Thanks to the speed, ease and accessibility of sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and LinkedIn, social media is a great tool for widespread communication. So, what happens if such innovative technology is taken away? Can we survive?

In a world where information is updated and released every second, there’s no denying that the obligation for constant electronic vigilance can be overwhelming and time consuming. Perhaps this is what inspired Harrisburgh University of Science and Technology to conduct an experiment where students and staff were unable to access social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter for an entire week. This unique venture made controversial headlines, pronouncing it “a terrible thing and an infringement upon people’s rights”, but Provost Eric Darr said it wasn’t geared to affect the University negatively:

The exercise that began Monday is not a punishment for the school’s 800 students, nor a precursor to a ban, but a way for people to think critically about the prevalence of social media.

As The Methodology Blog has discussed many times, social media’s ability to provide users with efficient, organized, well-informed outlets of communication is profound. Earlier this year Robby Slaughter, founder and principal of Slaughter Development, discussed why investing time in social media is quite beneficial. Below is an excerpt from his conclusions:

. . . so many of our critical roles in our business and personal lives rely upon social dynamics. Sales and marketing comes from building rapport; research and development arises from teams that foster creativity and embrace both failure and success. Routine tasks are done with more enthusiasm when we have someone to share them with. Friendships and families are built not on procedures but on socialization. We need each other not just to grow, but to survive.

The belief that social media is a waste of time is based on a misconception of social media. Although these are services made possible through cool technology, they are powered by our fundamental propensity to connect. We need to work together. Social media merely makes doing so easier and faster than ever before.

Building and maintaining relationships is a task we strive to achieve every day. Offline, we partake in meetings, phone conversations and social gatherings to nurture communication and reach individuals on a personal level. Online, we utilize email and social media to bridge the gap. When these interactions are combined together they will maximize results and satisfy an individual’s efforts. In the end, it’s simply important to recognize that communication, in any form, is most effective when balanced correctly.

Looking to enhance your offline interactions by becoming more productive in social media? Consider signing up for Slaughter Development’s Productivity Short Talk: Productivity and Social Media. Contact us to learn more about our services.

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