I am part of the Baby Boomers, and was not born cable-ready. But I was advised by many that social media was vitally important to my business. When I was first advised to sign up on Facebook, and then on Twitter, because it was an important connection for authors, I did so.
I have been on Twitter for over six years now. I have thoroughly enjoyed connecting with like minded people who write and edit and publish. I appreciate all of you. Although I cannot trace book sales to this platform, I have developed some fine friends who are in similar situations.
However, this situation with the virus that has caused us all to wear masks in the company of others, and to practice social distancing, has caused something else for me. Being deprived of regular company (yes, I know there is Skype and Zoom and the occasional outing {with correct distances}), means my social life has changed dramatically.
When my partner, Rob, left this physical life, I had no idea at the time what a hole his departure would create. As life stands now, I have no close relationship with a person with whom I live.
I can no longer attend networking meetings, business meetings, seminars, or conventions. I can no longer teach others in live form. My only option is on-line.
I discovered I could easily attend an in-person seminar for 2 or three hours with only a brief break. What I find difficult is attending an online anything for more than one hour.
Soon I discovered I was beginning to spend far too much time on Twitter. Unfortunately there are so many things on this platform to which I would normally pay little attention, and many are also horribly negative. It is more difficult to limit the tweets I receive, than the posts I receive on Facebook.
I once was told that Twitter is similar to hanging out in a bar, and Facebook is like having invited guests in my living room.
Everyone is different, and my usual attempts to involve myself in the positive only, are becoming more and more difficult, mostly because I am not well versed in the ins and outs of the Twitter platform.
It’s time to take back control of my life and what I see and do.
Thus in the interest of my own well-being, I have decided to step back from Twitter, and I apologize to those with whom I have connected over the years. I will miss you, and hope I may meet with you again on Facebook.