There’s a lot to love about social media.
There’s a lot to hate about social media.
Turns out that this is true about so many aspects of life. You have to take the good with the bad. However, you don’t just throw something out because there’s some bad in it when there’s a lot of good in it as well. However, it does mean you have to optimize your experience so you can enjoy it. Maximize the good and minimize the bad.
I was reminded of this in a big way during today’s #HITsm chat that was a HIMSS21 preview. The third question in the chat asked “How have your various communities made an impact on you through the pandemic?” The responses illustrated how amazing social media can be. Here’s a couple responses that stood out.
T3: It’s a little sappy, but I seriously love the #HealthIT #HITsm #digitalhealth #HIMSS21 #HCLDR community right here on Twitter.
I have learned tons from you and made such good friends. So sustaining in a stressful year!
Thank you! pic.twitter.com/9cfZcz3mvS
— Lygeia Ricciardi (@Lygeia) July 30, 2021
The #HITsm #HITMC & @hitlikeagirlpod communities have been life savers for me over the pandemic.
Moving to another country just before the stay at home orders were put in place had me super isolated & these communities showed up for me both personally & professionally. https://t.co/9mDnLXFtnf
— Joy Rios (@askjoyrios) July 30, 2021
T3: The pandemic has shown us that communities matter.
But it’s more than just belonging to something; it’s about DOING something collectively bigger than any one of us.
That’s where we’ve been able to shine the most. Let’s do more of that!#HITsm #HIMSS21 https://t.co/QgzY8hvRDT pic.twitter.com/U6hREu9Jpd
— Rasu Shrestha MD MBA (@RasuShrestha) July 30, 2021
Rasu’s comments about doing are important. Many people think that social media is about sharing the latest thing you ate. To be honest, it can be if that’s what you want. However, you can do so much more. You can connect with people. You can help people. You can lift people up. You can learn. You can grow. You can commiserate. You can collaborate. You can do just about anything.
What’s the key to getting value out of social media?
The key for me is connecting to the right people. That includes finding the right communities. No community is perfect on social media just like no community is perfect in person. However, there are extraordinary individuals that can lift you up in ways you didn’t know possible.
Of course, there are people that will drag you down. That’s why I love Twitter so much. If you don’t like what someone’s sharing and it’s not helping you reach your goals, you just unfollow them. It’s not like LinkedIn where they know you’re visiting their page. It’s not like Facebook where you likely have some longer term personal relationship with them. On Twitter, the unfollow is normal. It’s fine. Everyone can curate their own feed. Plus, the mute button works well also.
I realize there’s a learning curve to Twitter. It also takes time to curate and discover the community that’s right for you. I take for granted that I’ve been on Twitter since March 2007. However, I still see people joining and discovering what now just seems natural to me.
Social media isn’t required to be happy (used incorrectly it can be the opposite). It’s not required to be successful in your career. However, there’s a lot of good that can come from social media. Connecting to extraordinary people on a relatively level playing field is what makes it special.
