How Important is Facebook? Or Twitter for that Matter? - Page 2 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Bent · 2012-08-17, 01:00 PM

I use my facebook acct all the time to keep in touch with my aquaintences, and I only have 45 FB Friends.
My daughter, who is starting a modeling career, has an active twitter acct with over 35 000 followers watching her progress. Her two agencies insist that social media is the future currency of the world and are in complete support of utilizing it to it's best potential.
Aside from being nearly 6' tall, she is a dead-ringer for Kendall Jenner and her twitter acct has had numerous mentions of this as well.

nic78 · 2012-08-17, 08:06 PM

Any pictures?

Bent · 2012-08-17, 10:00 PM

I can't post any of her professional pictures, as she's signed with an agency and it would be in conflict with her contract.
But here's a link to her port page from her agency in Winnipeg.
http://www.panachemanagement.com/wom...son_c&curImg=0

Keep in mind she is my only daughter w.r.t any further comments.

mrvanwinkles · 2012-08-24, 09:47 AM

Have a totally bare bones skeleton facebook account with no pictures, no (real) personal information, no real birthdate, and zero friends.

Only my name.

I started a facebook account / profile - only at the urging of a colleague, in order to participate in a facebook "Group" for a special social event.

Since then, after learning of the nature of facebook, how it works, and that any information put there / posted there is "owned by facebook" & they can do what they want with it, and generally gets broadcast far and wide with little or no control ...

I completely locked my facebook account down. Max privacy and security settings, no "friends" (at all ever), and I make sure that no personal information gets on there - by just NOT PUTTING anything on there myself at all (!)

I keep my facebook account only to have a minimal "presence" there on facebook and to be able to view and possibly participate in facebook "Groups" and "Events" or to view facebook "Pages".

ie. to at least have the ability to view and know about social events. Join a group, know about an event, get updates, request to attend, attend etc.
(otherwise, one might never know about a social event or be able to attend it and participate)

The reality is ... that alot of things (groups, events, information, pages etc. ) happen *ONLY* on facebook today - and without a basic account - you're in the dark.

There may be information or profiles of other organizations or individuals that I might need to have to see. ( someone will say to you: "We do that on facebook, and you have to go there for that." ... so in a way you're almost forced to have a facebook account of some sort. )

The only other reason I can think of is basic communication with others on facebook ... i.e. messages.

If someone is trying to contact me online, has lost my email address, there is the possibility they can search and find me on facebook by name, and send me a message that way - and then at least I can RE-CONNECT with them that way.

Sorry ... I find that facebook is dangerous, impossible to control, and totally wide open and insecure.

So I treat it that way.

( but generally ... isn't the whole internet that way anyway ??? )

P.S. The "idea" of facebook is nice ... sharing things socially with close friends and acquaintences, but in practice I find facebook very scary and hard to control. I would be very careful with facebook.

So I would say that YES - facebook is becomming fairly IMPORTANT, maybe even NECESSARY for some, but use facebook only if necessary, and treat facebook with great care. A little SCARY.

jokeDR · 2012-08-24, 06:24 PM

No FB or twitter for me.

For a guy who used to work in a stereo shop eons ago, I have become rather anti tech. Fits well with my contrarian nature.

Nanuuk · 2012-08-26, 10:01 AM

Hey Bent, you should be rightfully proud! She is a beautiful young lady and I hope her career is solid. Must be the air in Pinawa.

Anyway, back on topic, I think the social media phenomenon is generational. I personally don't have any use for FB, Twitter, Plaxo, or Linkedin (and I am a professional). I don't really trust them for starters. And those folks that I wish to have contact with will get a phone call or an e-mail. I don't even do text messaging all that much. But the younger folks at work, well they are right into everything to the point my company has a social media usage policy.

brown · 2012-08-26, 11:20 AM

FB = yes, Twitter = no. Facebook allows me to stay in touch with what's going on in friends lives that I do not see often. For Twitter, people don't need to know what I'm having for lunch, or that my back hurts, or any random thought that comes into my head.

Now, on a professional level, I strongly recommend you get get an FB page for your business. It can be a strong marketing tool to not just advertise what you can do but also post promotions (depending on your business), highlight accomplishments and tell a story. That story will get people involved. Having the FB page will also allow your clients to interact with you which will firstly help gain confidence by interacting with you before hiring you and secondly allowing them to leave comments to help drive future business.

