Sunday 20 December 2009

The Stigma of Social Networking

I haven't done one for a while, so it's time I had a little ramble. Does anyone else feel there is any stigma attached to using social networking sites (Facebook/twitter/forums)?

I ask because I have met up with some friends I haven't seen for a while, as usually happens at this time of year. They have asked what I have been up to, and I tell them about my new found love of comedy, and my adventures this year (Latitude/Edinburgh/various trips around the country). They ask how I got into it and I explain, basically through chatting to lots of lovely people on social networking sites. This is where there is a mixed reaction.

Some people are shocked but strangely impressed. As if it is a brave thing to talk to strangers online and then arrange to meet them in public places like gigs and see what happens. I don't find it brave, except getting over my own nervousness perhaps. Especially when saying hello to comedians after their set. Online however it is easy, as it feels some what detached and they can always ignore me if it doesn't work out, or if I become annoying block me. Having the agreement to say hello from a chat on twitter does make it easier in reality, permission is granted, and it then becomes less intrusive (with both comedians and fellow comedy fans).

Others have had a different reaction. I sometimes get the "Oh, you are an internet geek now" look. Or they quickly loose interest and drift away. I do wonder if this is through ignorance, not using such sites or having an understanding of how they work. I must admit, this reaction tends to be from people who don't know me as well. The ones who don't give me the time to explain how I got involved and the lovely people I have met as a consequence of it.

Is there a stigma around using social networking sites? I don't really mind the assumption that I am a nerd as I have always been rather academic, but to think that using such sites means I have no life. I have found the opposite has happened, I have become more sociable through using twitter (I always went out with my 3D friends but as I get older they are often busy with children/husbands/work).

Plus there are other benefits of such sites, they are a wealth of information (depending who you follow and how you use them). Tonight the power of social networking sites was realised even more when Killing in The Name of became the Christmas number one, thanks to a facebook and twitter campaign. More importantly other important issues are raised, discussed and publicised sing such forums, such as the campaign for Libel reform and raising awareness of numerous charities.

In my opinion social networking sites are a very valid and new way of communicating. I consider that perhaps the stigma arises due to the fact that this may be true, the fear of the unknown. The celebrities who publicise their use of twitter do raise its profile, but those with technophobia (not fear of electronic dance music) remain unwilling to hear about the benefits of such technology. Twitter (and facebook) is not my life, but a hobby I enjoy and use in order to do more; meet more people, read more and go to more places. Yet I often feel forced to defend my use of the internet to actually have fun, people are still ignorant enough to believe that an interest in social networking sites means you are unable to socialise in the real world. This is simply not true.


4 comments:

  1. I almost invariably have to defend myself to people, the friend I went to Ed with this year just gone accused me of "Spending too much money seeing comedy and not enough seeing friends" which just isn't true, because through social networks seeing comedy usually means seeing a different group of friends, and (in the case of friday) a brief chat with the comic too.
    Seems silly really, no-one would be expected to defend email or texts.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I absolutely agree. I just use Facebook and Twitter now, I have found these two to be the easiest and most fun to use (Myspace and dare I say it, Bebo, are no more in my life). I definitely feel the same way in relation to the fact that people think you are not being safe and that you are being unsociable by staying online all the time.

    As you say, this is simply not true. I arrange to meet friends through Facebook which is sometimes quicker than texting. I would also say that it's an interactive way of arranging comedy, asking things, finding out news which may have previously taken me several hours to find out etc. I wish people would realise the potential like we do.

    ReplyDelete
  3. (Apologies for bad formation of comment, I tried once and it got chewed up as it claimed I was not signed in, meh).

    I find it sad that this stigma still exists. That there is a knee-jerk 'stranger-danger' reaction to meeting anyone online and chatting to them, to whatever degree of self-disclosure you may wish to have.

    I have met many people online this way, and it does not automatically mean I am somehow anti-social. After all, these are social-networking sites (which surely implies the opposite) and I follow a number of my 3D friends and colleagues as it can be used to express things to them in a way that is not as viable, or quick via e-mail or text/sms.

    I think there will always be mixed reactions to anything that has evolved from such a rapidly developng technology - which is precisely what social-networking is. It is a mass-market, world-wide tool that has only been around for a few years. Instantaneous access to people across continents and time-zones feels too fresh and new to some people - And many 'people' view such new things as scary and only for the 'nerd'.

    I agree, this stigma and view is incorrect when faced with the reality of what can be achieved through its appropriate and sensible use. Yes, there will always be idiots and 'unsafe' people on any online sites.... most, however are looking to chat to someone about a common interest and, should that interest be shareable in the 3D world, they may well meet to do so.

    As howlie said, no-one really expects you to justify a use of e-mail or sms meessanging. They are perhaps more ingrained in society. It feels strange for Forums to come into this cluster of 'social' that is un-hinged and somehow warped by the stigma into being something very shoe-boxy - The opposite of what its reality enables.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Only one of my 3D friends actually knows that I use forums, and even then she doesn't know that I use two different ones. I've mentioned my internet friends to my other close 3D friends before but when they ask how I know people I normally just say "Just through twitter/facebook". And I got a LOT of funny looks when I told them about meeting Em this summer, and then some of the feeters in Edinburgh.

    ReplyDelete