Social Media's Impact on Me

Thank you to BING Social Search for sponsoring my post about social media. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

I was asked how has social media changed your life in significant ways? I had to really stop and think about it for a minute because really, social media (Twitter and Facebook) is such a part of my life (and probably yours too) that I don’t stop to think about its impact. Like driving a car, it’s just something I do everyday, almost automatically, taking for granted that the car is there and I have fuel to get from point A to point B. Social media is kinda like that. It’s the vehicle I use to keep in touch with contacts, friends and family. It is the medium most used when I want to schedule something with a large group of people and it is the place I go when I’m bored and want to catch up on trends, topics and dare I say it, family drama. I get to be a voyeur and watch the drama unfold, without actually having to participate and let me tell you, with three sisters, three brothers and 29 cousins, there’s always something going on!

Social media has also offered me an opportunity that I may not have had otherwise. I have business opportunities that I might not have had absent social media. Also, I’ll admit it, I’m a homebody. I would rather be at home with my kids and dogs that out doing something social every weekend (don’t get me wrong, I like to go out too, but if I had my choice between staying in and watching a movie or going out to a networking event, I’d probably choose the movie). Social media allows me to interact daily with family in other states; I get to network with people and companies who are not local; I can engage people with different view points and ideas. I don’t feel like I’m out of the loop or disconnected and when there is an event that I cannot make it to, I still feel like I’m included when I read people’s status and whatnot. I am currently a member of a facebook group specific to those of us entering our first year of law school. The information 2nd and 3rd year students have provided has been invaluable and interacting between people is much easier on social networks than in good old fashioned email.

In all, I believe that social media has impacted my life in a significantly positive manner and if the internet died tomorrow, I wouldn’t be the only one having mild panic attacks and anxiety at how in the world I would stay connected and where I would get my information!