Your Social Media Image

Social media is a both a blessing and a curse. We can now communicate more rapidly and in more different ways than most of us ever imagined just a few years ago. Communication has also become portable. My husband and I like to watch a lot of the old 1980s detective series, e.g., Remington Steele, and Magnum P.I.  When the hero is trapped in a drain pipe or beneath a hail of bullets with no cell phone with which to call, twitter, or text, we realize how far we have come in so short a time. On the other hand, along with the blessings of instant access to a potentially huge audience have come some curses, some unavoidable and some rectifiable. It is one of the rectifiable ones that is on my mind today--and every day. I refer to those inane and narcissistic comments that cram my Facebook page.

Let me start by saying that I have Facebook pages for two reasons. The first is personal: as four of our seven children have grown and left the nest, Facebook allows to me follow their adventures, see photo galleries of grandchildren and my son's latest girl friend, and keep up to date with many old friends with whom I had lost touch. My second purpose for joining Facebook was to enhance my online presence for business purposes. I can post image tips, keep abreast of trends in the image management field, share information with other consultants and my clients, and even prescreen perspective employees.

However, every time I log onto my page, I have to wade through a sea of entries such as "Only one more day until the weekend" (I know what day it is!), "Yow, this coffee is hot!" (Call out the National Guard!), or "It's 8:05 and I'm out the door" (Please, tell me when you get to your car, then work, then your first coffee break, then the potty, of course). These types of comments posted to Facebook are problematic for two reasons: first, every entry has to be mentally evaluated (for example, crucial, important, interesting, a waste of time). I skim over the "waste of time" entries, but evaluating and skimming take time. Similar to junk email and phone solicitations, meaningless Facebook drivel is an invasion of my consciousness and a purloining of my time.

I know, I know. Why don't I just unfriend the violators? I can't. I like these people and some of them I even love. Unfriending sends such a negative social message, and I don't want to hurt people whose love and friendship I cherish. I do want to know if Tom got that great job he was hoping for, if Mary is responding well to her medication, and if Louie really has found the love of his life. I just don't care that one of them just sneezed so loudly that he or she scared the dog. There is a distinct difference between news and self-absorption. I'm not on this crusade only for myself. As an image consultant, I don't want those I care about getting reputations as mindless, egocentric, bored, or dull.

I'm well aware that my cry in the wilderness against Facebook flotsam and jetsam may fall on deaf ears, but at least I have struck a small blow for reason and good sense.  And I’m not alone—I’ve read similar sentiments in Facebook posts!