What social media meant to 2013

2013 saw me going from someone who didn’t like my name online to realizing that it is impossible to stay off the internet. However, I decided to use it for something positive. Be it arts, sports, or breaking news, I now use social media to take part in developments in the world. I also help others access news faster.

A friend of mine studied in Norway for a year, and she told me that over there, nothing happens without using social media, not even school. I believe that this is what everything is moving towards: we like to be more comfortable, not chasing the news, but having it brought to us. Social Media gives us exactly that: the news delivered to us in the comforts of our homes.

Here parts of the Metro Calgary article “If it’s not online, did it happen?” from the weekend of Sept 6, 2013 by Neil Morton as part of “The Metro List.”

1 Upworthy
One of my favourite sites is upworthy.com, which posts highly shareable, inspirational, meaningful videos about how people can change the world – from issues like child poverty to body image or climate change. As their @Upworthy Twitter bio simply puts it, “Things that matter. Pass ’em on.” So check it out and spread the word.

2 Rob Delaney
Comedian @RobDelaney tweets gems. Here’s a sample: “Bad news: Doctors can’t figure out my wife is constantly sneezing blood everywhere. Good news: That hair gel I like is on sale at CVS.” He has a new boo, Rob Delaney, about his life (sobriety, depression and happy things) coming out in November. He has no filter, he is a survivor, he is hilarious. Follow him and buy his book.

4 The Social
This tropical Canadian news show debuted this week on CTV and its approach to social media is bang on. The show connects to viewers via real time tweeting @TheSocialCTV. Many of the show’s topics and discussions arise there, and the hosts read tweets in real time from viewers. Great use of social media to fuel a show and engage with an audience.

5 @KirstineStewart
She is the head of Twitter Canada (former CBC exec) and as such is an active tweeter, tweeting and RT’ing interesting tidbits showing how people are leveraging the power of Twitter in the business, media and pop-culture worlds. Unfortunately, as her Twitter bio says, she doesn’t “know how to get you ‘verified’…” I just sucked up for no reason.

10 Twitter etiquette
I always find it amusing when someone complains about what you’re tweeting about. Comedian @rickygervais summed it up best this week when he tweeted, “Following someone on Twitter & complaining about their tweets is like secretly stalking someone & telling them they’re going the wrong way.”

In the spirit of social media: Follow me at @YAAMueller and share what social media meant to you this year with #yearinreview or #2013!