Happy Saturday Ladies!
This weekend, I wanted to take a break from makeup talk and instead talk about social media because its all related to blogging and being online these days. Oh don’t go so quickly! I’m not exactly your serious social media evangelist, I promise. I’m learning and about as clueless as some of you might be (although if you are reading my blog right here, I doubt you’re all THAT clueless 😉 )
Social Media is pretty much the sharing of information online through various networks where you build communities and talk amongst each other. It could be used for anything – sharing information about sales, warning people about dangerous places, sharing a good place to eat, sharing a new find… possibilities are endless and limited only to your interests.
Are you active on any social media platforms?
I’m most active on Twitter where you can find me @paris_b (don’t forget the underscore or you get someone else 😛 ). You might notice that its a personal Twitter account and not blog based, so I use it both as a personal chat/rant platform and to share blog/beauty info. I love chatting on Twitter so look me up if you have an account there or share your Twitter handle below if you’d like others to follow you too 🙂 Having a smartphone just made Tweeting a billion times quicker and easier and hence my increase in chattiness there 😛
I also have a Facebook Fan Page but its strictly for MWS stuff. I never took to Facebook on a personal basis. I rather disliked everything about it – the whole connectivity thing and blasts from the past was too unnerving. Not a fan.
And blogging! Blogging is also a social media activity. We get the word out there and we share stuff so I’m pretty active here too – as most of you can attest 🙂
What’s your favourite social media platform?
You know mine – Twitter. Too darned chatty some times if you ask me 😛 But I’ve “met” many lovely people on Twitter who are very helpful and pleasant and very friendly and I also like the interactivity on there. (Need info on traffic jams or what’s happening around town? Twitter’s your best place to go!) I do think you get to “know” someone a little better on Twitter and it always feels more personal chatting there than on Facebook. No I really don’t like Facebook much 😛 I guess I should rank my blog #1 and then Twitter LOL!
Are you taking to Google+?
Are you saying “What? What’s that?” Yeah, so am I 😛 But I asked for an invitation anyway 😛
I am however rather taking to Google+ which appears to be a Facebook-Twitter hybrid, but its still quite quiet as far as I’m concerned. I don’t have much interactivity there, mainly because everyone on my Google Plus account is already on Twitter 😛 But I may start posting there too because of how its integrated with Gmail and GReader – my thoughts that are longer than 140 characters because I’m opinionated that way 😀 If you have a Google Plus account find me – Paris B MWS or go to my G+ Profile. I would probably be more active once the mobile apps start rolling out (RIM and Blackberry, are you listening??) If you’d like an invite, say so and I’ll send you one – you need a Google account or preferably a Gmail account to make things easier 🙂
Do you participate in Social Media activities? Comment, “like”, “+1”, “Tweet”?
Did you know just by commenting here, you’re already participating in a social media activity? Cool eh? Bet you didn’t realise it 😀 But how about spreading the word – do you ReTweet a link or a post you like? Perhaps “like” or share it on Facebook? Or in the newly implemented Google fashion, +1 it? You may notice that websites and blogs these days have many ways of enabling you to share info with others in your community. By way of example, see the buttons after this post.
It builds connectivity, bloggers will love you and new readers will love you too for sharing something you love with them so go on – tweet, share, like and +1 🙂 I do it when I can. Share the love and all… As an aside, I noticed a couple of regulars who chat amongst yourselves in the comments – would you enjoy having a random weekly post here that allows you to chat away as you like amongst yourselves? 😉 Incidentally, I love all your tips you’ve shared on fighting acne in this post – you all rock! 😀
Do you think there’s too much sharing out there with Social Media?
I say yes there is. Its why I’m not on Foursquare and never will be. I don’t get the point of telling the world where you are (especially people who check in at banks <- asking for trouble). However, there are many ways of ensuring your privacy and reduce oversharing of information. Facebook and Google+ have various privacy options and I like how Google+ allows you to share certain things only with certain people. Twitter allows you to privatise your account. So personally I don’t think there’s anything to fear from social media – you just have to know how to control it and not let it control you 🙂
Your turn!
