Why Social Media?

I had lunch last week at a new (to me) restaurant called Cedars Woodfire Grill. Already impressed with their menu, I was even more impressed to see it presented in a beautiful digital display right inside the door of the restaurant. They also offered their nutritional guide to anyone who was interested.... easily accessible by texting the menu item number and getting a response back to your phone.

A few weeks before that, I ate breakfast at a restaurant that used Facebook and Twitter to not only connect with fans and restaurant patrons, but to also help name the ever evolving array of new items added to their menu for limited times.

Also last week, I attended a Duran Duran concert (I am from the MTV generation) and, in mid-show, the band took a "Twitter break" encouraging fans to share the fun they were having with their followers.

Several friends who've known me since my early days in Information Technology have asked why I have such an interest in Social Media. My question to them is:

How could I not?!

The reason I pursued a degree and then career in I.T. was because that's where things were going. I wanted to be "in the know" about what was up and coming. It was difficult to keep up with it, at first, but I eventually found my niche. I loved researching and learning. I loved the training we were offered to stay abreast of changes in a large, growing software market.

I'm excited to see that social media is everywhere I turn. I love that the members of my favorite childhood band stated that they feel "closer to our fans than ever before". I love that restaurants are listening to their patrons and honoring their needs. I love that, with the loss of Steve Jobs, his messages and quotes have been repeated and spread like wildfire across all avenues of media.

I love the ease with which it can be used and that now business, groups, social causes, celebrities and entrepreneurs are learning to communicate WITH instead of TO those that want to work with them.

Why social media?

Why not?

How have you noticed social media in your every day life?

Parenthood, Facebook and the Scary Monster

Last Christmas, my ex-husband bought our 10 year old daughter her own laptop. She took to it easily and I was not surprised. After all, I'm a degreed techie from way back who personally trained my baby girl on a laptop at little over 9 months of age. I knew it was the wave of the future.

In my home, I monitor what websites she frequents... and it has been only recently that I allowed her internet access. I put an immediate halt on "chatting" with strangers via an online gaming site. Apparently, her friends do it all the time.

Last week for her birthday, her father bought her an iPod Touch. Again, more rules and screen time limits have to be enforced in my home.

Look, I may be a techie from way back but first and foremost, I'm a mom.

My job is to protect my children. I don’t think of technology as a big, scary monster that I don’t understand. Perhaps because I'm in a technical field, I'd like to believe I know exactly what I'm doing.

Last week, however, I got a better idea of the fight I'm up against.

It began with the recent announcements from Facebook on their new timeline profiles and media sharing. I'm all about exciting new changes and cutting edge announcements. I didn't choose a technology field because it's boring.

Many people are concerned about privacy when it comes to these new changes on Facebook. Wait. Let me rephrase that. Many OLDER people are concerned. The younger generation, of which my children will be included once I let go of my death grip, share most everything on Facebook. Nothing is private anymore.

Also last week, I attended a local social media event featuring 6 case studies of marketing agencies using Facebook, Twitter and the like to increase digital impressions and generate more revenue for each client they represented. Funny thing about technology and marketing, just when you think you might know everything, you find that someone has "out thought" you. I left feeling inspired and completely overwhelmed.

I understand that the world of technology is changing and that means the way we interact is changing. I'm fortunate enough to be in the middle of the generations. My parents don't use social media and have only recently begun texting. My children were born to text, Facebook and share every moment of their day for everyone to see. I'm a Gen-X-er, bridging the gap between both of them.

I understand it but the question remains:

How do I continue to protect my children from a big, scary monster whose hand I'm practically holding?

How do I allow them to be the up and coming generation and still provide common sense limits?

Or is there such a thing anymore?

Your thoughts?