Technology. It's a huge part of our lives. I personally love it, being quick to adopt any new thing that comes my way; the culture-vulture that I am. It organises my life - WhatsApp is the best new thing for making my life easier. A project (manager? I wouldn't call myself that) person like me loves to be able to communicate quickly and efficiently. I don't think WhatsApp was popular even when I last blogged. Tech changes fast, boy. And it changes lives with it.
I also love Twitter. It's my most preferred form of social media. I don't like pictures. I like words, the slow burn, the allowing yourself to use your imagination. Pictures are just too immediate and overt. Also I'd rather not share all the highlights of my life. Some things (in my opinion, most pictures) are meant to be kept to myself. Or more accurately, shared with very few people. I keep my small circle closed, to quote a favourite rapper of mine. I have a family account with Apple. That's how I share my photos. Or I share my photos on WhatsApp with my friends. Think about it, before social media we didn't share photos with lots of people. I know I didn't. Probably because I don't like the way I look in photos. We printed photos out, and put them up in our homes. People saw them when they came into our space.
The thing about sharing my photos on social media is that there is no element of surprise anymore, I think. If I put all my photos on Instagram, I would either expect people to have seen my photos (if they followed me, and that's a whole other conversation) or people will expect to have seen them. Catch up chat would go like this:
Friend: how have you been?
Me: Oh good, thanks - I went to Greece last week. It was amazing.
Friend: Oh yeah, I saw your pictures on Facebook, it looked amazing!
And, we've both used the same descriptive word in one conversation (haha). Also, there's not really room for me to say something like:
Friend: how have you been?
Me: Oh good thanks - I went to Greece last week, it was amazing - have a look at my pics."(gets phone out and opens album) "Isn't Athens beautiful?
Friend: Oh my goodness, gorgeous! And you went with your mum - I haven't seen her in ages. She looks great!
Me: Yeah, I know - she's always asking me how you are, you should come round andsay hi.
I can bond so much better with someone over my phone if they haven't already seen my life story on social media.
Technology is amazing. I just started working on a tech project and I am so excited about it. It has to be used wisely though. We have to think about how we use it.
I've just audio-booked a book called 12 Ways your phone is changing you. It's been a great tool.