- Are you active on any social media platforms?
- What’s your favourite social media platform?
- Are you taking to Google Plus?
- Do you participate in Social Media activities? Comment, “like”, “+1”, “Tweet”?
- Do you think there’s too much sharing out there with Social Media?
I hope you enjoyed this little diversion. If you have any other comments to add, please do and you may consider this an open forum. I didn’t take to social media at the beginning. I was on Twitter from the early days in 2007 but it was only in the past 2 years that I really got active, mostly due to the smartphone and mobile apps that allow you to share on the go.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on Social Media and how you use it. Or how you think we could be a little bit more interactive. Other than the usual suspects, what other social media platforms are you active on? And if you’re minded, drop by on any of my active Social Media profiles and say hi! 😀
Enjoy your weekend!
Paris B
Happy Saturday, PB!
For my blog, I really only actively use Twitter. I have a personal FB account, but not active on that one at all. Like you, not a fan of FB.
Favourite – probably Twitter, quick and interactive.
Social Media participation – I share the love when I can. I used to be a silent reader, but when I started my own blog, I realized the added value of commenting and building up a network. So I started getting more active with the commenting bit. Now I’m trying hard to encourage silent readers to comment on my blog. LOL!
Agree with you on taking full reign of social media. Control it and it’ll work wonders for you. I’m still a newbie at it though. Lots of avenue to learn from someone like you, PB!
Lol I’m learning all the time too Nadia! It can be hard getting people to comment but once they start the ball usually gets rolling quite quickly. Dont give up! And I love Twitter too. It’s such a great way to get to know people 🙂
Are you active on any social media platforms?
I usually have two accounts for most of the social media I participate in. One personal and the other for the blog. I’m not active on FB at all and there’s just too much drama sometimes. And I use my other account to follow makeup companies to see what’s new and that’s about it. Twitter is definitely my fave now and I think I’ve been tweeting everyday since knowing you girls 🙂
What’s your favourite social media platform?
Blogging and tweeting.
Are you taking to Google Plus?
I like G+ but I haven’t had time to fully explore yet. They really need to release the official app for iOS and RIM!
Do you participate in Social Media activities? Comment, “like”, “+1?, “Tweet”?
Yes. It’s fun 🙂
Do you think there’s too much sharing out there with Social Media?
For sure. I see people publicly sharing info on where they live or work and even giving out their personal contact numbers. It’s just a little alarming. It’s ok to share the general vicinity but it’s rather dangerous to tell strangers exactly where to find you.
I find it worrying how people share their info so readily online without thinking. I do sometimes find following brands very daunting. There’s so much info 😛 but G+ definitely has to get their act together and get us the mobile apps!
Are you active on any social media platforms?
Facebook while in front of a computer; Twitter from my not-so smart phone (Thank you, gladlycast.com! Free plug for them :P) at the cost of a local text message.
I was on FB while it was still in the US student email address stage because I HAD an American student email .edu address and I still remembered it pre-apps and Farmville. Those were the days.
I’m also experimenting with an FB page for my blog (The Ranting Cynic), but it’s still early days.
What’s your favourite social media platform?
No favourites – I post different stuff on different platforms. I tweet personal thoughts when I’m out and about, but links and such when I’m home.
Are you taking to Google Plus?
Until more people are on it, there’s not much to do: the people that want to be on G+ are already on, the rest really don’t care. I’m not sure if it’ll go the way of Buzz and Wave, so I better not get too attached.
Do you participate in Social Media activities? Comment, “like”, “+1?, “Tweet”?
As much as a lazy person participates, I guess 😛
Do you think there’s too much sharing out there with Social Media?
