Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest. I’m sure there are more, but that’s all the social media it takes to overwhelm me. I had envisioned that this summer would be the time I began to make sense of my place in the social media world. My blog would finally get the attention it missed during the busy school year when my primary identity was “teacher.” My Facebook statuses would be routinely funny and engaging. My twitter account would send out more than just links to my blog posts, and I would finally figure out what the heck the deal is with Pinterest.
Well. Summer is quickly winding down, and I’m not sure I’m any more social media savvy than I was six weeks ago. Sure, my blog is getting updated more than once a month, but I’m finding that there’s still not enough time in the day to blog regularly. (Outside of this platform, of course. Always time for Real Moms Guide!)
Facebook, well, that’s a different beast. I get Facebook. I love Facebook. That love could, if left unchecked, turn into an obsessive relationship, so I’ve got to be careful. But, I understand the role that FB can play in my life– connecting with “real-life” friends as well as the folks I only know from the online world, sharing links to my online work for anyone who might have the slightest interest in reading it, and of course, posting statuses that are in fact funny and engaging, at least some of the time.
But those other two, Twitter and Pinterest, they still seem a bit elusive to me. Without being online all the time, I can’t really get into Twitter, and I just find it less fun than Facebook. Pinterest? I think I’m ready to call it… Pinterest isn’t for me. I know, I know. I should love Pinterest, and I do have a couple boards but they don’t have much of anything on them. As far as I can figure, since I’ve already gotten married, I’m not a foodie, and I don’t have much interest at all in fashion, I’m not a good candidate for Pinterest. Sure, I’m sure many of you have found it to be the best social media platform since sliced bread, but I think I’m just not the pinning type.
So, my social media habits haven’t changed a bit this summer, but that’s okay. Perhaps my life was already balanced in that aspect. And who knows what the next big social media will be… maybe it will change my online routines in ways I can’t even imagine!
I am soooo glad I never got hooked on Pinterest or Tumblr!!! I do love Twitter and you know how much I ADORE Facebook!!! I keep up with my blog, I don’t know HOW, but it’s true, it’s almost like you need to clone yourself these days to manage a social media life — hahaha, you can have either a SOCIAL life or a SOCIAL MEDIA life but not both!
On the other side, as someone who has become an avid pinner- I’d say you’re missing the boards you need. I really don’t pin any of the things you mention BUT I constantly pin educational ideas, quick healthy meals (and easy!) meals for kids and some of the most obvious DUH why didn’t I think of that home organization and cleaning ideas. I often see the pins/boards you mention and wonder, “why the heck would you pin that?” things like outfits and “gorgeous genetically ‘perfect’ women in bathing suits. Um, what? Why? Once you find your niche there is more good stuff..I can’t even begin to say. The science experiments are awesome!
I don’t understand the appeal of Twitter. I stop by occasionally and had some chats, but mostly it eludes me. I’m liking Pinterest, but am very much a solo player on it. I don’t feel like following or being followed. I just want to look at pictures once in a while and/or have a place to put pictures when I find them. But I don’t want to, like, interact with anyone there.
I haven’t even TRIED Pinterest. I think you’re right about the main uses — recipes, crafts, etc. I like recipes and food, but I have more than enough sources for that.
I have been a twitter neglector for a long while. I could give it more attention definitely, and I do like the interaction there, but my life is okay with the minimum usage of it that I’m maintaining.