Are You A Social Network Hoarder?
It’s time to let the truth run free. Its ok it’s a safe place here.
“Users log an average of 77 minutes per day using apps on their smartphone.” – The Social Skinny
There’s absolutely no judging because I’m a hoarder too. I’ve only come to this realization the other day when I was sitting on the bus rearranging my iphone apps. This is something I do now. It’s not just something I do to pass the time or avoid eye contact with the person sitting across from me. Nope, this is a necessity. You can also add rearranging bookmarklets, setting notifications and deleting welcome emails, to the list of daily must do’s. As a person who works in social media, it’s part of my job to know what’s new in the space. This helped me justify my addiction for the past few years. Also, the definition of a hoarder is centered on physical objects, but now a new term has come to the social forefront, Social Network Hoarder.
This was many rearranged apps ago.
It’s not your fault.
There seems to be a new social network app popping up every day. When you pull up Mashable, Techcrunch, or just follow your twitter stream you are bombarded by news of the NEW HOT thing to get for your phone, or tablet.
What’s worse is that it’s super easy to sign up. A Facebook connect or a Twitter connect are usually available as easy sign up options. In a matter of minutes you are a proud new member of the latest, hottest app to hit the digital space.
Once you set up your profile, connect to your friends, tweet out that you have it, how long does your crush last? Have you already moved on to the next best thing?
That’s half the problem. Are we too busy signing up for the new best thing and not taking the time to learn more about the app we do have?
Before you download that app or sign up for that social network take a moment to think about it. Do you already have an app like it? Do you use it? If you do, is there anything from this new app that you need that the other doesn’t offer?
In my haste to download, I tend to forget to ask myself these questions. I JUST WANT IT NOW!
I’m not saying you shouldn’t download it. I am all for trying new things, but after you realize that you haven’t used it in a few months maybe it’s time to X it off your phone or tablet. Is this a scary thought? Are you shaking your head right now? Are you hesitant to do it because maybe one day you’ll need it? Well, you my friend are a Social Network Hoarder.
Alix Hernandez is a Social Media Coordinator at Razorfish in Seattle. She’s a true social network addict. When she’s not tweeting, instagraming, facebooking, pinning, she’s updating her popular fashion blog www.alixrose.com Don’t worry sometimes she does put the phone down.
