Results tagged “social networks” from Wheels With a View

I'm very close to backing out of Facebook. That's because there is no useful way to manage my network. It has grown into an odd mix of coworkers; current friends; classmates from grammar school, middle school, and college; family, and professionals.

I don't think that these groups should remain entirely separate from each other, but I don't think the lines between them should be entirely erased either.

At the same time, I have to admit that I'm fascinated at how Facebook is connecting me to folks I'd likely lose touch with otherwise. I'm so interested in watching how it works that it's hard to back away.

I suppose it's true that with social media you're either in or you're out. But very few people seem to really think about what that means. It's all the more reason to manage your online presence closely.

I’m watching TV with my parents, and it’s kind of freaking my mom out that I’m on my laptop at the same time.

“Are you watching?” she keeps asking me. “You really should see this… it’s funny.”

What’s even funnier is that I feel more at home with my laptop open so that I can surf on commercials. This behavior is usual for me, but very strange to my parents.

Is it a generational or lifestyle difference? Maybe it’s both. I’ll tell you this... my parents’ computer is not an easily accessible tool or one that is integrated into their day at least when it comes to their leisure time. The computer is in the basement. To do something as simple as check e-mail they go down there especially to do that.

Continuous partial attention can certainly be detrimental, like when people drive and talk on their cell phones at the same time. We are not good muti-taskers as a rule. It’s essential to unplug now and then.

But there’s something to be said for technology integration.

I like RSS feeds in general and services like Friendfeed because they make it easier for me to keep up with all of the Web updates I need to.

But I see two issues.

First, filtering what you see or read online can be horribly limiting and sometimes leaves little room for serendipity. I admit that I don’t vary or update my feeds as often as I should, and this can lead to tunnel vision. I really should be reading about the things I don’t know, instead of reading the things that reinforce what I already do. But sometimes, I’m so busy that I only read my feeds. So how do I find new things to spark my interest, without getting overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff thrown at me? I’m always looking for a better way.

Secondly, feeds make it easier to chart online behavior. This can be good and downright creepy. One of my friends, for example, recently discovered a new list of news story feeds on her New York Times home page. It’s sponsored by LinkedIn and based on her profile. I haven’t seen this feature yet, but I’m on the look out for it. She says the links listed target her interests exactly, but she doesn’t remember giving NYT permission to access her LinkedIn profile or visa versa. I assume that doesn’t matter if her LinkedIn profile is public.

The marketing and Web communicator in me thinks features like this are pretty cool. But there is another part of me that worries about privacy. As the integration between online services and tools gets better and easier to use, it becomes more important to monitor your online presence. And many don’t police themselves at all.

The way I use the Internet has evolved.

Back when it was a novelty and AOL was king, I just checked my e-mail and occasionally spoke up in a chat room or two. My surfing was aimless and chatting with strangers was a let down because I felt like I had nothing to show for hours worth of screen time.

Then, the Internet became more functional for me. I started using it to buy stuff… groceries, Christmas presents… and everything was delivered right to my door. Talk about the ultimate accessibility tool! Forget figuring out how to carry shopping bags while pushing my wheelchair, or negotiating tiny dressing rooms. Instead, I browsed for things I needed from home.

After that, I started using the Web to explore. I found it to be a great resource for up-to-date information. I also discovered that places that are not so wheelchair friendly in real life are barrier-free online. I visited Shakespeare’s house and medieval castles in England. Using on-site kiosks, I toured the inaccessible aspects of these attractions virtually. As a result, the Internet became a place for me -- a “space” to navigate and mine.

Now, I also think of it as a place where I can build. I still use the Internet to get things done and to explore, but it’s become something more. It connects me to others, gives me a publishing platform to express myself, and helps me to grow my social network in new, exciting ways. The Web has a social pay-off.

How do you use the Internet?