Since moving away from my family and friends, I have relied primarily on the internet and social media to stay in contact with loved ones. I have every account imaginable-- you name it, I've probably tried it at some point. Some things were just for fun (ie: Twitter, Facebook, etc) while others I have used for networking.
I decided to combine several of the 23 Things into one post since they are closely related. I apologize in advance for the long post. :)
Thing #5: Communication
In the past I've experimented with all sorts of chat clients (AIM, G-chat, Meebo, Digsby,Yahoo, MSN). Despite giving them all a shot, I've only stuck with two that I use on a regular basis- AIM and G-chat. For those who are not familiar with G-chat, it is Google's chat client. The main reason I use G-chat is its convenience (it opens automatically when I check my email) and its functionality (I can download Google Labs, or add-ons). AIM is primarily used for many of my long-time friends and family who have known me for as long as I've had internet access. Overall, I like G-chat the best.
Things #6, 7, 8, 9: Social Networking
I have been a user of Facebook since 2005 when it first launched. Since then it has come a long way and its user base has expanded. I love using Facebook to catch up with friends and family who do not live nearby. It's an easy way to share family photos, updates, and announcements with the click of a button. While I do hold issue with some of Facebook's privacy policy, the pros outweigh the cons.
Twitter was something I tried in 2008 and continue to use to this day. When I first created my account, I was very confused-- I had no idea what these "tweets" were about, nor did I know what to say in my own. Did people really want to know what I had for breakfast and other trivial details? Over time, I discovered what I like sharing on Twitter: news articles and the occasional personal tidbit about my day. What I like about Twitter versus Facebook is that I can receive updates from news outlets, like CNN, or local organizations, like NOPL, from my homepage. Due to my own privacy, I chose to keep my Twitter strictly for personal use instead of networking.
Things #10, 11: Professional Networking
I joined LinkedIn when I was job searching as a way to get my name out there and I have found that it is a great vehicle for professional networking. My past colleagues have used it to write me recommendations, make suggestions, offer advice, etc. It's great to find so many of my co-workers on there. :)
And now on to Thing #12!
