As someone who spends a lot of time using social media tools, I found this infograph quite interesting. I may not be able to tear myself away from a conversation on Skype with friends and colleagues but have to disagree with the information presented by a study in Hong Kong which states that offline friendships involve more interdependence, breadth, depth, understanding, and commitment than online ones.
This weekend I’m spending time with online friends whom I know through the world of blogging and social media at Type A Parent Conference in Charlotte. These are my people.
They get why I unplug between the hours of 3-9 pm during my children’s afterschool and dinner hours so we can spend time as a family, why I have to turn down social engagements at night in favor of client work, how my work hours involve working at night after my kids are fast asleep, and how I’m able to manage what seems like endless travel. They see a Tweet or Facebook status and instantly Skype to check in. They have their fingers on the pulse of the important events in my life and are never farther than a instant message, direct message, post in a private Facebook group, or text away.
Many friendships with those that started online and were forged thanks to social media tools have become best friends. They may not be people I see in the flesh every single day but my interactions with them occur frequently through Skype conversations, keeping up with each other through FourSquare check ins, and status updates on Facebook.
I can’t wait to give lots of in real life hugs at Type A Parent this weekend!
Courtesy of: Schools.com
As an AMD Tech Mom, AMD is providing a stipend for me to attend Type A Parent but all opinions are my own.
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Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
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I think I’m a lot like you–I love social media and use it a lot, but I also have taken many of those online friendships offline. And I do spend a lot of time hanging out with friends (play dates, girls’ nights out, etc.). I think if you can strike a healthy balance, then you’re way okay. 😉