Think for a second about what sliced bread did for humanity.
Seriously.
Why else would all new products or innovations be compared to it since it was first sold in 1928? It was just another consumer convenience, allowing us to make our sandwiches faster.
But because it made it that much easier, it launched the sandwich into a whole new level of popularity. And much time was saved, particularly in the morning. So we were able to sleep longer. Thus, sliced bread brought us the ultimate in convenience, AND a more rested society. Not bad.
Now let’s consider Social Media. It too has a “sliced bread” quality, in that it too delivered a quicker and more efficient way to “consume” something.
That something is conversation. And boy oh boy, can it do that. Everybody that has dramatically expanded their conversation universe well beyond what you ever believed you could 15 years ago, or even 10 years ago, please raise your hand {sound of my hand quickly going into the air}
Just like sliced bread, Social Media has made something much easier, and gave us an incredible side benefit: Many more people to converse with.
And there’s my case that SM is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
All good, right? Wrong.
Unfortunately, I can also make a case that Social Media isn’t the greatest thing since sliced bread.
The evidence? Allow me to present Exhibit A:
Me.
While this marvelous thing has opened up so many doors, like one of those drug commercials on the nightly news (yes, I’m in that demographic that still watches the nightly news) it has a couple of not-so-good side effects, both of which I have experienced.
Number one, it has eroded my focus on too many occasions – I call this the “Under Toad”. The Toad pulls me away from the here and now – and can lead to some dangerous things. Like Tweeting while driving. I only did that once, but that was one time too many. Or being distracted by the flashing Blackberry light, or worse yet, multitasking while trying to personally visit with someone, face to face or on the phone.
Second, it can spread you too thin – and can therefore erode your productivity as well (It’s no coincidence that I just wrote a whole piece on productivity – that message was for myself too).
Having experienced these side effects firsthand, it then becomes difficult to conclude, on this level, that Social Media is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Sliced bread has its weaknesses, to be sure, but they are not like this. And I can’t imagine I’m the only one in this boat.
So what’s the bottom line here – are we ready for a new era where the new saying is “the greatest thing since Social Media“?
Based on the evidence pro and con, I’d offer that we are not.
Yet.
Those side effects need to be worked out- by all of us who use it.
But once they are - look out sliced bread!!!
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Oh, Terry, you got this so right! (she says as she’s reading your post more than an hr. after she “committed” to leave SoMe behind & get to “real work”!)
The benefits are astounding, but the drawbacks are equally astounding. What a wonderful tool for procrastinators: the illusion of doing something of value instead of that other thing of real value still lurking in the wings. Wonder how long it took people to adjust their behavior to sliced bread??
Yeah, Beth and Terry. I so get the. It’s easy to get sucked into the vortex never to be seen doing anything productive again. Perceived productivity is a problem offline too these days.
As with all things, edible or not, moderation is the key. As well as remembering the “human” element in communications. I truly believe that social media has opened up new doors to so many people—it certainly has for me!—but I agree that many people get much too sucked into being online and connected, anytime day or night, that they forget about stopping to smell the roses. Well said, Terry!
Great post Terry. Totally agree, I manage multiple clients, my band and personal social media accounts and I must say that although I am busier than ever before I too feel that trying to cover all bases, be in all places at once etc, has indeed a negative side effect = reduced productivity. As a result I have actually ‘culled’ several social media accounts at the start of this year and stayed focused on the ones that really matter to me, the band and my clients. Sliced bread? … hmmm, reminds me I better put some toast on
I am sure you’ll find that sliced bread has some disadvantages too. For example, it goes stale faster, and you can’t (easily) slice it to a different thicknesses. “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” – from Hamlet , William. Shakespeare; Act II, scene ii
Love this post, I see the results of “mis-management” of social media venues all the time, myself included. So, to prevent despising it, like I did my Palm Pilot years ago, I have to remind myself that
“I have (whichever) social media…it doesn’t have me!”.
I guess this wouldn’t be a bad philosophy to apply to my love of sliced bread!