Social Media Help or Hindrance

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and last but not least Google Plus, Social Media platforms that are everywhere, distributing information whether its useful or not. But do they help or hinder you? The reason for this Blog is that a customer emailed me last week to say he couldn’t comment on one of my stories as he had to do it via Facebook and he didn’t have a facebook account so he felt let down as he couldn’t get involved in the conversation, it was fine as I showed this particular gentleman where he could still add his comments without having a social media account  . Of course, this, at the time hindered him and like millions of other non social media users, do you feel that you’re missing out?

I think anyone would agree with me the fact that social media is very much used more by the young and many adults see social media platforms like you would see spaghetti junction on a Friday night, a complete and utter mind field and best be avoided at all costs but if you haven’t got a social media account are you missing out? I guess there is a good case for using the phrase, how will I miss it if I’ve never had it?

I have many social media accounts for my job, Facebook and Google Plus being the main two. I have had these accounts for exactly a year now and although Facebook has very much a young persons following, I have to say I have seen an increase in the age of my followers. A large percentage of my followers are aged between 45 and 64 so that could possibly tell me maybe people feel that we’re missing out and are now using social media to their advantage as instructed in many cases by their children. 

So in answer to my question why would you see Social Media as a hindrance. Well I guess if you have an account you could see why they may be a hindrance, especially if you were on the receiving end of the likes of Katie Hopkins , unfortunately this is the dark side of Social Media, the so called ‘trolls’ that frequent different stories they see and make nasty comments. Another hindrance and if you have teenagers you will appreciate that gone were the days of family chats , now its difficult as a parent to actually make conversation with your child as 94% of teenagers have Facebook with over 400 friends. For many this is the biggest issue , the lines of communication between, many but not all, families are failing on many levels when children are preferring to post comments or pictures on social media sites rather than spend time with family or friends.

Does Social Media help?   My answer is yes absolutely, to all of us in so many ways. It is so powerful on so many levels. Enabling to communicate messages in the blink of an eye to thousands of people at the same time for little or no expense has got to be a good thing. Its a advertising companies dream, surely! It’s fascinating stuff how powerful it is.  My facebook Holly’s Cruise Page has now over 2000 followers https://www.facebook.com/holly.crabtree.31 as does my  Google plus account https://plus.google.com/u/0/108433422783618248398/posts/p/pub and many customers have got to know me through these pages and can see that anything cruise related from news stories to the latest campaigns and top offers they will see it there first, without having to search for the information. I am exactly the same, I have a facebook account and I can be browsing through it and I will see a story that has just broke out that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise.

I am a bit of a geek when it comes to Social Media it fascinates me but I know it’s not the same for everyone. this blog was mainly to ask you the question. DO YOU FIND SOCIAL MEDIA A HELP OR A HINDRANCE? I would appreciate your comments , do you think its for the young or for everyone? if you don’t have it do you feel you are missing out?  If you use it do you find it useful and if so why?

Holly xx