Four Reasons Why People Don't Use Twitter

image.jpg

Let's just say I might be married to someone who might have a Twitter account.  Again, let's just say... 

And let's just say that I might have a brother who has a Twitter account. Hypothetically speaking of course...

And to complete the trinity, let's just say I might happen to have a sister in law who has a Twitter account.  Following so far? 

Their commonality isn't me.  What they all have in common is that they have Twitter accounts but don't really use them.   As my three year old would say, "Wait- what?"  It's true, my wife Cary has a Twitter account, (@carystpierre) but she doesn't really use it at all.  Same goes for my other family members. 

And there are millions of other official Twitter users who activate an account and then never actually use the account.  I've found at least four reasons why folks don't use their Twitter accounts, followed by what you can do about it: 

1. They haven't downloaded a Twitter app for their smartphone. 

2. They don't feel like they have anything interesting to say. 

3. They feel like they might use Twitter "wrong" and then be criticized. 

4. They aren't in the habit of publishing what they perceive as "private" matters. 

 

Do any of these sound familiar? I know that when I began using Twitter, each of these was in my mind.  Still, having been a classroom teacher where you have to think like a reporter (i.e. discovering new things every single day to share with your students), I also found Twitter to be fascinating and fun. 

Michael Hyatt calls it a huge strategic opportunity for leaders. 

So let's respond to the four objections I listed above:

1. They haven't downloaded a Twitter app for their smartphone.   Solution: go to the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android) and download the official Twitter app for your phone. If you want to spend a few bucks, I suggest Tweetbot for your iPhone and Fenix for your Android phone- both are excellent and make Twitter even more fun.

2. They don't feel like they have anything interesting to say.   Solution: think of yourself as interesting to those that know you. You don't have to be Kim Kardashian or Bobby Flay to be interesting (although I wouldn't mind cooking like Bobby).  Your friends and family probably find you very interesting.  There are a ton of others out there who might also find your interests to be fascinating.  You do have interesting things to say!

3. They feel like they might use Twitter "wrong" and then be criticized.   Solution: there is no "wrong" in Twitterland so just go for it.  Who cares how you choose to use it? If you want to talk about bananas or Toyotas or the treehouse you're building for your kids... do it. Who cares what others think?  Twitter is what you make it to be.  Post every hour or once a day.  Tweet famous quotes.  Tweet about your favorite TV show. Tweet about how adorable your kids are. Tweet about your relationship with God.  

Here are some surprising and excellent Twitter personalities that you might want to follow and may find intriguing:

-Fr. James Martin: a Roman Catholic priest who is a voice for justic issues and faith (and occasionally appears on late night TV). 

-Erik Fisher: a podcaster who gets to interview some of the best voices in productivity (and loves bacon). 

-Nancy Caramanico: an educational consultant who hosts a weekly Tweet-up called Catholic Ed Chat (and loves the ocean). 

-Joshua Becker: a pastor who sold 50% of what he had and now writes about simple living (and how his wife didn't divorce him in the process). 

4. They aren't in the habit of publishing what they perceive as "private" matters.  The internet has made the lines between public and private very blurry.  I'm not suggesting that you should be tweeting during child birth or as someone is dying.  (although both have been done!)  Solution: post things that interest you.  Don't worry too much about whether they are public or private.   Focus on what captures your imagination and your fancy.  Try different things out.  

This post was a long time coming.  I felt that I had to write it, especially after seeing the people I love try to use Twitter but face common roadblocks.   By testing out the four solutions above, you'll enjoy Twitter more and overcome obstacles that all of us face from time to time.

What do you find most useful about Twitter?  Which obstacles did you have to overcome in order to get more out of Twitter? 

Photo courtesy of fdp


The Real Reason to Take a Break from Technology

You've seen them.  You've watched them at restaurants.  These are the folks that really, really need to take a break from technology.  They just don't know it.  Nice people.

