Are you addicted to social media? Do you find yourself incapable of not checking Twitter at all hour of the day? Do you squirm when you’re not able to check-in with Foursquare?
If so, you’re probably a social media addict. The good news is you’re not alone. According to a study be Retrevo, social media addiction is becoming increasingly common. For example, the study found that many people are checking Facebook and Twitter after going to bed, and that 56% of social media users check Facebook at least once a day.
Anecdotally, the proliferation of smartphones with Internet access is driving social media (an e-mail) addiction because it encourages this activity everywhere at anytime. The number of people walking around with their heads buried in a screen seems to be growing all the time. People are checking while watching a movie, having dinner, playing with their kids, riding a bike/car, exercising, having drinks with friends, and during meetings.
In the process, we’re losing our ability to focus on one thing at a time. Sure, we live in a multi-tasking world but social media has added yet another elephant into the room – an elephant that’s getting bigger all the time.
And you know social media addiction is only going to get worse with devices such as the iPad emerging onto the scene because the mobile experience will become even better.
As much as social media makes us feel connected and part of a bigger community, it’s also a huge time-suck that kills productivity. It’s not that spending time on social media is bad, it’s that we seem incapable of controlling our social media appetite.
One of the problems is there’s always new stuff to do – first it was blogging, then Facebook, then Twitter and now FourSquare and group-buying services such as GroupOn. At some point, it may get to the point where we’re all consumed by social media because we’re consuming so much of it.
Not to suggest that I’m not enthusiastic about social media but there is too much of a good thing.
Note: If you want to check your social media addiction, take this test.
Man I need that meeting, if it was for just Twitter lol
I know A LOT of people that take myspace and facebook to a really crazy place.
I see more people updating their statuses on their cells then I do them talking on the phone..lol
I guess Talking is so 2009
Hi, I’m Lisa, and I’m a Facebook-aholic.
I’d like to share a resource for those whose companies/workplaces are blocking employee access to social media apps. It’s a helpful whitepaper called “To Block or Not. Is that the question?”
http://bit.ly/9f8WOT
It has lots of insightful and useful information about identifying and controlling Enterprise 2.0 apps (Facebook, Twitter, Skype, SharePoint, etc.)
Pass it along to the IT Dept if you’re blocked at work.
Yes, I definitely am. Is that so awful?
I am very much a facebook addict. My coworkers are all going to be watching this webinar with IT: http://bit.ly/cR80Al. It’s all about how to control social media apps and when to block them. It should be interesting and provide new perspective on the issue. You can start registering now.
As I said I am a complete Facebook Addict and to supplement the webinar check this out for the IT people at your office. There is no one size fits all solution to keep company networks secure, using social media productively in the workplace, and keeping employees happy. Palo Alto Networks came out with an interesting whitepaper on the subject of blocking social networking apps that you may have to worry about, “To Block or Not. Is that the question?” here: http://bit.ly/d2NZRp. It has lots of insightful and useful information about identifying and controlling Enterprise 2.0 apps (Facebook, Twitter, Skype, etc.)
Beware: If your reading this, you have the VIRUS!! « Mamasistaluv's Blog
[...] If you would have seen me, it was like I was dying from starvation. I turned on my phone, pulled up my Facebook, turned my favorite show on and even pulled up my favorite website. I was in heaven. Having all of these forms of media around me was life changing.http://www.markevanstech.com/2010/04/20/are-we-getting-addicted-to-social-media/ [...]