Loading ...Facebook, Twitter, and Instant Messaging have become natural parts of our everyday life. They also play key roles in many businesses. But is there a downside? Can they dominate too much time?
We all know that each of these platforms can be extremely valuable to business. However, many businesses do not allow their employees to use them due to a lack of productivity. For this reason, WebProNews would like to extend a challenge to you to see how long you can go without Facebook, Twitter, and Instant Messaging.
We are, by no means, suggesting that you drop these platforms entirely. Instead, we would like to see if you notice any changes to your personal well-being, your business, and your level of productivity.
For starters, you could try going without the 3 mentioned platforms, or any other technologies that consume vast amounts of your time, for 1-2 hours each day. When you turn everything off for the first time, it will probably seem way too quiet. In addition, you will likely struggle with the urge to share something.
Once these instincts pass, chances are, you will develop a stronger focus. Not only could you dedicate more time and energy toward one project, but you could also generate a greater appreciation for what you do. What’s more, you may find yourself developing new ideas and strategies that could take your business to the next level.
So, are you up for the challenge? How long can you go without Facebook, Twitter, and Instant Messaging? And, are you more productive for doing so?
I would die without myspace,bebo,twitter,Hi55 and IM
I’d die without facebook! I need to keep in touch with toddy daily!
like you kids say “No Problem”
I don’t Twit,Chat,Ipud, Blackberry, Chuck Berry.. (but technically Chuck Berry is a Black Berry) No Text… TEX.. I don’t even Freak’n FAX.
There’s Meteor shower tonight.. point your head upward towards the sky for a change.. help you streach your neck muscles from looking down all the time.
Life is passing you by, while you Twittle your Thumbs!
Just look at all “social networking” stuff as overhead – little “transaction” taxes on your time that displace profits and accomplishment. I can’t imagine any productive use for these “networks” that regular mail, phone or e-mail cannot manage quite well – and I can see myriad distractions with minimal or no return.
Too busy living a real life to waste time on these vanity networks, the daily equivalent of the annual bragging Xmas letters annoying folks used to send out.
Productivity and value for business? Sure, as an ad/PR channel if you can afford it but our target customers either don’t use these networks or don’t trust the credibility of what they see.
I will concede that FB, Twitter are great tools for teenage girls, bored housewives, and other ADD/ADHD suffers. Geez, whatever happened to peace and quiet and a good book or stroll through the park?
I have a facebook account for which I can find no use. I do not subscribe to any instant messaging or twitter. I do use emails and the ‘phone. I haven’t died or become ill because of it. Life is outside this monitor I am currently looking at.
I gave up Facebook about two weeks ago because being online too much was killing my neck. I just deactivated so I can reactivate whenever I want — I love the site. Great waya to keep in touch with my friends from high school, college and some locals, but it can be a HUGE waste of time, and I’ve never found that it helped my business. I’ll be back occasionally but I hope not to use it regularly anymore (I may eat my words!).
What a great idea! Does this challange include the internet and e-mail? If so there is know way I could do without. Cutting back would be a good idea though
I saw someone’s facebook page once – about 18 months ago.
Twitter I don’t think I’ve even seen.
Won’t miss what I don’t use.
IM is used because we’re forced to at work.
Won’t miss that ’cause I don’t like using it.
I don’t like to name Names, BUT I would like the self-centered people that posted above to
wake UP and realize that there are MANY “clear headed” people that are simply bedridden either do to a physical ailment aka Military Vets or some other illness that “USE FB and Twitter as a way to connect to LIVE LIFE “outside the 4 walls they are stuck inside.” These apps CAN have a Positive Use.. but Just like anything, including a warped mind, they can be used for non-constructive purposes also…
This is a Timely post, as just last night I deactivated my FB account also and I can NOT
stand UP and go outside although I LOVE the Perseides Meteor shower…. so I am giving up something that connected me with others around the World by choice… so that I CAN have more quiet time to Focus on other things of my Choice ~ not the stupid name-calling of rude people listed above. “Good luck everyone” that is choosing to do this.. will be fun to see how we succeed or not with our goals…
I think I will give this a shot.
Doing away totally with social media is surely not a good idea. And again it depends from which perspective the person is using it from a personal perpective or a business perspective.
From the business point of view too much of social media surely is a distraction causing low productivity but initially it is necessary to give more time to it to understand its working and decide how it will be used as a business marketing strategy.
Once you are clear with this again having a balance and ensuring its optimum use is essential.Too much of anything is deemed as an addiction and inthis case may lead to psychological and behavioral changes hence a optimum balance is the only solution.
As social media, search and business seem to merge, keeping a total absence on the social media will be a great folly keeping the online marketing trends in mind.
Social media interaction, benefits and features are here to stay and will be woven in the fabric of online search and marketing helping in sales, customer support and brand building.
