One can hardly turn on any form of media today and not hear about Pinterest. The latest 'HOT' social media portal has garnered incredible media attention. Many gurus of the real estate industry and business in general are urging folks to get around to 'Pinning Stuff' as a means of enhancing online influence.
Thus far, I've refused to be enticed. Somewhat unusual for me as in the past, I've been on the bleeding edge of many innovative moves. I well remember talking to a real estate Broker in 2006 about my initial foray onto the blogosphere and being met with a blank stare and the question...'What's a blog?'
My issue is not with the site itself. I'm sure that Pinterest offers value to many who use it. However, overtime, I've become more aware of a more insidious aspect of online social engagement. Issues which morph larger (perhaps even exponentially) with every new addition to the social media wheel of fortune.
1. Time Wasting
It's astounding the amount of time which can be wasted online. Some experts note that the average person is spending more time in front of a computer than the TV. And we all know how much time TV viewing sucked out of our lives.
Online social media sites and the Internet in general can suck vast amounts of time because of the seduction of the next click. What might one find? What new connection might be made? What about the latest gossip or trend? Before you know it, time has whizzed by, often at the expense of something that really needed an investment of attention but was not as fascinating.
2. Real Life Connecting
It's easy to think that online engagement can somehow take the place of meeting in real life. It won't and can't! Our concept of 'friends' has become so skewed that we now think it's normal to have millions of followers and thousands of friends. In fact, we have sites that claim to judge our influence and status based on these types of stats. Really???
This may be one of the more depleting elements of developing a healthy professional life for members of the real estate community. Even as it seems to offer the promise of expanding the reach of one's professional network. The truth is that anyone can project anything they want to online. Even when people strive to be 'authentic', it's next to impossible because life is multi-dimensional; something not easily fully captured within a 140 bit tweet, blog or even video.
You can't fully translate the look in someone's eye, or the feeling that you get when talking to them or the warmth that is generated in engaged conversation into the limited 'space' of online engagement. Even when connections start online, it's important to have the goal of meeting a client and talking to them in person to fully understand the needs and concerns that need to be addressed and acknowledged.
3. Managing Connectivity
The idea of managing one's online connections is often discussed within the context of helping us to be even MORE efficient in connecting with even MORE people. I'm beginning to think that this approach misses a broader point. What is really being gained by getting more and more stuff out to more places? Especially, when some of these places are sites you don't even visit or participate in? To some extent, I believe that we will eventually discover that being online is not entirely different than engaging in other spaces within our lives.
I find it difficult to have 10 BEST friends. You probably do too. The fact is that excessive levels of connection are simply exhausting and eventually counter-productive. What is deeply satisfying is engaging with people with whom you share real interest and who provide inspiration, insight and knowledge. Real Connectivity is happens naturally. It's what human beings are designed to do.
So, while I wish my 'Pinning' friends well, I'm sitting out on this one. I'm certainly not against online engagement. It has been and will continue to be important in my personal and professional life. However, I'm counting the cost before I engage in future social media activities. Like any asset, one should figure in the cost of acquisition AND maintenance. In this case, the over arching cost of additional social media networks in my life is not worth it right now.
Image credit courtesy of repres on flickr
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