Nick Marr warns about social media

Social media has so many advantages from helping us to connect with friends and relatives,  keeping us informed with the latest trends and joinig us together as a community. It’s been responsible for the spread of revolution and contributed to the Arab spring. However it’s my belief if we don’t develop our own social media etiquette it could kill humans as we know them.

Humans need training before its too late

Human are by our very nature social animals we like to interact communicate and learn about each others feeling and points of view. Each region, religion and culture has its taboos and the things we should do. Instilled in most cultures for example is politeness, respect, and how we should interact with each other.  Can you remember growing up and your parent saying ” it’s rude to point”   “cover your mouth when you yawn” “don’t speak to your elders like that”

It goes so much deeper from what is acceptable to wear at a funeral , dealing with grief, happiness, bad behaviour, love, desire and hate .

When is it rude to use social media?

How we interact with each other from holding the door open for others to dressing appropriately are all learned behaviours . These norms have taken years to develop then comes social media . The fly in the ointment what are the norms what is good behaviour when using Social media? What’s rude , what’s is the social media taboo. None of us yet have a parent or teacher teaching us when, how or what is an acceptable way to use social media. Is it rude to text at the dinner table? Is it OK to talk about grief on twitter?

Save your feeling for people not Facebook

What subjects are taboo on Facebook what should you say face to face rather than mentioning it on Facebook . What are the social media norms? the truth is they are still in development and each generation views them differently. A teenagers use and social media  etiquette is without doubt different from mine.

This lack of Social media training or breeding means we are confronted by humans who text at funerals , endure the intrusion of smartphones during conversations,  wonder why sensitive announcements are made on Facebook .

Social media addicts give us all a bad name

Social media is creating addicts that are moving away from face to face to technology to social media. The need to interact with technology is it seems the driver behind anti social behavoiur. My guess is that when you are confronted by a persons desire to interact with  social media inappropriately you may actually be dealing with a Social media junkie.

Social media is not social!  it can be anti social and making us more insular, more self indulgent more selective about who we speak too. Face-to-face conversation takes place in real time, you can’t prepare , edit or control what you’re going to say. Body language is responsible for a huge percentage of our communication. Intonation , mood and emotions are all missed in social media interactions they are not human

What’s more we develop empathy and understanding over time , how will our youth develop with increasing relianc on social media communication?

Is technolgy now your best friend?

Humans are now expecting more from technology and less from each other In the long run, technology is ultimately headed towards creating companionship without the demands of friendship.

Are you really your social media profile?

Social media allows us humans to sculpture who we are NOT!  What we publish about ourselves is what you want people to see. You are creating an impression of you that you want others to see. It’s not the real you , it’s the Social media you. This is killing Social interaction , it’s killing true communication.

“Friends are people you talk too, ones you confide in. Facebook friends are not friends they are an audience” Nick Marr

I am not anti social media but I am anti its development without human check on how its changing relationships. Its is now time develop rules on how we use Social media before its too late. On your death bed you will never say I wish i spent more time at work its the same with social media!

In summary Social media has a time and a place in our lives,  let it always come second place  to  human interaction.

Beware Social Media

Author : Nick Marr

Twiiter : NickCMarr