When you have spare time in your day, how do you like to spend it? Is it because I’m old-fashioned, or because I’m an introvert, or because I’m addicted to reading that my favorite way of spending my spare time is to read a book?
It seems as if so many people are now spending their spare time hooked up to an electronic device – texting, tweeting, using social media.
Authors are told that we need to promote ourselves on social media. Like I said, I’m an introvert, and putting myself “out there” is a tough thing to do. So, I’m curious how many people truly love social media.
Each month I have an opinion poll contest on my website, and this month I’m asking people what they think of social media. Here’s a sampling of the responses I’ve received so far:
• I’d rather spend time talking to or being with a real person.
• I’ve met great people I’d never have otherwise met.
• They take up way too much time.
• I’d rather relax with a good book.
• I only use social media to get freebies.
• The idea of displaying oneself bothers me.
• I have Twitter open on my computer almost constantly.
• Prefer to socialize with a small group of friends – food, wine, movies.
• I don’t care that someone ate pancakes for breakfast.
• Don’t like it; don’t trust it.
• It’s an escape for most people, so it can be good or bad.
• I can friend my grandkids and keep up with their lives.
• We’re losing the ability to communicate face to face, one on one, and that’s a real pity.
• I live overseas and it’s a great way to keep up with family and friends.
• It’s been damaging to people I love.
• Don’t like social media – people are so full of themselves.
• Facebook lets me connect with family who are far away, and feel part of their lives.
• People are putting out too much information about their lives and it’s dangerous.
• I use social media on a daily basis.
• Social who?
• People only say what they think others want to hear – it’s a way to cheat and deceive.
• I have a love/hate relationship with social media.
Well, that’s just an idea of what people are saying, but it’s pretty representative. I’d say that so far it’s coming out that more than 50% of people don’t like social media for various reasons – and a bunch of those who like it are using it mostly to keep up with family and friends.
How about you? If you’re a reader, do you want your favorite authors spending their time on social media (or would you rather they hunkered down at the keyboard and wrote the next book)? How do you use social media? Authors, are you enjoying social media in your business lives?
(Do please pop on over to my website and share your comments there too, and you could be my September prize winner, winning an autographed copy of one of my books and a gift I’m going to pick up at the Victoria, BC, Women’s Show while I’m there staffing the booth for one of my local Romance Writers of America Chapters.)
