GRAND Magazine - Spring 2022 - 28

tech talk
Not all " need " for social media is metric driven
Defining " need " is a valid gauge when pondering
social media use. Of course, you can easily survive
without Facebook (You can. Really.) But me telling
my husband what his sisters and cousins were up to
started to annoy him. " How do you know that before
ME? " he would ask. " Facebook, " I would reply with
a hand on my hip and sass in my voice. In this case,
" real-life need " was not about driving business goals,
but a desire to stay connected with family members.
Particularly when family members are spread across
the country or around the globe, checking in on loved
ones' updates makes you feel more connected.
So after years of resistance, he created a Facebook
profile. Now when I say " Did you see that Ana had
her baby? " he responds, " Yes, and I already sent her
congratulations! " He's also reconnected with friends
from his university days and got invited to join a private
Facebook group with colleagues from a former
workplace.
How to sound cool while figuring out social
media
For those feeling like 'I'm not on social media (or
not yet at a level of comfort to drive business or personal
objectives) 'but I know I need to go in that direction,'
here are some ways to phrase it to others so
that you still sound in the know, while figuring things
out. Even if you are in the " I've lived this long without
it " camp, these tips can help you sound relevant
when interacting with younger colleagues or family
members.)
Instead of " aggghhh...I don't get it, " try " I'm a
digital immigrant amid acculturation. "
If there can be " non-digital natives, " aka people
who did not grow up with technology, there can be
digital immigrants. Which is kind of what it feels like,
learning new technology-visiting a foreign land,
complete with its own language.
Instead of " I have a Linked In account but I
never look at it, " try " I'm taking a multi-channel
approach. "
Oh, you smart person you! You KNOW about all the
28 GRAND Winter 2022
options available to you, you just want to be discerning
about where you focus your attention. Add " I'm
still reviewing my mix, " to let people know you are a
big picture, strategic thinker!
Instead of " isn't that teenagers telling you what
they had for lunch? " try, (Instagram, etc.) is a
viable platform but it doesn't align with my goals
in real life.
Perhaps be ready with a goal or two as evidence
in case you are asked. Or show respect. " I would join
Snapchat, but I don't want to infringe on this important
space where you can hang out with your friends. "
And, besides, telling someone about your lunch is a
Twitter reference from 2006. Please don't.
Finally, if your 14-year-old grandchild asks when
you are going to finally get on social media, just
say... IYKYK. Goals.
And then nod your head in commiseration.
You are now prepared to fake it until you make it.
Amirite?
Deanna Shoss (she/her) is a marketer,
writer and interculturalist in Chicago.
As CEO of Intercultural Talk, Inc., she
provides digital, intercultural, and reallife
marketing for non-digital natives.
She helps people who seek strategy and
tactics to build their business or realize
a purpose-driven project with websites,
blogging, e-newsletters, social media and
promotions in real life. Deanna's first book,
co-written with Jerry Witkovsky, Where
Two Worlds Meet: A Guide to Connecting
with Your Teenage Grandchildren, is
coming in June 2022. Pre-order today!

https://www.familyeducation.com/teens/the-newest-teen-slang-trends-of-2022 https://www.familyeducation.com/teens/the-newest-teen-slang-trends-of-2022 https://www.amazon.com/Where-Two-Worlds-Meet-Grandchildren/dp/1608082725/ref=sr_1_1?crid=17I94RLBF8DM&keywords=where+two+worlds+meet+jerry&qid=1649203099&sprefix=where+two+worlds+meet+%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-1

GRAND Magazine - Spring 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - Spring 2022