Like most geeks, in person I am shy. You likely know someone close to you who is exactly the same. I am fortunate that I have loud friends who can make introductions for me! Most people who “meet” me online though wouldn’t know how quiet I am in social situations. Does social media make you more outgoing?
If you think about it a lot of the social barriers are not there in social media. You do not have to use your own name or face, and if you make a mistake in some cases you can just delete your account. I obviously use my own name and face, and live with the goofs I make, but the barrier to socializing online is still way lower than in face to face world.
I’m not including blogging here, although maybe I should, because I equate that to giving a talk or speech – it’s not a social interaction, more a prepared statement? It’s the interaction that I think happens more online than off.
It’s not just quantity but content also. Look on twitter and in facebook and people seem to have far fewer inhibitions. They will talk about all sorts of really personal topics.
Ordinarily it would take large quantities of alcohol to achieve the same effect.
What do you think? Is social media going to be the main way geeks and nerds socialize?
