Are you afraid of being left behind by technology?
Posted on January 30, 2012
Is technology taking over your life?
There’s an interesting article on the BBC News website today about something called “Trendfear” ….
Do you ever have a worry that things are moving so quickly in the world today you’ll miss out on something and get left behind? Should you be on Pinterest? How often should you be Blogging, Tweeting, updating Facebook, checking into Foursquare ….. the list goes on, and on, and on!
Some people choose to say “I’m not interested”, and ignore the siren calls of smartphones and iPads, but what if you have a job or (perhaps more importantly) your own business where you HAVE TO keep in touch with breaking news and the latest trends? Do you feel alienated if you find out something in a news bulletin on the TV instead of seeing a Facebook update or Tweet a couple of hours earlier? Do you have to know everything, right now?
Do you avidly read the social media Blogs and check out the latest websites, tools and trends – Flipboad, Zite, Summly or whatever?
If that’s a description of you, then why not switch off the phone, close the lid on the laptop, and pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read for a couple of years?
I have to admit that over the past 12 months or so I’ve noticed that I spend a lot more time on social media than I used to! Getting a smartphone was a great idea – to keep in touch with clients and respond to enquiries quickly, but what’s happened? It’s switched on at breakfast so I can check emails and social media (no, I don’t leave it switched on 24 hours a day!) – it peeps and pings at me during the day telling me I’ve got updates, and I check it in the evening when it should be family time! So, yes, it’s had a negative impact in some respects.
Why not let me know how you feel about technology, and whether it’s taking over your life?
Cheers,
Ian
Dorset wedding and portrait photographer
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4 Comments so far
I stick to Facebook and/or Twitter – I don’t have enough hours in the day to actually work on my business if I join in with all the social media platforms there are. I always say to people THINK about WHAT you want to achieve out of social media be that PR, brand awareness, sales etc … then choose the most effective platform for that purpose. Don’t spread yourself to thin and limit yourself to what time you spend on social media.
Great post
Agree with you Joanne about finding the platform that works best for your particular business, so easy to spend the day on social media and not actually do anything that’ll drive your business forwards!
Yes it has taken over my life unfortunately! Since working in PR I have been addicted to social media, trends, news, emails and I do get a buzz from it. My iPhone has kept me awake at 3 am whilst doing the night feeds and those nights when I can’t sleep or my toddlers wake me up I answer emails or browse the Internet for inspiring articles. I don’t even put my phone down when I’m in the bath! I do however make sure I put my phone down when I have days off. My kids come first! If they sleep or just want to chill out then I may pick up my phone but I think this is the only time I do put my phone or my iPad down. I think it’s a routine, an addiction and I’m not one of those people that take th kids to the park or to playgroup and just sit using my phone. Technology these days is amazing! I do, however look forward to my break once a year where I close the laptop, close my emails… Great blog post!
Technology is amazing Emma, but it’s good that you take time out to spend with your children – they’re a lot more important!