It's all interpretation
My rather vague title alludes to the reality that no matter what we say on social media sites, everything written is subject to someone else’s interpretation. Text is an interesting medium, because it’s fairly permanent and it becomes a record. At this time in history, we probably have more information available at any given moment than during any other historical period, but if we are still interpreting the past, then making sense of the present is an even more herculean task that no analyst, social media guru, or anyone else can accomplish alone.
In fact, for any person what is most relevant isn’t all that information, but rather the information the person needs at a given time. So with social media, we learn to skim over so much content, most of it irrelevant to the immediate needs, unless it happens to be someone we know, at which point that personal connection can trump the need for information momentarily.
Social media is an interpretation medium. People will select what they need and leave behind the rest. If you are someone who has social influence, congratulations! You will get your tweets by the sheer fact that people recognize you as a thought leader or celebrity in your industry. Be prepared that those same people will want your time and influence as much as possible.
As an interpretation medium, your control over the message ends as soon as you push the button to post or tweet the message out. Many people don’t realize this and consequently say things they wish they hadn’t when they lose their jobs or college scholarship. Indeed the very public nature of social media makes it exceedingly easy for people to react to anything you say or do. So really, social media…it’s all interpretation.
Categories: Social Media, Uncategorized
Tags: Social Media, social networking, Taylor Ellwood
