“Why should I care what my friend had for dinner?”

“I like to keep my life private.”

“I don’t get it.”

These are not so common statements that I still hear now and then about social media and Facebook. Normally from people who are in the aging demographic, but even today that demographic is the fastest growing on Facebook.

Ok, is this whole movement to the net just a fad? I have to say no. Years ago our society went through a major change, maybe you heard of it. The industrial revolution. Today we are witness to the internet revoltion. Since we now have a networked world, many people interact with others that we never could have before.  We can talk with and be-friend people in Europe, Africa,  Australia or even your neighbor that all have the same interests, problems, or thoughts. Now how do we find these people. Social media. With Twitter you can search for different words or phrases that others are talking about to see what the world is saying instead of just your local paper. In Facebook, you join groups and gain access to others who enjoy marketing, skateboarding or even other people’s girlfriends.

Now I know some of these ideas seem to be outrageous or even unimportant. How did you feel the first time someone explained email instead of sending a letter. How do you think people felt about the invention of the automobile? Today if you don’t have an email you are in the super minority and probably live in a bomb shelter in the mountains surrounded by land minds and  barb wire. If you don’t understand social media ask. Try. Play. And please come out of that dark, mildew filled space you’ve been living. It’s beautiful outside and you have many friends and family waiting for you at the click of your mouse.