Being a part of the 'Social media' bandwagon is 'a given' today and i'm on it too. I've got my accounts on Facebook, Twitter (my favorite) and LinkedIn.
I would also like to believe that chat-apps (BlackBerry Messenger or BBM , Whats-app, Viber etc) also form a major part of the Social Media bouquet. For me Whats-app and BBM almost replaced my need to log-onto Facebook as now i could stay connected with my friends from across the globe (not that i have many) conveniently and at no extra charge.
Among its many benefits Social media comes with many features that now helps people experience demi-celebrities status albeit amongst their contacts or peer groups. While i'm not gonna have no paparazzi following me in the foreseeable future, using the social networking medium i can tell the world, MY world, what i ate last night, where i partied, how i felt when my team won that major sporting title or just upload pictures which are self explanatory. (how many are really interested in knowing is another question altogether)
Among the many interesting features available on social networking, my personal favorite is the 'Status Update'. I first noticed it on Facebook where i saw people update stuff like "Had an amazing time this weekend partying with the gang" or "India just kicked Aussie-butt to win the ODI". Twitter took the 'status update' even further dedicating 140 characters to "whats on your mind right now" known as a 'tweet'.
While i do read tweets and status updates on Facebook with alot of interest, for me the most interesting are the statuses guys update on their chat-apps. I spend a considerable time of my daily train journey reading and analyzing these updates and usually try and mentally recreate the mood of the person updating the said status.
You'd have people update 'a mantra by which they try n lead their lives', or 'an outburst at a costly error that cost their favorite team the game last night' or 'a patriotic or religious chant'. Personal messages to a loved one or a group of friends or ones favorite dialogue from a latest movie also constitute to major number of interesting status updates.
While i love reading updates across the board, what i find really ridiculous are the personal (negative) messages people try and pass through this medium, a medium that exists, in my opinion, purely for fun.
Case in point : After a breakup one (badly bruised) partner updates his status as "good riddance" or "u ruined my life now go rot in hell" or "im never gonna make the mistake of falling in love again".
While i try an recreate the mood of the guy as he expressed his state of mind while updating this message as his status, i wonder
a) did he expect retribution by this update?
b) is he in search of sympathy?
For me, he gets neither sympathy nor retribution. He does give others (people who read the update) a good laugh and also paints a sorry picture of himself on the most deadliest of stages one has today, SOCIALMEDIA.
Based on the various status updates I've read over time I've devised a few "DOs" and as many "DONTs" based on which i make or change my "status update" on my various accounts and chat-apps.
1. Funnily stupid "status updates" are good. Sad and depressing "status updates" are bad. (both make the readers laugh- one 'with you' and the other 'at you')
2. When you've achieved something great message your close friends to let them know BUT don't make it your "status update". When you've lost something special message your extremely close friends or better still call them to let them know BUT don't make it your "status update". (in both cases 98% of the people reading it as a 'status update' DON'T CARE)
3. Personal messages spitting venom at a specific person rarely yields any positive results. If you must, CALL the Guy and abuse the hell out of him. Don't let your 'status update' make you look like a cranky weakling.
4. Ensure that while your 'status update' may be a tag-line for YOU, the real YOU should at all times justify a claim made by your 'status update'. (so keep it real and simple)
So i end here. My BBM shows a few recent updates so im getting onto my latest favorite pastime: decoding the "status update" .
Adios!!
I would also like to believe that chat-apps (BlackBerry Messenger or BBM , Whats-app, Viber etc) also form a major part of the Social Media bouquet. For me Whats-app and BBM almost replaced my need to log-onto Facebook as now i could stay connected with my friends from across the globe (not that i have many) conveniently and at no extra charge.
Among its many benefits Social media comes with many features that now helps people experience demi-celebrities status albeit amongst their contacts or peer groups. While i'm not gonna have no paparazzi following me in the foreseeable future, using the social networking medium i can tell the world, MY world, what i ate last night, where i partied, how i felt when my team won that major sporting title or just upload pictures which are self explanatory. (how many are really interested in knowing is another question altogether)
Among the many interesting features available on social networking, my personal favorite is the 'Status Update'. I first noticed it on Facebook where i saw people update stuff like "Had an amazing time this weekend partying with the gang" or "India just kicked Aussie-butt to win the ODI". Twitter took the 'status update' even further dedicating 140 characters to "whats on your mind right now" known as a 'tweet'.
While i do read tweets and status updates on Facebook with alot of interest, for me the most interesting are the statuses guys update on their chat-apps. I spend a considerable time of my daily train journey reading and analyzing these updates and usually try and mentally recreate the mood of the person updating the said status.
You'd have people update 'a mantra by which they try n lead their lives', or 'an outburst at a costly error that cost their favorite team the game last night' or 'a patriotic or religious chant'. Personal messages to a loved one or a group of friends or ones favorite dialogue from a latest movie also constitute to major number of interesting status updates.
While i love reading updates across the board, what i find really ridiculous are the personal (negative) messages people try and pass through this medium, a medium that exists, in my opinion, purely for fun.
Case in point : After a breakup one (badly bruised) partner updates his status as "good riddance" or "u ruined my life now go rot in hell" or "im never gonna make the mistake of falling in love again".
While i try an recreate the mood of the guy as he expressed his state of mind while updating this message as his status, i wonder
a) did he expect retribution by this update?
b) is he in search of sympathy?
For me, he gets neither sympathy nor retribution. He does give others (people who read the update) a good laugh and also paints a sorry picture of himself on the most deadliest of stages one has today, SOCIALMEDIA.
Based on the various status updates I've read over time I've devised a few "DOs" and as many "DONTs" based on which i make or change my "status update" on my various accounts and chat-apps.
1. Funnily stupid "status updates" are good. Sad and depressing "status updates" are bad. (both make the readers laugh- one 'with you' and the other 'at you')
2. When you've achieved something great message your close friends to let them know BUT don't make it your "status update". When you've lost something special message your extremely close friends or better still call them to let them know BUT don't make it your "status update". (in both cases 98% of the people reading it as a 'status update' DON'T CARE)
3. Personal messages spitting venom at a specific person rarely yields any positive results. If you must, CALL the Guy and abuse the hell out of him. Don't let your 'status update' make you look like a cranky weakling.
4. Ensure that while your 'status update' may be a tag-line for YOU, the real YOU should at all times justify a claim made by your 'status update'. (so keep it real and simple)
So i end here. My BBM shows a few recent updates so im getting onto my latest favorite pastime: decoding the "status update" .
Adios!!
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