And don't sit on it. Create it, post things at regular intervals and promote that you have an FB page (sticker on your store front and trucks). People need a plumber/electrician/HT installer/mechanic/architect/etc, what better way to get them involved with you then this free tool.

hamstercaster · 2012-09-04, 09:28 AM

Facebook and Twitter user here.

Facebook: I have a "joint" account with my wife and rarely visit our Facebook page because quite honestly I'm often annoyed with the profile updates and all the other crap people write/post on their walls. It's become more or less the missus' Facebook account although my name is still part of our identifier.

Twitter: I visit Twitter every single day, more than once a day, specially during hockey season. You get news updates very quickly on Twitter and there's something about the 140 characters that's appealing but also sometimes frustrating.

I could very easily live without any of the two but if I had to give up just one, Facebook would be left to crash and burn. Twitter, I'd have a bit harder time to let go but would if I had to.

lima20 · 2012-09-04, 11:51 AM

Everyone on Facebook, Twitter, et al has a valid reason (to them) why they belong to those sites, none of which includes the obvious fact they feel the need to be part of a fad, that they think is cool.

Anyone notice how people (mostly teens and a number of adults) always seem to be on their phones playing? It's pathetic really when people can't even talk face to face in a restaurant or bar, or people feel the need to have their face buried in their phone when walking down the street

NeilN · 2012-09-04, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lima20

Everyone on Facebook, Twitter, et al has a valid reason (to them) why they belong to those sites, none of which includes the obvious fact they feel the need to be part of a fad, that they think is cool.

Yes, like how the web was a "fad" or email was a "fad".

Specific companies may come and go but I think these new methods of communication are here to stay.

lima20 · 2012-09-04, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilN

Yes, like how the web was a "fad" or email was a "fad".

Specific companies may come and go but I think these new methods of communication are here to stay.

Wow...comparing Facebook to the Web as opposed to myspace, napster and kazaa? That is just great isn't Neil? You've got to ask yourself why the co-founder has sold over 400,000 stocks lately

Have a nice FB day eh

NeilN · 2012-09-04, 01:09 PM

You're missing my point. Companies may come and go (like Facebook took over from Myspace and bittorrent clients from Napster) but the methods of communication they facilitate are not fads.

eljay · 2012-09-04, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lima20

Everyone on Facebook, Twitter, et al has a valid reason (to them) why they belong to those sites, none of which includes the obvious fact they feel the need to be part of a fad, that they think is cool.

Curious: Do you belong to DHC because you feel the need to be part of a fad that you think is cool, or because you feel DHC has some value to you?

FWIW, I belong to DHC because I feel it has value to me. I'm on FB for the same reason, although to a much lesser degree because I consider FB to be mostly useless.

rainey · 2012-09-04, 02:00 PM

I have both Facebook and Twitter. After being on vacation for 2 weeks with little or no access to the internet I realized neither is important in my life. Facebook I use to send the occasional note to a cousin in Australia, Twitter I use to check news updates but have not opened it in weeks.

So I keep both for the odd "check-In" but that is about it.

whi_tan · 2012-09-04, 02:50 PM

As a mid-30's professional male, I love Facebook, but I have never used Twitter.

I use Facebook every day. I read several articles from organizations and companies that I 'like', and I see updates from regularly posting friends. I stay current with clubs I belong to. I am savvy enough to control and restrict access so only those whom I want to be able to view my own posts do. I have little issue with Facebooks 'ownership' of my material, and simple delete and ignore games and apps as they appear in my feed. To me that is a small price to pay for an otherwise 'free' service.

I'll go one step further and say that I think that FB Timeline is fantastic. I essentially use it as my 'digital scrapbook'. I don't fill it with all the minutiae of my life, but when I travel, or go someplace which holds personal meaning, I 'Check In', and if a page doesn't exist, I'll create one. Any photos taken are then associated to that place and time. When Timeline was first rolled out, I spent the time to go back and fill in many information gaps that existed with my existing photos, such as time and location, as close as I could remember. I can now scroll back and basically view segments of my life, and recall the good times. This is a scrap book that travels with me.

