This week I “snapped.”
After an introduction by a fellow communicator in school, I joined Snapchat, which I’d wanted to try for a while but felt it may be suited for a younger set.
A few colleagues kindly (or blindly) agreed to be my friends on the app so that I could bolster my snap skills. They quickly became the recipients of my initial annoying self-portraits and later ridiculous videos. But the personal “stories” and videos I got from them made me chuckle and want to explore how to connect with them in even more fun ways.
As I learn the ropes, Snapchat is being added to my daily roundup of favorite apps for frequent perusal. First Twitter, then Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Periscope start my day. Now I “snap” shortly thereafter.
These social apps do something I never thought I’d need help with: bolster my social life.
Chatting with friends and strangers in person is no problem for me. I’m not shy about striking up conversations and finding common ground with people, and I enjoy the diversity that makes relationships interesting.
Snapchat — and my other faves — are allowing me to connect with new chums all over the country, which keeps me motivated to try more. #MoreNewFriends is quickly becoming my personal hashtag of 2016, and I’m enjoying investing as much time in these virtual connections as I do my actual ones.
Another benefit I receive from using social apps is the chance to reconnect with longtime associates around the world.
For example, last night I “scoped” with a friend on Periscope, a mobile app that livestreams everywhere. My friend, whom I’ve not seen in person in a long time, is a champion scoper whom I followed on his trip yesterday from China to Thailand via his Periscope broadcast. Not only did he enlighten me (and at least 200 other followers during his broadcast) about his maiden voyage to Bangkok, but I got to ask him a few questions about his adventures through Periscope’s live chatting feature, which he kindly answered.
Despite the many critics of isolation and loneliness social networks seem to cause others, I think I’ll keep scoping out and snapping up more interesting people to get to know.
CMSU Reflections 