Social Media and Community Building

People are asking about and studies are showing the pros and cons of social media. By social media, I mean the proliferation of Blogs (such as this one), Twitter (and Twitter-like mediums), Facebook and Myspace, LinkedIn and Plaxo....

For me the pros are evident. I can keep informed about the daily life events of my friends. I can share pictures, stories and news. If I see a post on one of the sites to which I subscribe that details a happy or sad occasion in the life of a friend, it motivates me to pray for them or to call them or to write them. If a call to action is listed and it has an electronic method of responding, I am more likely to do so and not procrastinate. I can click to respond to an email. I can respond to all or only to the original poster. I can click to "like". I can click to call my congress person. I can even re-tweet with a click, thus providing a broader audience of "followers".

Do I feel closer to those whom I care about? Do I stay informed about causes important to me? Yes, if they also happen to be subscribers. But what about my friends, family and causes who are not regular social media subscribers? Will I still have time to pick up the phone or tap out an email or for the true luddites, write a letter? With all of the information from those who are subscribers flooding my in-boxes, status-boxes and text-boxes, will it crowd out those for whom social networking is "Greek"?

Truly a new digital divide is appearing. Those who keep in touch only via phone or email are being lost in the shuffle. Those who use the Postal Service are even more likely to be missed. The Internet is becoming a bit like a crowded grade school lunch room. The din of voices vying for attention and influence is deafening. Meanwhile somewhere in Kansas a nephew has been in a car accident. In California a farm worker is dying in the heat. In North Carolina a child is being molested. In Iran a democracy is emerging. In Honduras a crisis is affecting my friends. How can we hear those voices? How do we respond? How do you place an e-card on a mantle?

In the great rush to be heard, are we properly protecting our private lives from voyeurism? Are we contributing to exhibitionism? Are we truly staying connected to those we love and causes for which we care about? Are we sharing more about ourselves or just a lot of information?

I spoke to a family member the other night. I could hear in his voice the strain of concern. The fighting back of tears. The release of emotion. Dialogue occurred, not monologue or a diatribe. His voice was searching for understanding and compassionate listening and advice. I hope I conveyed that to him. I just answered a call from a friend who is placing his loved one in hospice. His voice revealed some guilt and worry and relief all in one. Could either of these messages been conveyed by e-means? Of course. Would their meaning been the same? certainly not. I am committing to checking in more often by phone or in-person with those whom I love.