Buy My Zebra! Kiss My Grandma! "Like" My Socks! Has Social Media Gone Overboard?

Photo Credit: boatbliS.S/Creative Commons

Have you noticed the same trend I have? (No, I’m not talking about the underwear as outerwear fashion phe-nom. Or the Honey Bugaboo disrespect-is-in head-scratcher. Or even the grizzly gore buffet that’s pandered to us on a daily basis.)

Those things DO ruffle me, but they deserve another blog post in and of themselves.

What I’m referring to is not as insidious, but still, it disturbs me nonetheless. In fact, “it” ( and I’ll be blunt) screams “BLECH!” Think OVERBOARD in a big way. It’s that little, ol’ thing we’ve come to know and love (OR hate) via our friend, “Social Media.” It’s the ME song. To every tune and style imaginable.

Country, rap, pop, R & B, worship & praise, etc. The ME song doesn’t play favorites. And the best part? There are no prerequisites required and no vocal training necessary! Just grab the microphone and a stage and away they go!

I don’t often rant. It’s just not me. But in light of yet another “Hey! I just liked you! Come like me back!” I feel the need to huff and puff a bit. In a Christian kinda way, of course.

Sooo…here I go. Please bear with me.

I enjoy various forms of social media. I’ve made a lot of super friends along the way. In my Bosom Buddy Connection post, I talked about making and keeping friends in light of this day-and-age diet of “liking,” “friending,” “RT-ing,” and so on.

Now, I don’t feel the need to be Popular Polly and be active on all 100+ networks. I don’t care what “experts” say: NO ONE can effectively do it all, still be genuine, and still have a life. They simply can’t.

I’m comfortable (at present) with about three different forms of communication: this blog, my Facebook page, and Twitter. If you do more–more power to you! That’s great! I know many folks whose “happy medium” is m-o-r-e and it works for them. Why? Because they are REAL.

The real folks always stand out.

Real folks don’t use automated direct messages (via TweetDeck or whatever) reminding you to “Buy my Zebra!”, “Kiss My Grandma!”, or “Like my socks!” immediately AFTER you’ve “followed” them on THEIR social platform.

Real folks don’t “follow” you on YOUR social platform and then “unfollow” you the next day in a shameless play to increase THEIR follower count.

Real folks talk. At least once in a while. They jump in on their own automated messages every so often and add to the conversation. Maybe they give us a glimpse into their day, tell us what they had for lunch, or–my personal fave–offer some good, ol’ fashioned encouragement.

Real folks toot someone else’s horn without expecting anything in return. They don’t “like,” “friend,” or “RT,” as a reciprocal only kind of thing.

Real folks understand that when they make it about somebody else (and are genuine about it) they are extending a boomerang blessing.

We should consider why we’re active on the social media merry-go-round in the first place. Is it because we enjoy connecting with like-minded people or do we simply want to market, sell, and brand ourselves at all costs?

For example, writers realize there’s a certain amount of self-promotion that goes hand-in-hand with their craft. To ignore that is not only unrealistic, but fatalistic. It’s a career-killer.

BUT…

It does tend to leave a bad taste in our mouths when we see Twitter BIOs like this one:

“Hi. I’m so-in-so. I joined Twitter to talk about ME. And MY BOOK. Follow ME to learn more!”

To which I shake my head. I want to be nice and give the benefit of a doubt. After all…this is a typical newbie mistake. And we all make them…in the beginning. Granted, some BIOs aren’t as brazen as this one, but then there are some “professionals” with over-the-top MEitis. And we forgive them because they are Super Sam or Dazzling Debra. And it would be…ahem…unprofessional to talk about being professional.

STILL…

I rarely read Twitter DM’s from folks who (after I’ve followed them back) hit me with “Friend ME. Like ME. Buy ME.” Sometimes, I’ll respond with “I followed you because I like YOU for who YOU are. #GoodManners, please.”

The trend on Facebook is also evolving. I have to admit, when folks have “liked” my page, it’s a natural tendency to like theirs back. Lately, though, I’ve been re-evaluating, and I may cull through my “likes” one day.

On my FB page, I always ask a “Question of the Day.” I jump in and join the conversation. I read comments. I don’t just say “I’m here! Say something so others will know I’m important.”

I ask because I’m genuinely interested in what YOU have to say. I love chatting with real people.

I find it disappointing that once I’ve “liked” others’ pages, there’s rarely any page activity at their FB home. There’s no connection. Nothing of value. No takeaway. Except “my like” or “follow” that boosted their number quota.

*sigh*

As I said, I don’t often rant. I prefer to encourage, uplift, and inspire. (And toast you with coffee and chocolate!)

I LOVE zebras, grandmas, and even socks. I just don’t want to “buy,” “kiss,” and “like” them without a proper introduction first.

******

Any rants you’d like to get off YOUR chest today?

Do you feel that MEitis is monopolizing Social Media?

TWEETABLES

The trend we’re seeing in social media and why it’s so distasteful. (Click to Tweet)

I’m on a rant. (In a Christian kinda way.) See why… (Click to Tweet)

The SECRET “real folks” understand in regard to social networking. (Click to Tweet)