People sometimes just don't know where to start. There's Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn. What's the value in any of them? Then there's all the other up and coming niche sites - Brazen Careerist, LinkUp, Careerealism (related to Gen Y and Careers, stuff I follow), and not to mention hundreds of others I'm probably not even aware of.
There are 350 million Facebook Users this year, and a good portion of them return to use the site as it is becoming the #1 most visited social media site on the internet. Twitter's the fastest growing website, but not many are constant returnees. Here's a quick breakdown of the top 3:
Facebook - Primarily a personal space. Pictures, friends, funny status messages, a community amongst people you know, and should know pretty well. If possible - you should have all privacy settings up and checking them often.
Twitter - a fast-paced news setting. Get up to the minute updates on anything you could possibly think of. Interact briefly with others and make some quick surface connections. A place to sell your personal brand and get noticed.
LinkedIn - Facebook for the professional world. Put your resume up there. Put your best professional self out there. Join groups and interact in professional topics and discussions. Network.
You can join any of them at any age, for any reason. It just takes a bit of research and time just like any normal hobby or work activity. You have to find the value in it for yourself. Careerealism posted this great article about the 3 Reasons Why People Don't Join Social Media. Don't be one of these reasons!
Worried about people seeing too much on Twitter? Or not fitting in? This was one of the best articles I have read in awhile about streamling your posts, and in other words, working on your personal brand. The example they give about the "mommy tweeter" is hilarious, and a perfect reason to just make sure you're putting your best foot forward.
As for me on twitter, I find it helpful to see what people twitter about directly in their little bio area. I tweet about things I know - Korea, Music, Travel, Obama, Syrause and Social Media. This way - people know what they're getting into when they follow me if they choose to do so (and I hope they do!).
It's not as daunting as it seems. And it is most certainly not for teenagers specifically. It's an online community that people can actually get a lot out of if they want to. If you're a jobseeker - there is ABSOLUTELY no reason for you NOT to be on it. It'll change everything for the better for you, I promise you that.
There are 350 million Facebook Users this year, and a good portion of them return to use the site as it is becoming the #1 most visited social media site on the internet. Twitter's the fastest growing website, but not many are constant returnees. Here's a quick breakdown of the top 3:
Facebook - Primarily a personal space. Pictures, friends, funny status messages, a community amongst people you know, and should know pretty well. If possible - you should have all privacy settings up and checking them often.
Twitter - a fast-paced news setting. Get up to the minute updates on anything you could possibly think of. Interact briefly with others and make some quick surface connections. A place to sell your personal brand and get noticed.
LinkedIn - Facebook for the professional world. Put your resume up there. Put your best professional self out there. Join groups and interact in professional topics and discussions. Network.
You can join any of them at any age, for any reason. It just takes a bit of research and time just like any normal hobby or work activity. You have to find the value in it for yourself. Careerealism posted this great article about the 3 Reasons Why People Don't Join Social Media. Don't be one of these reasons!
Worried about people seeing too much on Twitter? Or not fitting in? This was one of the best articles I have read in awhile about streamling your posts, and in other words, working on your personal brand. The example they give about the "mommy tweeter" is hilarious, and a perfect reason to just make sure you're putting your best foot forward.
As for me on twitter, I find it helpful to see what people twitter about directly in their little bio area. I tweet about things I know - Korea, Music, Travel, Obama, Syrause and Social Media. This way - people know what they're getting into when they follow me if they choose to do so (and I hope they do!).
It's not as daunting as it seems. And it is most certainly not for teenagers specifically. It's an online community that people can actually get a lot out of if they want to. If you're a jobseeker - there is ABSOLUTELY no reason for you NOT to be on it. It'll change everything for the better for you, I promise you that.