Facebook Reluctance

 Originally Posted on: Oct 17, 2011 by: Lynn Powers

I hear the phrase "social media" everywhere. It seems like living a public life online is the thing to do these days. Like most folks from my generation, I come to social media begrudgingly. It's not as if the whole e-world of the internet, with its cyber-speak and cyber-marketing, was not enough.

Now we're asked to share our thoughts with the world. (Oh, wait. I already do that. Ahem.) I've been assured by many people - mostly the under-30 crowd - that it's not all that difficult to be on Facebook, so recently I joined. I haven't updated my status, and I've barely posted a picture or two. Eventually I'll upload photos of some of the paintings I'm working on, but for now, Facebook feels too unfamiliar. I feel like an old dog trying to learn a new trick. Along with my resistance to joining, I feel an aversion to proceeding. I'm not sure where my aversion comes from, but it's definitely there. 

I understand that unwillingness to change is a sign of old age. But do I feel unwilling to change or just resentful that there is now one more thing that picks away at my day? I'll have to think about that a bit more. I firmly believe there is value in sharing ideas and inspirations with other people, so Facebook may be a good thing for me if I get past my aversion. I'd love to hear from those of you who have found the social media experience worthwhile. How did you learn how to use it? Has it opened new worlds or just cluttered the one you already inhabit?