Using Social Media for Good
Is social media good or evil?
Scary headlines and the Surgeon General’s warning about the hazards of social media have made me stop and think a bit more deeply about social media. We are being exposed to multiple things in our more-and-more-digitally-immersed world that are just a big social experiment: we have no idea what the effect will be of our unlimited access to screens.
Social media was supposed to help connect us, but studies are showing that we are lonelier than ever. And yet, there are reasons to hope as we navigate these uncharted waters.
First, I want to acknowledge that we, myself included, all have room for improvement when it comes to our digital usage, but we also need to make a lot of space for compassion. Our world can be hard, and dealing with negative emotions is super challenging. It makes sense that our brains want some relief from that, and using social media can feel like an easy way to reach out and get some of that mind-numbing relief.
But are there better ways that we could be using social media than just escapism and entertainment?
As an entrepreneur, content creator, and social media manager for the past twelve-plus years (since the dawn of the social era) I have seen three uses where social media is beneficial:
Creating
Connecting
Community-building
Are you using social media to create?
If you’ve ever seen Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window,” you might feel a certain way about the concept of voyeurism. We live in a society where voyeurism is an accessible part of everyday life. You don’t have to peek out your back window to guess at what your neighbor is doing, you can often see it displayed from people all over the world. The problem is you might be comparing your life to others, and start feeling bad about what you DO have.
If you start using social media to create, and then to share those creations to serve others (through uplifting, inspiring, sharing knowledge, making someone laugh, etc.) then you are no longer just a passive-zombie user of social media, lurking in the shadows and scrolling through everyone else’s life. Instead, you are a brave and bold contributor who is using your creative power to bring light to others.
Are you using social media to connect?
Social media was originally created as a tool to facilitate more connection between humans, but it is now being cited as the reason people are feeling so lonely and disconnected. Where did we go wrong?
People are losing their ability to socialize and connect with people face-to-face, as more people are ties into their phones. Setting some limits and boundaries on phone usage in the real world is always a good idea, but then also figuring out how to use social media INTENTIONALLY can help you use it to actually connect.
How often do you contribute to the conversations people are trying to start by commenting on their posts, or commenting on someone else’s comment? Or do you reach out and message a friend you’ve been thinking of that you haven’t seen in awhile?
Are you building community?
One area that brings me hope in social media is the use of groups. I have seen some incredibly insightful and uplifting conversations happen in groups where people feel safe enough to share and get help for the questions they have from a real person.
There are communities that have built a lot of trust, and people are able to feel the value of asking a question that they might not feel comfortable asking their friends or family.
How are you involved on online communities? Are you contributing to groups on social media?
You're Invited!
Do you need a welcoming group and community to be part of? Join my newly created private "Shine Bright Creatives Community" here on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/groups/15819050/
My dream is that it will be a place where creatives and aspiring creatives seeking greater fulfillment and success in their career/business can build meaningful connections, start conversations, and share and get feedback on creative work.
How have you seen social media be used for good?
Send me a message, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
