I’m not quite to the “everyone’s posting baby updates” time.
I’m on LinkedIn, but rarely use it. My RSS feeds show me my favorite parts of the Internet and keep me updated on my blogs, webcomics and news. On Twitter I tend to tweet in batches between press dates. GChat is great for grabbing sources and my husband when I want to share a link or get a quick answer. When I got Google Glass I joined Google+, but only read it – I rarely post anything there.
But because of the upcoming Wine, Dine & Design event that St. Charles Avenue is throwing October 2 to benefit Operation Homefront, I’ve joined Pinterest as the magazine to promote the event. And yesterday I finally bit the flashbulb, so to speak, and joined Instagram. I’m just learning it and so far I really enjoy it, but the time I’ve already spent on it worries me a bit.
I have some friends that when they come over, after the first round of catching up is done, all they do is look at their phones; sometimes it’s to look up an answer or because they have something they want to show me, but more often it’s because they have to check Facebook or play another round of Candy Crush. What ever happened to debating one another over the answer to “What do I know that guy from?” instead of immediately looking it up? Shouldn’t games be played as a group when the group is together?
I know that sometimes I’m just as bad. At second lines and Mardi Gras Indian events, my friends know that when I say “I’ll be back in just a sec!” it’s because I’m going to chase down a photo with my camera (and now occasionally my phone). I’ve been known to take pictures to remember a moment instead of inhabiting it. And that’s why I’m a little trepidatious about Instagram.
Each piece of social media has its own rules (don’t post too often or too little; make sure to give credit where credit’s due; no one cares what you’re eating) but I’ve decided that from now on my media’s going to work for me, not the other way around. And I’ll try to walk the line between excited and obsessed, but only when it’s appropriate.
Oh, and just an FYI, The New Yorker’s website has removed its paywall for the summer, inclduing its archive, just in case you need something else to read on your phone.
