- March 29, 2020
- Posted by: Con P. Sweeney
- Category: Social Media
The COVID-19 pandemic is grinding relentlessly across the globe and through our lives.
Many of us are either under stay-at-home orders of some sort or we soon will be if not already.
I’ve dedicated my last two blogposts to how writers can use social media and what’s appropriate content during this time.
But there’s a more fundamental question here, how should we use social media during the emergency?
Let’s talk about that!
What we’re living through right now is hopefully a once in a lifetime experience.
If humanity is fortunate then this will be an even less frequent event for future generations.
Many of us are in our homes and can only go out for essential reasons.
Some high risk groups, like the elderly, can’t even do that and are relying on the kindness of family and friends to get by.
However, we have something that they didn’t have the last time something like this occurred.
We have the Internet and all that goes with it.
Normally, I use my blog to talk about business and technical topics.
Today, I’m going to add something different.
I’m going to talk about how we can use social media to stay in touch and socialize with one another.
Enforced boredom is a good way to get people to go out and reconnect with one another.
And, don’t worry!
I’m not saying social media is the perfect replacement for genuine human interactions but it sure beats sitting at home and bouncing a rubber ball off the wall all day!
(Yeah, you know who you are!)
Your long lost relatives, the ones you communicate with primarily by rumor, can be reached out to on social media.
If they’re not on social media then send them an email or text and tell them about it.
Your parents can’t visit with your children?
Use tools like Facetime or Zoom.
Children can’t meet for play dates?
Arrange these online with games like Fortnite.
(I recommend strict adult supervision here.)
Reconnect with old classmates whom you haven’t seen since graduation.
Maybe they’re out of the slammer now.
How about connecting with all your old work colleagues on LinkedIn that you’ve been meaning to do for the last several years.
Join forums or chat groups.
Trust me, there ones out there for everything and I do mean everything!
(Disclaimer: Use your judgement here and be careful. The Internet is a wild and woolly place. If you get arrested then I don’t know you.)
My point here is that social media and the Internet can be used to help all stay connected and socialize during what could be a very rough time ahead.
Admittedly, I’ve taken certain liberties with what social media includes but you get the idea.
Go online and connect!
If anyone needs any help with any of my suggestions then feel free to contact me.
(Unless, you’re looking for bail then you’re on your own!)
I’ll be blogging more about the uses of social media for businesses during the pandemic next.
That’s it for now!
Please check-out my 8 step approach for developing a social media program to get some more ideas on how to use social media.
Also, never forget to reach out to either ask questions or to ask for help from someone like myself!
In the meantime, thank you for following and reading my blog!
I look forward to any and all comments that you may have. I will reply to any comments made to this blog post as promptly as I can.
And, remember!
I do this for a living and if I can be of any assistance to either you or your organization, please feel free to call on me. Our initial discussion will be of no charge to you.
I can also be reached at conpsweeney@someddi.com.
My Twitter handle is @conpsweeney.
Stay well!