Social Networking: TO POST OR NOT TO POST

     I admit it. I am an internet person. I don't want to say I am addicted to it but for some fact, I cannot live without the internet. I call it a necessity. This is the world of information, the world of networking.  There is never a day that I would not post in my Facebook account or in my Instagram.  I have a Facebook page, which  I originally created for nursing students, anonymous blogs about different things, parked a few domains for virtual marketing, a tumblr account, a foursquare, my own YouTube channel and yes, the most famous twitter for mini-blogs. Why do I use social networking? I make money out of it, do business, utilize marketing and most importantly share information by connecting not only to my family but to my friends, my acquaintances, and to anyone in the worldwide web.

     So why I am blogging about this now?  I came across two articles today while browsing and thinking what to blog and at this time I realized, its about time to blog about this. What am I talking about? It's about social networking. Here are some points I noticed in the articles I bumped into.

Annoying post

     In a certain article, it says that people may be annoyed about what you post. (See 15 Reasons why you are the most annoying person in Facebook).  How many times do you post in a day? Do you flood other people's wall? (See How to flood a wall with up to 200 posts!) How many selfies do you do? How much attention do you want? This brings me to the question. Why do you do social networking? Why do you Facebook, do you twitter or do you Instagram? Why do you post the food you are about to eat, the activity you are doing, or the people you are around with? We all have our reasons why we do these activities, but if you are annoyed by other people's post, stay away. Unfriend. Block or whatever. It's your problem. Posting in a wall is a freedom of expression. Some says its attention seeking, some says its narcism. But then, it's your choice. Like them, unlike them. Ignore them. Move on. If you find a post annoying, maybe you are not in the right social media network. Why not try other social media with your own interest? Like a network about your job, about your hobby, or something else. But if its the person itself is the one that totally annoys you, ask yourself, why are you friends with this person anyways? I love my friends flooding my wall! 

Information overload

     I always believe in responsible posting.  If you post your location and you post your activity, don't be surprised if somebody knows everything about you. (See The Social Media Experiment by Jake Vale). At one time, I checked in through foursquare and realized someone has checked in the same location.  I looked around and yes, there she is! In the same gasoline station! At some point, I made friends with another foursquare account wherein we were both competing for mayorship.  Only to realize, we belong in the same university! Some says it's creepy. So if you are not ready for such acquaintances, again, stay away. Block your location. Change your settings. Don't make yourself searchable. Don't check yourself in a place where you want to be found. Again, it's about your choice. Don't be sorry. Remember there is always the setting BLOCK. Block the person if you don't want them to be part of your network. But since no amount of privacy settings will hide your information, the best is to hide your location if you don' t want to share it with someone. Besides, making new friends and networks can be sometimes fun. If its mayorship and badges that is why you are checking in, don't hesitate to click that check in button!

     How about names? Are you using your own name or a nickname? Don't be surprised if people know who you are if you put all your information in the web.  One time, I was searching for an article I need in my blog and saw a bunch of people's resume uploaded in Docstoc. And since Docstoc is a website where in a library of documents may be found, I won't be surprised that other people may follow the same resume format this person has. Simply because she uploaded her's in a public site. Sorry or not sorry, well this is social networking. For resumes and CV, I have Linkedin to take care of these information about me. Believe it or not, I found a job at some point in my life through this network. It is the power of social media networking.

Hashtags

     Do you hashtag? I do. I sometimes create a million hashtag and put a hundred in my post simply because I benefit from hash tagging too. I know someone who is so annoyed by hash tagging and said it's a sign of attention seeking. For information, a hashtag is a label content. If you are new to social media and you are new to networking or the internet, you will find it crazy while people hash tag.

     Hash tag creates information. Hash tag allows a reader to search for ideas, images or even articles that may be beneficial to someone who uses the internet. A hash tag may be a word existent already, or you may be able to make your own or create a vast of ideas about that certain hash tag. And why to  internet people hash tag? Simply because there is business to hash tagging.  When not to hashtag? When your message cannot be read at all, since hash tag is all over the place. Remember, you have a vast population in the internet. Your information should be understood.

To post or not to post?

     Social networking is a place to meet new people, connect to people known to you or to find people, information or places with your interests and needs. Would you believe me if I say I make money too using social networking? There is a vast of social media available to everyone and is specific to our needs and interests. (See Top 10 Social Networking sites.) Social networking is a place to gain sense of belongingness. It is a community, a group, and a place to build friendships and nurture friendships and for some, make a living.

     I don't see anything wrong with people sharing a lot of information not only about themselves and the world they live in but then, we should all be responsible enough to know the effect of our actions. This is a new era of Generation Z. As it is said, the generation Z is the generation of internet and high technology. Do you want to be left behind? Post it, share it and be responsible. 

What else can I tell you.. Oh, don't believe everything you read in the internet. 

Send me your thoughts, comments and opinions.. I love to network!

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Stop bullying! No to bullying

     She was so excited coming home from school today. Our conversation:

     Chelsea: "Mommy, you know that girl in school I was telling you, she keeps on talking to me non stop while I was doing my work. I can't finish at all. But I told her, please stop I'm finishing my work. I think she does not want me to finish." 

      Me: "Why is that?"

      Chelsea: "I don't know. She always says to me, you cannot finish that!" 

      Me: "Did you finish your work?"

      Chelsea: "Yes, I ignored her."

      Me: "That's good. You did a good job in finishing your work then. You have to really focus." 

      Chelsea: "I'm working really, really hard!"

      Then she started telling me about what she ate for lunch, her excitement in her book fair wherein we all need to come so we can all buy the books that we want.

        Chelsea struggled heavily with bullying in school during the first few months when she entered Kindergarten. And until now, she is coping up with it.  She did entered school in the Philippines before through preschool but this is her first time to enter school in the United States. Because she  entered Kindergarten at 5 yrs old and less than one month (her birthday on July and school starts August) and with her classmates almost reaching 6 or some going 7, her young and small structure sometimes intimidates her especially if some would ask her questions like, "Why are you so small?"  She will just mum about it and until such time that, at one point, she never wanted to go to school.

       But now, somehow she has learned a few strategies to cope up with bullying.  She was crying in one of our conversations before asking me the same question. "Why I am so small, Mom?" And I said, "Well you are.  But it does not mean you are less than other kids you know." There was even an incident in school before when a kid told me something while I accompanied her in the cafeteria to have breakfast. "So, you are her mom! Why is she so small?!" I was like... Excuse me? But I did not say anything.  I wanted Chelsea to deal with it on her own and learn how to thrive in this challenging world we live in. 

     How did she start fighting her challenge? Each day, I asked her what she thinks about herself. And everyday she would be sad and how to get the best adjective about herself.  I encourage her each day, help her with her tasks and homework but then still, she struggles each day. But then at sometime while we were watching Alice in Wonderland, she had amazing thoughts about being small. Then, she came up with the idea that she is small but then she is smart and pretty!  Well, I cannot deny it, not because I am her Mom but truly she is! One of my precious is truly small but smart and pretty! Today she still struggles but knowing that each day she continues to fight, I know she will get better each day.

Tell me about your thoughts about bullying, make some comments and suggestions. I love conversations!