Social Media: 20% Good, 80% Crap (Feb/2019)

I’ve been a user of social media for more than a decade. An analysis of the social media channels that I use is as follows: 20% of social media is good, and 80% of it is crap.

LinkedIn: I have kept my LinkedIn account for many years now. I use it for professional reasons. LinkedIn has mostly remained professional, true to its mission. I’ve no reason to quit LinkedIn. It is a great way to remain connected to others in my profession.

Facebook: I used to use Facebook for personal connections for many years. But I dropped it like 6+ months ago after I got tired of so much noise, negativeness, bad information, and pure crap. When I say FB, I mean all of its products: WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook. I have regained precious time back.

Twitter: I’ve been a Twitter user since 2007, which I use for professional reasons. But it has become such a cesspool of short/bad written lazy opinions and rage, egos, politics, and pure crap. 80% is crap. 20% is a great source of information. But I am getting so close to stop using Twitter as well. Even after a massive clean-up, I’m still forced to see crap when others who I follow “like” or “re-twit” stuff I just don’t care about: crap. As a consequence, my use of Twitter has been reduced significantly.

Blogs/Podcasts: I love blogs and podcasts. They have remained a great source of information. I get access and read or listen to what I care about. Period. The ones that I follow are an awesome source of information– of well thought-out, well-written narratives, improvisations, and opinions. Long live the great blogs/podcasts, long live great bloggers/podcasters.

Journalism: quality journalism remains a great source of trusted information, but let’s admit it– there is a lot of crappy and biased journalism out there.

Misinformation, bad writing, idiotic opinions, politics, and stupid egos, personal agendas, and narcissism, or in other words, crap, makes up 80% of the Web/Internet. It is important to focus and support the good 20% — the great bloggers and podcasters and journalists out there. Avoid the rest.

/ceo