When social media becomes unsocial... (eng)

Social Media is the new buzzword, the new fad, the new trending topic which no one can get enough of.  You have to be there. Whether you're a person looking to make new friends or a business trying to make your brand more human, more accessible to exisitng or new customers. But what does this all entail? Using the Social Media Platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Hi5 etc.) requires dedication, attention and interaction with other users. If you have a blog as well, then this means additional work, rquiring yet more dedication. Mobile applications and their continuous development together with advanced internet services make it even easier to update our Status Profile and keep up to last minute developments with our contacts and friends. Now, imagine you're in a business  meeting or out with family and friends, when someone contacts or comments and posts an interesting phenomenon on your wall in Facebook. The meeting is boring. There is a long silence with your friends.  You feel the urge to reply via your Iphone. You seize the moment... Now, what was supposed to take up only a minute of your time has turned into a 15-minute session. Concerned, your friends ask you if you have a problem that they can help you with. You reply "no!", not even looking up from the cellphone screen. Your 5-year old daughter is agitated, not getting the attention she deserves. In the real world you seem brash and impolite, in the Social Media World you're active but hypnotized by your phone and its goings-on. You finally see the light about 15 minutes later. Your business partners have finished business, especially with you (!) and give you a look of death. Your wife ignores you and your daughter would rather talk to her Teddy Bear, at least he's soft and cuddly. You've messed up big time. Being a Social King or Queen in the virtual world and Mr/Mrs Unsociable in the real world can be quite an ordeal. Finding a balance between work and play is hard enough, let alone the fact that this needs to be "shared" with Social Media time as well. This is probably the most difficult and complex things of this day and age. We must be able to draw the line, planning and exercising discipline as much as possible. Here's some thoughts: In the mornings before work, at lunch and after Dinner during the week and early mornings and late at night at the weekends. This is the only way to be socially accepted in both the virtual and real worlds. Get real!!