These are the ones who love their iPhones.  So much so, in fact that they can't put them down.  Ever. 

And this is why I created Speak Digital.  My goal is to help readers not have to be slaves to their technology.  Sure, we love our gadgets but that doesn't mean that we have to take our phones to the bathroom.  (note: not a good idea)

Freedom- that's why we ought to take an occasional break from technology.  Breaks are good during the workday and help us to return with more bounce in our step.  Vacations are good for the same reason.  

Like an elastic band, we often need both push and pull.  I know that I do.  Thankfully I also am fortunate to work with folks who have the green light to tell me when I need to step away and take a break.

Life is so rich- full of relationships, experiences and fun.  The technology is just one part of it. Let's keep our eye on the goal- an exciting life that is intentional and freely chosen.

To assist in your freedom journey, here are some excellent resources worth your time:

*photo courtesy of fdp


Here's a Method for Dealing with Imperfection

The spot was there for about a year.

We tried to ignore it.  We walked around it.  We certainly didn't speak of it.  Still, it was there.  One slate tile out of probably fifty that was off kilter and coming loose from the porch floor.  (You can see the photo to the left which I took about a week ago.)

Imperfection is like that- we know it's there but aren't quite sure how to deal with it.  

Think of the car accident on the side of the road.  You don't want to be seen craning your neck to see it... but at the same time, you're curious right?  I know that I am.

Or, think of the person in a cast.  I almost can't help but to ask how the cast got there.

The other day I saw a small child at the airport and clearly something was wrong with her physical development.  I had to pause and be thoughtful about my response.  Rather than stare or feel badly, I chose to appreciate who she was above and beyond whatever physical challenge she's currently facing.

How do you respond when you find imperfection?  Do you feel badly?  Do you say "Thank God that's not me"?  The responses are myriad but I'd like to suggest one surefire way to respond to it:  Embrace it.  

Get close to it.  

Don't feel bad about it.  

Get to know it.  

Name it.

"Imperfection", after all, is a relative term.  I knew a student who was autistic and instead of feeling badly for himself, he chose to use his differences as a source of strength.  This is similar to what Malcolm Gladwell talks about in his book David And Goliath.  You can watch his Ted Talk about imperfections here.

Back to my porch story and the imperfect tile.  I chose to not ignore the darn thing and one day just mixed up some new cement and fixed it.  As you can see from the photo (and as my four wonderful kids are quick to remind me!) it's not quite perfect.  If you try hard enough, you can tell that "one of these things is not like the other".  True enough.  The struggle I had was not with the mortar or finding the time to do the job. It was just simply a matter of choosing what to do with a seemingly imperfect tile.

Each of us has things like this in life.  Look around and the people you work and live with have their stuff as well.  

Application: what's bothering you about yourself or another person?  Can you name it and get closer to it?  

Connection to digital: use technology to get closer to imperfection.  Research poverty and then spend time with the poor.  Use email to stay in touch with someone who is hurting. Send a Twitter direct message to encourage someone in need.  

Get Rid of Digital Clutter Once and for All (new eBook)

"I wasn't sure who that text message was from..." said my friend Jeanne.  It turns out that I had messaged her about a social engagement only to find that she didn't know who it was from.  As a result, the message was ignored.

Because my iMessage settings were cued up to send messages via an old email address that I never use, she was confused.  Our "conversation" via iMessage broke down as a result.  My bad.

Such is the case when you have too much digital clutter on your computer and in your head.  Digital clutter is much more common than we realize.  By "clutter", we mean any of the following:

  • Too many email addresses (or emails for that matter... can you relate?)
  • More apps that you can possibly use for your smartphone
  • A laptop or desktop computer that's slowing down because there isn't enough memory left 

And so it goes.  I'm not passing judgment on my friend Jeanne or anyone else wrestling with digital clutter.  Heck, I struggle with it daily.  Actually, that's why I'm sharing something special with you today.

