Every day it seems I find another interesting presentation or insightful blog post about the role of social media--usually relating to brands. These are excellent, of course, but I hope that as we continue to analyze the topic we never lose sight of one greatest things about Social Media:
The fact that you never completely lose touch with people you enjoy.
I’m not talking about best friends or family. Of course you keep in touch with them. I’m talking about a unique and diverse group of people… the more casual friends. The co-worker who makes you laugh every Monday when they recap their weekend antics to you... The guy who hangs out with your group only occasionally but always says the funniest things... The opinionated neighbor who has the courage to call it as they see it... You know the people I’m talking about: People you're friendly with, but they aren't die hard friends. That enjoyable, random mix of people who add extra dimension and pleasantness to your life.
But time goes by, doesn’t it? People end up traveling different roads and you don’t see some of these casual friends anymore. Previous co-workers, past vendors, old business partners, the owner of a store you used to shop at frequently... Life changes so fast.
Yet these people all had one important thing in common: there was a real-world friendship BEFORE there was a digital one. And when you get a chance to connect with these people again using social media--learn what they’re doing, follow their updates, look at their current picture--you get a great feeling inside. They’re still there. Adding enjoyment to your life.
Before social media, how did we keep up with these people? Email? It can be so impersonal and holding onto that address was tricky. The phone? Perhaps, but many times these people weren’t good enough friends to call all the time.
No, the most common result before social media was that when these people moved away they were just gone. What a shame.
But luckily, social media just won’t let that happen anymore. And THAT'S, truly, one of the greatest things about it.
