Delete.  Delete.  Delete.

My FaceBook Groups, p1

I spent some time leaving some FaceBook Groups, not all. What you see to the right is p1 of what’s left, for now.

I sooooo want to support many groups and causes. I am a social animal and love people, have a soft heart, and a yearning desire to learn, learn, learn. But there’s a limit to how many updates and email notifications one can process.

It’s time to cut back – less quantity and more quality.

Many groups sit idle with no updates. One group’s last update was in May 2009, and it has 427 fans. I knew most of those “fans” as people in the search marketing industry.

Are we fanning simply because our peers suggested we Like the group? What’s the purpose?

Like.  Like.  Like.

I don’t want to Like, Fan or Vote for something unless I really do like it. Call me picky. (I don’t become friends with people whom I don’t know in some way either.)

Actually, I think it’s more that I’m using FaceBook less.

Batch Processing

I batch process, and FaceBook updates are batched into an Outlook folder. I am in “FaceBook mode” when checking in. This “task” doesn’t get accomplished every day, which means that when I do log into FaceBook, I don’t want to wade through a mass of unread notifications and invites.

I’m usually on a quest for 3 things during FaceBook time:

1. To get the latest Search Industry news and happenings.
2. To find SEO & Social Media articles to read and possibly share.
3. To find out what my personal friends are doing.
4. To share a personal update now and then.

If your group meets my personal goals, send me an invite. If not, please don’t get your feelings hurt if I ignore your request.

FaceBook Group of the Month

The “Tour de France Dominates my month of July” is my Group of the Month.

FaceBook Group: The Tour de France Dominates my month of July

Yes, that’s really it’s name! It has 6,698 members, and I’m proud to be one of them!

Yes, the Tour de France really DOES dominate my month of July, second to clients.

Heck the TdF is what inspired me to blog for 3 weeks. I will take rest days (just did), just like the riders of the Tour. I wonder how many of them are on FaceBook when they’re resting and not riding? I imagine they are focused on recovering, fueling up and preparing for the next day’s stage.

That’s why I’m so inspired. I love the racers’ singleness of focus, something I’m striving for and one reason I’m not joining as many FaceBook groups.

Thoughts about Optimizing Life: Dana Lookadoo

Leaving FaceBook Groups

There were fewer Foursquare Mayorships announced and fewer “I’m at _____ #foursquare” tweets today. The popular service, I mean game, in which people “check in” with friends at local establishments and unlock badges was down, out-of-service, a few times.

TechCrunch posted an article, “With Major Downtime, Foursquare Well On Its Way To Being The Next Twitter,” in which the comparison to Twitter is evident. People reacted feverishly to Foursquare’s version of Fail Whale.

TechCrunch reports on Foursquare "Whale"

The author, who was at the Web 2.0 Expo on May 4, the day the Foursquare Whale, noted:

Foursquare went down soon after the conference concluded, and at least a half dozen friends and colleagues I bumped into on the street were running around like chickens with their heads cut off not sure where to go without the aide of Foursquare. Yes, it’s kind of pathetic, but this is the age we live in.

Foursquare Rant

Word!

Yes, it is kind of pathetic.

Streams on Twitter had more value than usual tonight.

The Foursquare Fail Whale was a win, temporarily, for those of us who don’t want these updates in our streams.

I joined Foursquare and can see the value and opportunity to hook up with others. As a marketer, it’s da bomb. BUT, I don’t really don’t want to know my friends’ every move.

I understand the draw and addiction to social media, since we are relational beings. We want to know what our friends and others are doing. I am, however, purposefully not updating my status with answers to “What are you doing now?” I don’t aspire for Mayorship either.

What’s Next?

I Flush

Will the next cell phone app be called, “I Flushed” so people can let others know when they ____? Well, you get the picture!

Is social media turning into TMI (too much information)?

In Real Life

I really enjoy when I spend time with my IRL (in real life) friends who are NOT constantly on their cell phones posting what we are doing or where we are. I imagine they could care less if Foursquare went down the toilet.

</end rant>

Thoughts about Optimizing Life: Dana Lookadoo

Rant: Foursquare “Whale” is a Win

The following story of a Social Media Addict is fictional … or is it?

I walked into the room and saw many familiar avatars, I mean faces.

A few tweeps, I mean people, looked up and smiled. They immediately looked away and down.

Tap. Tap. Click. Click.

Texting Addiction?

My cell phone vibrated.

I kept walking, trying to determine where to sit.

Buzz…my cell phone vibrated again.

I walked a little farther. Another buzz.

I found a seat next to a guy who was leaning over, propped on his elbows. He shuffled but never looked up at me.

As I sat down, I anxiously pulled out my cell. I had four new text messages!

I looked up and chuckled.

My “friends” had sent me DMs to say:

“Hi there!”

“Good 2 C U!”

“Hey, sit over by me.”

“Don’t tell these creeps my real name!”

We looked at each other again, nodded and laughed some more. Feverishly we all bent over and started texting.

Few people spoke. The room would have been quiet except for the tapping, clicking and giggling.

“Welcome everyone! Thanks for making it to our first Social Media Anonymous meeting!”

Many were startled as our sponsor greeted us when she entered the room, walking upright, without a cell phone in hand!

“If you want to tell others about our group, use the hashtag #SMA.”

Everyone laughed. A few tweeted it out to Twitter and Facebook immediately. Others sheepishly put their iPhones away.

Introductions began…

I stood,

“My name is @lookadoo. I am a social mediaaholic.”

* * * * * * *

This story is fabricated, but the addiction to social media is real. Many people tweet first thing in the morning, think about tweeting while doing offline activities, text while walking down the street (and even into manholes). Some have admitted to not paying their bills due to loosing track of time and priorities, because so much “free” time is spent on Facebook, StumbleUpon, Digg and … Twitter!

Just Opened! Internet Addiction Treatment Center

The first US treatment center for Internet Addiction recently opened outside of Seattle, WA in August 2009. Yes! The Heavensfield Retreat Center is designed to treat texting, Internet and video game addictions.

I imagine “social media addicts” are welcomed as well! Enrollment for the 45-day recovery program costs around $14,500.

Heavensfield Retreat Center for Internet Addiction

Move over Betty Ford!

Get Control of your Social Media Life

[edited after post]
I wrote this post partially in preparation for my first guest blog post as a Contributor on Search Engine Journal as part of the Social Media Series for Business. “Getting Control of Your Social Media Life” posted on September 15.

I didn’t talk about breaking addiction to texting, social media or the Internet. I  discussed principles and productivity tactics that must first be in place to ensure your social media activities, and time spent socializing online, don’t deter from your primary focus.

So, what do you think about Social Media Addiction? Is it real? Will a treatment center help?

The opening of the treatment center sure does give us some social food for thought!

Thoughts about Optimizing Life: Dana Lookadoo

The Story of a Social Media Addict