Do I have concerns that someday these memories may be erased at the whim of Facebook? Perhaps, but on the other hand, I never would have stored them in a physical scrapbook or the like anyway. Also, all of the photos are backed up at home, and organized in a folder structure based on time / date / location, so I'll not lose those - though I don't see FB going anywhere anytime soon...

Is it something that I depend on, or cannot live without? Of course not. Is it important? Not really. Is it convenient? Absolutely.

2012-08-17, 01:00 PM	#16
Bent Veteran Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: MB Posts: 1,788	I use my facebook acct all the time to keep in touch with my aquaintences, and I only have 45 FB Friends. My daughter, who is starting a modeling career, has an active twitter acct with over 35 000 followers watching her progress. Her two agencies insist that social media is the future currency of the world and are in complete support of utilizing it to it's best potential. Aside from being nearly 6' tall, she is a dead-ringer for Kendall Jenner and her twitter acct has had numerous mentions of this as well. __________________ I'm a sleep expert.

2012-08-17, 10:00 PM	#18
Bent Veteran Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: MB Posts: 1,788	I can't post any of her professional pictures, as she's signed with an agency and it would be in conflict with her contract. But here's a link to her port page from her agency in Winnipeg. http://www.panachemanagement.com/wom...son_c&curImg=0 Keep in mind she is my only daughter w.r.t any further comments. __________________ I'm a sleep expert.

2012-08-26, 11:20 AM	#22
brown Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Montreal Posts: 355	FB = yes, Twitter = no. Facebook allows me to stay in touch with what's going on in friends lives that I do not see often. For Twitter, people don't need to know what I'm having for lunch, or that my back hurts, or any random thought that comes into my head. Now, on a professional level, I strongly recommend you get get an FB page for your business. It can be a strong marketing tool to not just advertise what you can do but also post promotions (depending on your business), highlight accomplishments and tell a story. That story will get people involved. Having the FB page will also allow your clients to interact with you which will firstly help gain confidence by interacting with you before hiring you and secondly allowing them to leave comments to help drive future business. And don't sit on it. Create it, post things at regular intervals and promote that you have an FB page (sticker on your store front and trucks). People need a plumber/electrician/HT installer/mechanic/architect/etc, what better way to get them involved with you then this free tool. Last edited by 57; 2012-08-26 at 11:21 AM. Reason: UQR

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2012-08-17, 08:06 PM	#17
nic78 Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 223	Any pictures?

2012-08-24, 09:47 AM	#19
mrvanwinkles Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Eastern Ontario (Ottawa/Kingston) Posts: 1,373	Have a totally bare bones skeleton facebook account with no pictures, no (real) personal information, no real birthdate, and zero friends. Only my name. I started a facebook account / profile - only at the urging of a colleague, in order to participate in a facebook "Group" for a special social event. Since then, after learning of the nature of facebook, how it works, and that any information put there / posted there is "owned by facebook" & they can do what they want with it, and generally gets broadcast far and wide with little or no control ... I completely locked my facebook account down. Max privacy and security settings, no "friends" (at all ever), and I make sure that no personal information gets on there - by just NOT PUTTING anything on there myself at all (!) I keep my facebook account only to have a minimal "presence" there on facebook and to be able to view and possibly participate in facebook "Groups" and "Events" or to view facebook "Pages". ie. to at least have the ability to view and know about social events. Join a group, know about an event, get updates, request to attend, attend etc. (otherwise, one might never know about a social event or be able to attend it and participate) The reality is ... that alot of things (groups, events, information, pages etc. ) happen ONLY on facebook today - and without a basic account - you're in the dark. There may be information or profiles of other organizations or individuals that I might need to have to see. ( someone will say to you: "We do that on facebook, and you have to go there for that." ... so in a way you're almost forced to have a facebook account of some sort. ) The only other reason I can think of is basic communication with others on facebook ... i.e. messages. If someone is trying to contact me online, has lost my email address, there is the possibility they can search and find me on facebook by name, and send me a message that way - and then at least I can RE-CONNECT with them that way. Sorry ... I find that facebook is dangerous, impossible to control, and totally wide open and insecure. So I treat it that way. ( but generally ... isn't the whole internet that way anyway ??? ) P.S. The "idea" of facebook is nice ... sharing things socially with close friends and acquaintences, but in practice I find facebook very scary and hard to control. I would be very careful with facebook. So I would say that YES - facebook is becomming fairly IMPORTANT, maybe even NECESSARY for some, but use facebook only if necessary, and treat facebook with great care. A little SCARY.

