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Thinking about Online Connectivity and being 'Always On'.

Just wanted to share an article in the Harvard Business Review co-wrote by one of my instructors -

When I returned to work after my undergraduate program one of the things that I was unprepared for was how ubiquitous social media and internet communication technology (ICTs) would be in my work-life. I was working 24/7. Over and above working 15hr work days, I still had colleagues texting me on weekends in preparation for meetings on Monday (I learned to shift such meetings to Wednesday subtly, to buy everyone who desired some form of boundary, some time). 

I don't know about you but honestly, social media is draining and sometimes counterproductive. It's draining because we are forced out of etiquette to reply to everything - to respond, to provide input. It does not help that these applications are engineered in some way to facilitate this interruption. Notifications, chirpy ring tones, addictive mechanisms like 'likes' and 'shares' that not only compel individuals to perpetually scour for the next hit comment/ tweet/ post,but also respond to the things they share.

It's counterproductive at times mainly because of the way we curate our online identities. No one, or at least without it being frowned upon, posts a tragedy online continually (deaths in the family seem acceptable) - but facing rejection at work, love, life tend to remain in our offline spheres of life. The online is the realm of faraway escapades and gorgeous sunsets. When I was at work, I found myself feeling less and less grateful about what I had - looking at all these smiling faces and seemingly perfect lives. Reducing my social media activity has made me such a happier person that I think I might never return in force to the facebook platform (this was my predominant platform in the past).

I shared the article because, like me, I think that there are many others susceptible to being burnt out from being constantly online - the networked life indeed. The three points in the article are useful -I use at least two of them (setting boundaries is very important but not always possible) - to managing ICTs and keeping networks from being fretworks. - (Dad joke at the end). 

Comments

  1. Omer Arslan28 May 2020 at 18:27

    Hmm.. I think I need to bookmark that resource as I've seen it here (https://charliebislt.blogspot.com/2020/05/reflection-setting-boundries.html), too. Actually, I've read it as I've seen it on other blog post, but your perspective also resonated with me. Also, Erin's Blog has a very similar post this week here (https://ehajduklearning.blogspot.com/2020/05/on-social-media-fatigue.html). Sounds like we all feel in that way at certain points in time, as you've noticed in your last paragraph!

    Last week, I also felt overwhelmed and just gave permission myself to feel in that way as we're not only dealing with social media nowadays. Lots of uncertainties are going on.. Your perspectives on online identities are also interesting. When I was taking this course last summer, I've come across a paper on grief in which the authors examined a forum where people shared their griefs. I think what you're looking for can change based on where you're in your life span, and maybe there're people out there who is sharing their griefs and pain but it's not relevant to us, hence we don't see them, at least at the moment. I don't know, your post also made me think about it. *pondering*

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mooper28 May 2020 at 19:31

    "we don't see them, at least at the moment." - I think this really quite true Omer. I guess it's a human thing - we only hear the good stuff hahaha!

    ReplyDelete

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