DISQUS

tyfn Basically I use Facebook and twitter in 2 entirely different ways. For twitter, I don't care whether anyone follows me really. I'm a student and I'm using twitter for me. What works for me is to follow a few people (under 100) as I don't have the energy to focus on the tweets from 200, 300, 1000 people that I could be following. Nor do I follow people that like to tweet alot because I personally find it annoying. Basically as a student my time is limited, I play with twitter when I feel like using it, but I'm not into marketing or promoting myself. It is more of a communication tool. If I was running a business then I would be focused on promoting my business or myself, especially if it was social media related. Regarding adding people, I do it rarely, based on what their interests are, what they tweet about, what similarities we may have. I don't just follow someone because they are in Vancouver.

There is nothing that stops anyone from @ing me if you want to tell me something. If it is important, I am available by email (phillip[dot]jeffrey at gmail [dot]com or you can text message my cell phone (604 340-8080). I think I am 100% available as I am always carrying my blackberrry around to get phone message or email. Also, not of my student close friends use twitter or even have heard of it, so I don't communicate with them there.

Regarding Facebook I use it for communicating with my close student friends mostly, although I do add social media people both in Vancouver and outside of Vancouver that are close friends or I had an expectation we would become close friends. I use Facebook like a diary so I put up my personal information, don't care what photos I put up, and use the Facebook wall like people use Facebook messages. I find that Social Media people with some exceptions don't like to share much personal information on Facebook. I don't know their cell phone number from Facebook, I don't see any fun, real life photos of them, I don't get a sense about what is going on it in their life from their Facebook wall.

Instead it is used more as a Rolodex to gather contacts, which is a complete contrast from my use of Facebook as a diary where someone can learn about my life just by being a close friend on Facebook. As I don't want to deal with friendship requests from randoms or people I don't know, I am invisible on Facebook. That way I determine who I add to Facebook. For people that aren't students, it is less likely that I will add them to Facebook if I have only met them once or they aren't good friends outside of conferences.

That's what works for me regarding Facebook and twitter. However, I am always accessible through my cell phone (very limited minutes so text messages are preferred) and email for anyone that want to share something of value with me.

Phillip