2012-08-24, 06:24 PM	#20
jokeDR Join Date: May 2008 Location: Milton Posts: 605	No FB or twitter for me. For a guy who used to work in a stereo shop eons ago, I have become rather anti tech. Fits well with my contrarian nature.

2012-08-26, 10:01 AM	#21
Nanuuk Veteran Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Calgary, AB Shaw Exo Posts: 4,811	Hey Bent, you should be rightfully proud! She is a beautiful young lady and I hope her career is solid. Must be the air in Pinawa. Anyway, back on topic, I think the social media phenomenon is generational. I personally don't have any use for FB, Twitter, Plaxo, or Linkedin (and I am a professional). I don't really trust them for starters. And those folks that I wish to have contact with will get a phone call or an e-mail. I don't even do text messaging all that much. But the younger folks at work, well they are right into everything to the point my company has a social media usage policy.

2012-09-04, 09:28 AM	#23
hamstercaster Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Gatineau, QC Posts: 289	Facebook and Twitter user here. Facebook: I have a "joint" account with my wife and rarely visit our Facebook page because quite honestly I'm often annoyed with the profile updates and all the other crap people write/post on their walls. It's become more or less the missus' Facebook account although my name is still part of our identifier. Twitter: I visit Twitter every single day, more than once a day, specially during hockey season. You get news updates very quickly on Twitter and there's something about the 140 characters that's appealing but also sometimes frustrating. I could very easily live without any of the two but if I had to give up just one, Facebook would be left to crash and burn. Twitter, I'd have a bit harder time to let go but would if I had to.

2012-09-04, 11:51 AM	#24
lima20 Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 659	Everyone on Facebook, Twitter, et al has a valid reason (to them) why they belong to those sites, none of which includes the obvious fact they feel the need to be part of a fad, that they think is cool. Anyone notice how people (mostly teens and a number of adults) always seem to be on their phones playing? It's pathetic really when people can't even talk face to face in a restaurant or bar, or people feel the need to have their face buried in their phone when walking down the street

2012-09-04, 01:09 PM	#27
NeilN Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: North York Posts: 1,614	You're missing my point. Companies may come and go (like Facebook took over from Myspace and bittorrent clients from Napster) but the methods of communication they facilitate are not fads.

2012-09-04, 02:00 PM	#29
rainey Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Montreal Posts: 295	I have both Facebook and Twitter. After being on vacation for 2 weeks with little or no access to the internet I realized neither is important in my life. Facebook I use to send the occasional note to a cousin in Australia, Twitter I use to check news updates but have not opened it in weeks. So I keep both for the odd "check-In" but that is about it.

2012-09-04, 02:50 PM	#30
whi_tan Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 55	As a mid-30's professional male, I love Facebook, but I have never used Twitter. I use Facebook every day. I read several articles from organizations and companies that I 'like', and I see updates from regularly posting friends. I stay current with clubs I belong to. I am savvy enough to control and restrict access so only those whom I want to be able to view my own posts do. I have little issue with Facebooks 'ownership' of my material, and simple delete and ignore games and apps as they appear in my feed. To me that is a small price to pay for an otherwise 'free' service. I'll go one step further and say that I think that FB Timeline is fantastic. I essentially use it as my 'digital scrapbook'. I don't fill it with all the minutiae of my life, but when I travel, or go someplace which holds personal meaning, I 'Check In', and if a page doesn't exist, I'll create one. Any photos taken are then associated to that place and time. When Timeline was first rolled out, I spent the time to go back and fill in many information gaps that existed with my existing photos, such as time and location, as close as I could remember. I can now scroll back and basically view segments of my life, and recall the good times. This is a scrap book that travels with me. Do I have concerns that someday these memories may be erased at the whim of Facebook? Perhaps, but on the other hand, I never would have stored them in a physical scrapbook or the like anyway. Also, all of the photos are backed up at home, and organized in a folder structure based on time / date / location, so I'll not lose those - though I don't see FB going anywhere anytime soon... Is it something that I depend on, or cannot live without? Of course not. Is it important? Not really. Is it convenient? Absolutely.