If you watched my YouTube video on six tips for simplifying your digital life, you got a sense of six practical ways that you can streamline and clean out the clutter of everyday life.

So here it is, free for you for a limited time.  "6 Tips for a Simpler, Smarter Digital Life" is roughly 10 pages long and elaborates on my six points from the video.  You can download it here.

In "6 Tips", I share both personal experiences and also research pertinent to the following:

  1. How impactful digital clutter can be to your everyday life.
  2. What you can do about it TODAY.

"6 Tips" isn't gospel.  If you have six tips of your own, I'd love to hear them. My tips are simply that- my experiences that have made a huge difference in how I live and work.  People have told me that they make a difference in their life too so that's why I felt compelled to compile them in an eBook. 

If you like the book, let me know via email: mike@speakdigital.org or via Twitter.  

If you enjoyed this post, why not join the Speak Digital Network?  This is my free mailing list which gives you a backstage pass to my thoughts on digital life from a simple point of view.  We don't share your information with anyone, ever.

6 Steps Towards a Simpler, Smarter Digital Life

He wants to be fully present to his kids... but Instagram calls out his name.  She wants to be giving her full attention to the drive in front of her... but the chime on her phone signals another tempting text message.  

Sound familiar?  

Millions of folks sign up for social media sites like Twitter every day.  Millions of others wish they hadn't.  Somewhere in the middle are those (like me and you, you know the good looking ones!) who want to live a simpler, saner digital life.  

This week's video is all about how you can take back control of your life online.  It outlines a formula that you can start using TODAY to restore simplicity to daily life.  

See what you think and let me know of future video topics that you'd like me to cover.

If you enjoyed this post and would like to read/see/experience more of what Mike has to offer, join his mailing list, the Speak Digital Network here.

How Much Screen Time is Too Much for Children?

A few years ago I came home from a busy day at work at around 7pm.  Through the back door, ring the bell, wait in the kitchen, get hugs from my four kids.  I was a hero once again.

Fast forward to this past week.  Same routine except a different result.  Instead of being mobbed by my adoring children (as I like to remind them) in the kitchen, I just stood there on my own.  

The kids were busy.  One was using Cary's iPhone while another researching Legos on the laptop.  I had walked into another intense session of adolescent screen time.  

If you're like me, you occasionally wonder, "how much screen time is too much?"  You're worried that kids today will turn out to be antisocial, overweight and rude as a result of playing another round of MineCraft or watching more tweenager videos on YouTube.

I worry about those things.

New data revealed that only 1 in 4 young teens are experiencing an appropriate level of screen time per day.  (If you're wondering how 'they' come up with the screen time levels, here's an interesting article.)

So how much TV and computer time should a kid have per day?  About two hours or less as it turns out.  On face value, this makes sense until you factor in that 8 in 10 teens have cell phones, with increasing numbers of those being smartphones with internet data.  I would have a hard time telling a teen to not look at their phone or put down their iPad.  During dinner- sure no problem.  At other times?  More difficult.  

And we're not even talking about school work that is posted online.  

The recommended "adjustments" for kids who spend too much time online are common sensical:

  • Use the internet in short bursts
  • Use safe filters for kids on the internet
  • Provide group activities such that kids don't build "their secret world" online
  • Talk... alot (and then some more!) with your kids about what's appropriate and what isn't

The internet is fairly neutral- it can be a cause for great good or for dangerous activity.  Our job as adults is to help kids navigate the online world so that when they are fully immersed in it, it's not so shocking that they get sucked in to something bad.

Back to my own kids.  

Yes, I worry about their screen time.  No I do not worry about their sociability or ability to be productive citizens because I see them around people and they're amazing kids.  Part of that is because my wife and I are vigilant with what our kids do online and because our faith is always a part of dinner conversations and talks in general.

How about you?  Are you taking the time to talk with your kids about their internet use?