Does Twitter ‘cheapen’ your friendships?
Social media is a fantastic way to communicate value, expertise and or passion to numerous amounts of people. It is also a great to way to keep relevant people up to date with what you’re doing with your day, week or next client. But what about the more meaningful stuff? What about the awesome fun stuff you’re doing with close friends? I notice a lot of people like inform their weak ties about the activities they’re doing with their BFFs.
This can lead to BFFs thinking you don’t really enjoy their company quite as much, and your weak ties thinking your closer than you are (surprise dates!). Which can be a problem because suddenly who we consider ‘friends’ is a very different from what we use to. Does it take anymore or any less to be my BFF?
In my discussion for the Future of Conferences I discussed the difference between ‘actually being there’ and ‘reading the Twitter streams’ – this is important not only for conferences but for activities with friends too. After all, no body wants to read about being in the mosh pit at Slipknot over actually being there! So if we’re truly friends, should I need to read your Twitter stream to find out you had a great time with me over the weekend?Are these interactions going to strengthen our ties having never met? Or are they going to rip existing ties apart?
I’m still unsure – but one thing that is certain is that this is changing the way we interact, consider and experience social situations and people.










