Sunday, 20 January 2013

Too old for Social Media and technology?

January 20, 2013 , ,
How old is too old? When you can no longer see to type, or when you have been out of school for more than 5 minutes?

 I'm talking social media and technology. Or rather, attempting to. I'm not really sure I know what to say or how to say it. I consider myself fairly well-educated, but have now somehow become a doofus at the same time.

 Twitter. Facebook. Pinterest. Google+. Instagram. Reddit. StumbleUpon. Flickr. Bolt. Tumblr.
Then there's communities and groups - YouTube, Blogger, Wordpress, Facebook Groups, Google+ Pages, Yahoo, Mumsnet, Netmums, Tots100, Britmums, Cybher.... the names just go on and on. 

 My head spins. I have no idea who I'm following on what anymore. I could seriously do with hiring someone to come round and sort my computer life out into categories. First step would be to match all the personal names to the blog names and other 'handles' (anyone remember CB radios?!). 

Steph Curtis = Steph's Two Girls = @stephc007. 

Google+ is the place to be, so I've been told. My 5 year old daughter could probably find her way around it quicker than I can. Baffled is an understatement. Yet still I persevere, adding names willy-nilly and hoping someday all will become clear. 

I love this world but I feel like I'm drowning. Is it because I'm too old? Or is it because I'm a mother? Or maybe it's that my brain actually is tiny. Bring back my old ZX Spectrum and JetPack, please!

I just don't think I have that same brain capacity as back in the good old days any more. All available space is taken up with things like 'must remember to put homework back in bags'. 'Must find missing library book'. 'Must iron name tag onto new school tights' (for the girls, not me). 'Must text old friend about to give birth and check she's OK'. 'Must remember to buy, wrap and post birthday present for 9 year old later this week'. 'Must check website to see if snow is so bad that school will be closed in the morning'. 'Must remember to call parents' (oops, sorry mum....).

 I'm well aware that I'm complicating my life unnecessarily, that most of my friends feel no pressure to join in 'online'. As much as it drives me insane, I also love the support I've found through various social media sites and I just don't feel I can turn my back on them all now. Nor do I want to. I just want to understand a little bit more and feel a little less like an ancient dinosaur. Is that too much to ask?!

 Tomorrow I start my first job in 5 years (snow permitting). Lucky me - having a 5 year break AND finding a new job. That I wasn't actually looking for. How will I find the time for work (out of the house, as opposed to the 'stuff' I manage at home), and what vital information will drop out of my head first? I'm not scared. Much.


*Edited as someone has just mentioned 'sverve' to me. Seriously. Another one?! I'm off to check it out. Someone let me know what hashtag I should be using nowadays too, please...

22 comments:

  1. Yuji21 January 2013 at 12:38

    Funny post, Steph! I laughed because I relate so well. I remember way back thinking that my parents and grandparents were so old because they didn't understand the latest new-fangled thing. Now I am the same way, particularly about social media. I am not old, I am not old.

    Am I? Sigh.

    Best to you as you start a new job!

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    1. Stephs Two Girls21 January 2013 at 16:51

      Thanks Yuji - day 1 went well despite the late start due to snow! My motto is 'you're only as old as you feel'. or something. ??!

      Delete
  2. Welcome!22 January 2013 at 10:49

    I think the thing to do is just concentrate on one or two sites and ignore the rest. Good luck with the job; you must tell us more about it once you've settled in. Deb x

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    1. Stephs Two Girls22 January 2013 at 13:32

      You're probably right.... but which two?! Decisions decisions :) Job is part time in a local company doing training and coaching for autism parents, so it's nice to be involved. x

      Delete
  3. Jen Walshaw22 January 2013 at 21:19

    I just concentrate on a couple. I love Instagram (as you know muminthemadhouse), it is my happy place. As for twitter and facebook, yes I do them too. I am trying hard to get in to Google + if only for the search results on the blog! I like G+ because you can 1+, which is what I did to your post.

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    1. Stephs Two Girls22 January 2013 at 22:08

      yay, I love Instagram too, get what you mean re happy place! Twitter I fall in and out of, and I always love Facebook. Google+ still a bit of a mystery but I'll get there, I have to!!

      Delete
  4. Coombe Mill - Fiona22 January 2013 at 22:00

    Best of luck with the new job. Hope it is going well. As Jen says just focus on a couple of social media areas that you enjoy. You would need a secretary to manage them all! Lovely post though and I have had all the same conversations with myself too!

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    1. Stephs Two Girls22 January 2013 at 22:09

      A secretary! Now there's an idea... maybe she could do the ironing too ;) thanks x

      Delete
  5. Looking for Blue Sky23 January 2013 at 09:53

    Hope the job goes great! I can't believe the pressure to join all this social media - as it is while I am doing my thing I have tweetdeck plus 3 browsers open - 1 for work, 1 for me and 1 for my blog. Overkill?

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    1. Stephs Two Girls23 January 2013 at 14:39

      Thanks... pressure indeed! I do want to keep up, just don't know if I can!! Juggling 2 things bad enough, no idea how you do 3! And the different names on everything is def throwing me... (not just you, most people do it including me!!) x

      Delete
  6. Mummypinkwellies11 February 2013 at 15:59

    Yep can definitely relate to this Steph!

    Hope the new job is going well? x

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    1. Stephs Two Girls11 February 2013 at 16:09

      Job's good so far, nothing too stressful thanks :)

      Delete
  7. My Little 3 and Me11 February 2013 at 16:11

    I know this feeling very well! I dipped into Goggle + and promptly ran away! Good luck with the new job.

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    1. Stephs Two Girls15 February 2013 at 21:48

      I have a sneaky suspicion Google+ could be really good f I could just figure it out....!

      Delete
  8. Liz Burton11 February 2013 at 19:34

    I know exactly how you feel!!!

    Good luck with your new job, and don't worry about all the SM stuff - you can't be everywhere. x

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    1. Stephs Two Girls15 February 2013 at 21:49

      You're right. I've given up trying to be superwoman now ;0

      Delete
  9. Damson Lane11 February 2013 at 21:05

    I hope you had a great day at your new job! I always want to keep up with social media as it is the world our children will live in and I want to be able to understand that. Although it is huge just do what you feel you can! My neighbours with older children all laugh that I am 'on facebook' but I think that they are the ones losing out.

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    1. Stephs Two Girls15 February 2013 at 21:49

      I agree, I don't understand when people are scared of or 'against' Facebook. It has brought so much joy to my life!!

      Delete
  10. Donna@MummyCentral11 February 2013 at 21:42

    I still don't understand Google+. Like you, I'm a member but I'm still not sure I'm using it right. A blogger was actually threatening to give up blogging before Christmas, because she couldn't keep up with the social media. My advice is to focus on your faves. I'm a Twitter and Facebook girl. If I can't get my head around the rest, I don't worry about it.

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    1. Stephs Two Girls15 February 2013 at 21:50

      Twitter is fab but can only dip in and out occasionally. So I'm thinking it will HAVE to be Google+ that I get to grips with...help?!

      Delete
  11. Jenny Kearney11 February 2013 at 21:47

    I know exactly what you mean. Just join the ones you enjoy using. I can't stand it when I see people joining everything and only using them to promote their latest blog post. They're called social for a reason people!

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    1. Stephs Two Girls15 February 2013 at 21:51

      I think the trouble is some of us just don't have the time to be THAT social!! ;)

      Delete

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