Sharing an Era with Social Media

Ten years ago this week, we were introduced to this new social media tool named Twitter. 

Ten years ago this week, I was introduced to marital bliss (& sundry) by exchanging vows with my husband.

You may be surprised that I'm writing about how marriage & a social media tool share commonalities, but I hope you keep reading. The question before us today: What have we learned in the past 10 years?

Each message matters.

I've learned through my marriage that each spoken word carries weight and consequences. Once I let a word fly, it can't be taken back or adjusted for tone and meaning.

Ten years ago, Twitter brought us a platform where editing your message is not an option; only deletion can save you. Yet with the capability of screenshots, even that isn't a certainty.

In Twitter and in relationships, your words hang in the air. Choose them wisely.

Get to the point.

Twitter doesn't (yet) allow for droning on and on. Your stream of consciousness has to fit within 140 characters - including spaces - so sharing your topic requires brevity.

Over 10 years, I've realized the importance of direct communication. As much as my spouse loves me, he can't read my mind and sometimes can't find the needle in my haystack of dialogue. 

Be direct and be clear for your message to be effective.

Change can rock the boat.

When we exchanged our vows, my husband and I were committing to a partnership which would carry us through the unexpected and unforeseen changes ahead. We've seen much and adjusted accordingly, and thankfully our relationship has thus far stood up to the test.

You might roll your eyes, but Twitter users who have been with the platform from the start are afraid of what's coming. The tool is changing almost weekly and, while some updates are welcome, adjustments looming on the horizon are met with uncertainty. Time will tell if Twitter and its users can continue for the long haul.

A vital difference.

No, my marriage is not in fact like Twitter or even social media. I'm committed to one person, which reduces the range of change and uncertainties I may face in the future. 

Social media, on the other hand, is all about shifting and updating. Sometimes the space of one day can lead to a radical change to our most-loved tools. Only time will tell how tied we remain to our favorite platforms of today.

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Rachel Moore is the founder and chief social officer of Really Social, providing social media training and profile management. We're committed to helping real people do social media really well. Find our latest posts on Twitter and Snapchat, or visit our website.