Maybe – but one is also more likely not to retain anything because of the deluge of “data”. Well okay, Blippy (that lets people know what you bought on your credit card) was a terrible idea that (luckily) did not catch on.
PS. I am now on foursquare (after years of being skeezed out by the idea) but I usually check in to places once I’m home if I remember to because I don’t have a smartphone and also wary of the stalker factor, LOL. And I’m also not crazy enough to check in at my home address.
Ya know with your blog name & handle, I’d be surprised if you weren’t cynical 😉 but it’s great that you are ensuring your safety and yes, checking in on foursquare at home is a terrible idea!
My cynicism – probably not as much as I used to, but still there.
Good highlight about social media. For me, I’m most active on Twitter (sometimes too much. Not a good thing when I have my dad following me as well. He’s completely fine with my F-bombs, but get a bit stalkerish sometimes. Creepy :P). I have my beauty blog page on Facebook, which I mainly use for announcing updates on blog posts. I keep it separate from my personal FB page. The personal one is more of a stalking medium for me to see who’s doing what 😛 I’m not active in it at all.
Have Google+, don’t like it. Still, it’s early days, so we’ll see how that goes. Perhaps when apps are made for smartphones, then it’ll get me hooked. After all, that was how Twitter started for me 😉
I certainly think that there’s a lot of oversharing on social media. Sometimes it becomes a playground for silly girls and boys to fight on (I’ve woken up to tweets with C-bombs slagging off other bloggers. Can’t be more thankful for that Unfollow and Mute button on Twitter), which is just ridiculous. I was on Foursquare for a few months, then deleted my account after realizing how dangerous it could be.
At the end of the day, it’s up to us to control what we share with strangers.
LOL I don’t know what I’d do if my Dad followed me on Twitter 😀 I don’t think he’d mind though he might protest at some of the things I say heh… I think the potential for G+ is there but they just have to make it more accessible for now. Photographers have done an excellent job with it – beauty blogs has lagged behind (never quite up there with tech are we?) But yes, I’ve come across some twitter fights and its ridiculous. For some reason, people degenerate into kindy kids while sharing on social media 😛
Are you active on any social media platforms?
Twitter and Facebook. I just got on Google+ and I don’t know what to do with it.
What’s your favourite social media platform?
Definitely Twitter. ^.^ It’s less of a fuss than Facebook is.
Are you taking to Google Plus?
Not really, no. I do like the fact that it lacks Facebook’s annoying apps though.
Do you participate in Social Media activities? Comment, “like”, “+1?, “Tweet”?
Yes I do indeed! I tweet more than I “like” or “comment” though.
Do you think there’s too much sharing out there with Social Media?
Foursquare and Facebook’s “Check in” are too much for me. I think that it’s dangerous and unnecessary to post your exact location anyways. It’s a bit TMI for my tastes.
Haha you aren’t the only one wondering about Google+ – most are too! I want to tell people who check in on foursquare and post to Twitter that “You know what? I don’t care!” 😛
Hello Paris!
1. Yes I am on fb, google + and even twitter but I’m somehow one of those ‘anti-social’ peeps whose wall never gets any posts *sad face* then again i think it’s quite sad how some people are on fb the entire time… Don’t they have a life?
2. Hmm for now I would say google plus is my fab because I only have a handful of close friends in my circles, which make me more comfortable and less ‘exposed’ to the world, if you know what I mean 😉 I favour twitter too as I think it’s a good chat platform without having to chalk up a massive phone bill 😉
3. I still participate… Only occasionally 😉
4. Yes I think there’s way too much sharing and I feel so stalker-ish whenever I check out my friends’ fb pages so thats why I rather limit my full social media pages to close friends and family only. Then again, I blog which then pretty much contradicts whatever Ive just mentioned earlier :p
LOL yes having a blog but not being active on other social media? What are you thinking?! 😛 But I actually felt the same way you do until I found my niche in Twitter. Most people I’ve “met” and got to know on Twitter are absolutely lovely! I’m on Twitter a lot – I guess I’ve got no life too 😉 But I think mobile apps have just made things easier for people to update their social media profiles hence the oversharing by some. I like Google Plus coz it allows me to follow others, they don’t have the obligation to follow me back and I can share stuff with them or with other people privately. Its like being able to manage a public and private profile at once awesome! 😀
Are you active on any social media platforms?
Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and Google+ 😛 @yukaeshi for Twitter and Stephanie Choong for Facebook and Google+
What’s your favourite social media platform?
I’d have to say Twitter to be honest. I love the quick-ness, the interactivity and it feels more personal than the other social media platforms out there 😀 Apart from that, my blog, but I tend to be very wordy there haha!
Are you taking to Google Plus?
I’m an interface kind of person, and Google+ interface doesn’t quite appeal to me yet. Other than that it’s quite OK- just a bit quiet because the people I have don’t seem to post much XD I’m also waiting for the mobile app to be launched for iPhone 🙁
Do you participate in Social Media activities? Comment, “like”, “+1?, “Tweet”?
I do of course haha! But sometimes I worry about sounding too overly chatty/overbearing. I’d comment, like, +1 or Tweet anything that strikes my fancy or if it’s a topic of my interest.
Do you think there’s too much sharing out there with Social Media?
Definitely. Even though I am also on Foursquare, I take care not to check in at places such as houses (Even other’s, respect their privacy) and banks, because like you said that’s just asking for trouble, and I don’t check in when I’m alone, for instance 😛 I am also an advocate of not posting about things that are too personal, especially negative things (e.g. arguments, family conflicts) and if you want to whine about something, do it sensibly, not whine every 5 minutes or so.
P.S. I added you on Google+!
I don’t mind a good whine… provided its amusing. I have some people I follow on twitter who complain but they are so funny I forgive them for whining 🙂 I’ve added you back on G+ too 😀
True true 😛 Some whining can be really amusing, but some (Like most of those on my timeline) can be a bit grating on my nerves T_T
Thanks for the add! 😀
And oh, I love interacting with people and would love to get to know more people, but I admittedly haven’t taken much steps myself to “promote”, so my followership on Twitter is pretty low and the comments on my Facebook/blog/other social media platforms are pretty abysmal 😛 That, and I’m also a bit shy!
I believe if people enjoy what they read, they’ll follow you regardless of promotion 🙂
Are you active on any social media platforms?
Yes, I have a blog and Twitter. I don’t like Facebook.
What’s your favourite social media platform?
Twitter is good for keeping up with sales etc, but blogging is more detailed.
Are you taking to Google Plus?
No, but someone at work keeps using it on night shift!
Do you participate in Social Media activities? Comment, “like”, “+1?, “Tweet”?
Sometimes, but mainly retweeting and commenting.
Do you think there’s too much sharing out there with Social Media?
Yes, especially Facebook. I don’t need to see pics of every single item in your house.
I think some people abuse social media and don’t realize just how unsafe it can be especially by showing off pictures of their home etc. Its practically an open invitation to thieves! Especially if they take pictures of their house and car numbers.
Are you active on any social media platforms? Not really. But I do enjoy Twitter and Facebook occasionally.
What’s your favourite social media platform? Facebook – to keep in touch with my friends who live in other countries and Twitter just to chat. I used to be a HUGE MySpace fan, I met some amazing people about 5 years ago there and I still keep in touch and see them (they live far away) from time to time.
Are you taking to Google Plus? No, but I think I should give it a try.
Do you participate in Social Media activities? Comment, “like”, “+1?, “Tweet”? I like Twitter 🙂
Do you think there’s too much sharing out there with Social Media? This is the reason why I am not a huge fan. I like to keep most things private, you can never know who is “following” you 😉
You’re absolutely right! Its so easy for people to “follow” your going ons on social media that one just has to be careful about what you post. I try not to post about where I am at any given point in time just to be safe 🙂