Today we use Twitter, Facebook, etc. Tomorrow some other social media site maybe in vogue or considered as the best micro blogging platform, so do not give up on social media, become responsible, well balanced netizens handling every new technology in a more mature way.
I ditched the lot ages ago, which means have a lot more time and moneyz because of it.
Though these days a lot of people couldn’t live without Facebook or Twitter or IM. Luckily I can probably live on without them.
As for the Internet communication like e-mail…now that is a totally different story.
I live without all of them, I have a FB account but never sign on or check it actively like some.
However I do use the sites for advertising, and earn good money from targeted ads. Adsense isn’t as good as what you can target with social networks.
My two cents
I’ve never used any of them ever. Can’t see why folk think them necessary. Just a total waste of time as far as I’m concerned.
Im no longer using facebook and IM… and now im still alive… ^^,
yawn, puhleeze
Internet marketers may think these apps are that central to everyone, but in reality most people don’t use them that much.
Social networks are perverse and distracting and play into and expose our human insecurities as well as the need to fit it. Also most people who use these tools attempt to create a “pseudo” life, they paint the picture they want you to see but in most cases its very distant from who they really are. Delete your facebook, regain your life, and discover real social interaction by going for a walk, skipping some stones, having a campfire, clinking a pint and actually catching up! feel the sweet liberation, reject your digital masters ! ALSO if i see one more leather faced I – phone mommy I may loose it. The general rule used to be, if your parents are using it, and/or think its cool, Its not. Period. Start kicking it old school. go out and vandalize something instead of flashing your i-lifestyle.
I have never used Facebook, Twitter and rarely used IM. I did get hooked on, anyone remember, MIRC in the 90′s. My daughters on the other hand live on these sites. As a matter of fact, they have to have cell phones that allow them to stay connected. They will come over for a visit and then spend 50% of their time with their face in their cell phones. Oh and when their phones break, the shakes and headachs start.
I see nothing wrong with these sites in and of themselves. Just like any other technology they can be used for good or evil and often can be overdone.
These are not the first addictive items to enter society. Alcohol, Drugs, Gambling, TV, Video Games, etc… Everyone has to agree that these sites are less destructive than say Alcohol, Drugs or Gambling. I think the problem many people have with these, yes, addictive sites is they do not understand technology. People are predjudice of what they do not understand.
Like any other addicitive activity, I blame the person if it gets out of hand. We all need something in our lives that provides down time and makes us happy, or life is not worth living.
I have had my own vices. I have overcome or outgrown many of them and do not regret my time while consumed by them. In my teens I was consumed by arcade video games and spent every quarter I earned on them. No regrets. I became consumed by computers and turned it into a career in programming. No regrets. I was consumed by computer video games in my 20′s, eventually weened myself off them. No Regrets. Still allow myself to get consumed in a few choice games when they come out. “STARCRAFT II, yea baby”. I was consumed by movies. My son and I went to the movies almost every weekend for 5 years. Lots of good memories with my son. No Regrets. Weening myself off was easy, movies mostly suck these days. And finally, I used to try and limit the number of TV series I followed as my life schedule would be guided by the TV schedule. First I got a PVR and then started downloading any TV series I wanted, past and present. Now I can watch anything I want, commercial free, on my schedule, and nothing a download is reality TV…YEAAAAA…
So now I ask you, how can any medium that allows you to download all the movies, tv series, music, pictures, games, etc you want for free be bad for you. Until my Internet vices make me go blind…you’re still wrong Mom, No Regrets.
I believe, that with time, it will be discovered that the entirety of “Social Online Media” is creating isolations as opposed to connections. I feel that the rise of popularity of dogs is one of the by products to manifest thus far.
As a regional university professor of computers, I am greatly concerned about the lack of privacy brought about by active social media participation as well as the degradation of college student performance because of the reliance on technology. I discourage the use of these technologies unless it is for professional reasons. I do not have FB, Twitter or IM and believe my identity is more secure as a result. I hope the tipping point comes soon and young people realize that their cognitive abilities thrive when they limit the use of technology.
Social media netwroks and IM are very important for business marketing, interaction with customers, connect with freinds etc. It as an advantage that these internet tools are free of cost and also an effective marketing channels to promote business among large quantity of audiances atonce and also get response quickly. These internet tools helps to make business successful.
Without Facebook, Twitter and IM will adversily affect the business growth and
also weaken the social activites among netizens’.
Great comment !! I agree that facebook and other social networks help to stay in touch with your customers.
As a matter of fact, rehab at South Coast Recovery is meant to be a time of recuperation and healing.
Facebook I *might be able to live without… Twitter.. yeah, tried this and still found myself just watching (rather than Tweeting) and IM… yeah lasted about 5 minutes as this is too needed for work. Guess I fail…
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In addition, you will likely struggle with the urge to share something.
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