{"id":559,"date":"2008-06-13T05:00:20","date_gmt":"2008-06-13T09:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/6-ways-social-media-can-improve-your-life\/"},"modified":"2013-08-16T14:43:50","modified_gmt":"2013-08-16T22:43:50","slug":"6-ways-social-media-can-improve-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/6-ways-social-media-can-improve-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways Social Media Can Improve Your Life"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

There was once a frightening period in our history, my friend. It was a sad time (although we did wear colorful clothes\u2026). You may have seen pictures of our past, though we shudder when we recall. It was a time when we used faxes (I\u2019ll explain that word at a later date) as a speedy way to communicate, and even used paper that would yellow and dissolve quickly, though it was not a spy-esque mechanism<\/a>… It was a time where people would actually stay home to watch a TV show they liked (OK, I\u2019ll explain TV later too) or even wait a week or more for written correspondence.<\/p>\n

And yes, there was a time before we had the \u201ctubes\u201d of the internet<\/a>. And before social media. But you can put all those years of inefficiency and dismay behind you, because that time has passed.<\/p>\n

So you are probably wondering how does social media improve my life? Here are just a few benefits:<\/p>\n

1. Say Connected<\/strong><\/p>\n

At a recent conference<\/a>, Cultural Anthropologist Grant McCracken pointed out that Facebook means your contacts are always warm. You\u2019re always in touch with them in a subtle yet meaningful way. \u201cThis is communication with little hard, informational content, but lots of emotional and social content. Phatic communications doesn’t get much said, but it has social effects so powerful, it gets lots done<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

While you may not have seen that co-worker from a few years back, your newsfeed tells you what she\u2019s been up to. Or you read that your friend is planning a trip to Boston so you decide to send her the email address for that couple you know who also enjoys Melanesian Throat Singing. And your Facebook status can inform business contacts that you\u2019re \u201cexcited about the new job\u201d \u2013 which subtly clues them in to the fact that you have changed workplaces – without any drama. And as Chris Brogan puts it, social networks can be as connective as a local pub<\/a>.
\n
\n2. Be More Productive<\/strong><\/p>\n

Or at least save some valuable time. Rather than sifting through mounds of paper or your desktop favourites, <\/strong>social bookmarking tools like del.icio.us<\/a> and Ma.gnolia<\/a> make finding and storing articles, posts, sites and videos easy and fluid.<\/p>\n

3. Show off your assets <\/strong>(no not those, put those away!) <\/strong><\/p>\n

You have talent, so flaunt it! Youtube<\/a> let\u2019s you show the world your abilities (and sometimes lack thereof), while Strutta<\/a> takes it into the ring. Fray<\/a> invites you to tell a story and Moments<\/a> asks you to collaborate on one. You can Be Funny (or Die)<\/a>, or rock out while developing your fan base<\/a>. There are even artist friendly marketplaces: sites like Pixish<\/a> and Deviant Art<\/a> facilitate the sale of creative work. And some artists use social media tools to make it happen on their own<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4. Smarty-Pants It Up<\/strong><\/p>\n

You know something about something. Even if it\u2019s really nerdy stuff, there\u2019s a place for you (or me \u2013 no finger pointing!). Demonstrate your expertise and provide others with (hopefully) useful info on your blog, with your comments on other blogs, or by responding to a problem on a crowdsourcing site (eg Innocentive<\/a>). You can even develop something new<\/a> or redesign something old<\/a>.<\/p>\n

5. Help others<\/strong><\/p>\n

Support a cause? Social Media provides you with a myriad of tools to be part of a solution<\/a>. Help spread the word get donations, organize gatherings and more.<\/p>\n

Sorry, what was I saying? Oh, that\u2019s only five, right. Right!……<\/p>\n

6. Distract yourself with ease!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Never before has it been so easy to procrastinate. You can socialize, write, read, avoid work and put off your impending thesis<\/a>\u2026\u00a0 But hey, it\u2019s social, man. And remember, you\u2019re procrastinating on the cutting edge.<\/p>\n

So…. has the social media improved your life?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monica Hamburg is a writer and social media evangelist<\/a> in Vancouver, Canada. Her investigations and observations on social media, and its relation to business and connecting, form the basis of her blog, \u201cMe Like the Interweb<\/a>\u201d. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There was once a frightening period in our history, my friend. It was a sad time (although we did wear colorful clothes\u2026). You may have seen pictures of our past, though we shudder when we recall. It was a time … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12163,"featured_media":562,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[11],"tags":[2887,2888,2280,2423,2304,2886],"yoast_head":"\n6 Ways Social Media Can Improve Your Life - Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Support a cause? Social Media provides you with a myriad of tools to be part of a solution. 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